Transportation Journalism Suffers Losses in 2015

Ben Fried, Editor-in-Chief, informed Streetsblog readers on Jan. 9 of changes necessary to maintain their unique "model of advocacy journalism."

With growth come risks. Our team knows how to make an impact with our reporting and commentary, but like many other media outlets, we’re still figuring out how to make the business of our journalism work.

Streetsblog Chicago, after two years of publication, will continue to post "Todays Headlines," but the lack of local coverage means a huge loss for pedestrian, bicyclist, and transit advocates in the Windy City. John Greenfield, Chicago editor, writes that he "will be working hard in the coming weeks to raise funds to resurrect the site." Interestingly, Fried and Greenfield view Streetsblog LA as a sustainable model for expansion due to their relationship with OpenPlans.

Not having Tanya Snyder, an expert on federal transportation policy, cover the antics of the 114th Congress as they struggle to fund the soon-to-be insolvent Highway Trust Fund with anything but the obvious increase in the 1993 federal gas tax will be a huge loss for those interested in transportation funding as well as all federal transportation issues. In addition to Tanya, many of whose articles can be found here on Planetizen, editor-at-large Payton Chung will be missed.

Streetsblog will continue to publish from New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and national (USA) coverage will continue under the very capable Angie Schmitt. 

While readers may see more ads on the Streetsblog website to ensure its sustainability, readers can be reassured that it will remain, in Fried's words, "a truly national voice for overhauling our car-based transportation system." We look forward to the return of Streetsblog Chicago.