Andrew Huff speaks to DePaul students on April 4th. (Photo by Mike Reilley)
Gapers Block, a Chicago Internet publication, is redesigning their website since its beginning in 2003.
Andrew Huff, Gapers Block founder, will have the latest news streaming down the middle of the page rather than just the traditional three columns he has today. Redesigning of the this Chicago hyperlocal website isn’t the only challenge Huff faces in the future of his website.
The rise of hyperlocal blogs and major newspapers in the city are a few of Gapers Block’s challenges. TheChicagoist is one of their main competitors because of their easy to read layout and larger network behind them. Major newspapers in Chicago have covered a few of Gapers Block’s stories as well, including a breaking story on Hot Doug’s unknown delivery story.
Huff also juggles multiple jobs while being the editor, publisher, and business guru of Gapers Block.
“It is full-time job but not my only job,” Huff said.
Huff has written for blogs about multiple platforms such as credit cars, paranormal activity, and food. His new job is teaching at “Writing for the Web” at Loyola University. Huff constantly updates and writes on Gapers Block and has at any given time 14 short updates he posts on the site. He also runs his own website called me3dia.
Another challenge Huff faces is funding for Gapers Block. Huff has been successful in landing grants and used the grant money to fund local feature reporting with emphasis on under reported stories. That does not mean that Gapers Block does not have any money coming to the site. In 2009, The Chicago Community Trust gave Gapers Block a $35,000 grant for communities that are under reported.
Huff does however offer a competitive price for feature stories, the same price as most of the local newspapers. Huff also publishes college student stories on Gapers Block.
Gapers Block was immediately a dominant presence on the Internet when it was introduced by word of mouth by bloggers around Chicago. Today, it gets 250,000 regular visitors and 90,000 unique visitors daily. Huff launched with 14-15 writers and now as up to 90. There have been 300 writers over the course of eight years. Huff is the only full-time employee.
Another move for Huff might be an expansion of Gapers Block to multiple cities. He believes it might be hard because the writers need to be in the city and know what is going on in the city at all times.
“It is difficult to cover another city from afar,” said Huff.
A Gapers Block in every city could be what is next for this Chicago Internet publication.
Tags: 2003, Andrew Huff, Chicago, DePaul University, Gapers Block, hyperlocal blogs, journalism, me3dia
