This Dev is Moving 100s of Newspapers to WordPress, With Tyler Channell

BySteve Burge

Tyler Channell runs PaywallProject which is a WordPress stack for news publishers. Tyler recommends that the publishers use a paywall to drive revenue, no matter how small or regional their audience is. When he was in college, Tyler heard a professor say that someone needs to discover a way to make newspapers sustainable. That's been his goal for years, and now he's making it happen.

Find out more about Tyler's work at PaywallProject.com.

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Show notes

Links mentioned in this episode:

Topics we covered in this episode:

  • Paywall Project focuses on local publishers' needs.
  • Sustainability in local news is a primary goal.
  • WordPress is a preferred platform for publishing.
  • The project started with small West Virginia newspapers.
  • Expansion has led to international clients.
  • Consulting is a significant part of the service.
  • AI is being utilized to enhance local event listings.
  • Migration from other CMSs is a common challenge.
  • Building trust within communities is crucial for growth.
  • The newsletter is a key tool for audience engagement. Streamlining login processes can reduce admin headaches for publishers.
  • Converting free users to paid subscribers can take time.
  • Local publishers face unique challenges in the digital landscape.
  • The print component of newspapers is often a loss leader.
  • Digital subscriptions are becoming the primary revenue source for publishers.
  • Emerging digital publishers are focusing on niche content.
  • Revenue models are diversifying beyond traditional advertising.
  • The Paywall Project aims to support local news sustainability.
  • Publishers are increasingly moving towards digital-first strategies.
  • The future of local journalism is focused on community engagement and digital innovation.

The PublishPress Podcast

On the PublishPress Podcast, we talk with people interested in WordPress publishing. You'll hear interviews with publishers who are using WordPress, and also people in the WordPress community.

https://open.spotify.com/show/6Cr3gkXcltcUClmPQiHVmC

  • Steve is the founder of PublishPress. He's been working with open source software for over 20 years. Originally from the UK, he now lives in Sarasota in the USA. This profile is generated by the PublishPress Authors plugin.

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