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Interview by Natalie Davis Associate Editor of City Paper, Baltimore Natalie Davis: How did GayToday get its start?
Jack Nichols: A Badpuppy employee who knew of my pioneering career took me to meet Bill Pinyon, Badpuppy's CEO. Because I'd edited the original GAY (1969-73)—America's first gay weekly—and since I'd just been published --my fifth book—Bill hired me in January '97 promising total editorial freedom. Circumstances like this should find an editor giving his or her best.
From GAY in 1969--to GayToday today, I've jumped across 30 years and I'm back again in the editor's saddle. I didn't myself choose the name, GayToday. Badpuppy did. GayToday to me, is a reincarnation on the Internet, you see, of the gay press' earliest weekly spirit—mine and Lige's.
Natalie Davis: I know you are the editor and star reporter for the site, but what particularly is your role? Is the technical/Web stuff handled by someone else? Jack Nichols: GayToday's designed by George Ferencz, a former editor of two of Florida's principal publications, TWN and Hotspots. George's choice of visuals reflects his long-time movement awareness as well as a youthful humor he uses to tweak the religious Reich. My role? I choose the articles, encourage writers, and try to make sure GayToday beams joi de vivre and a few strong ideas per issue-- hopefully in lucid, cutting-edge-quality prose. Natalie Davis: How important is it to offer glbt-related news on the Web--can't traditional gay newspapers handle the job? Jack Nichols: There are all sorts of people who just don't go out anymore to pick up their local newspapers at the corner outlet. They're now crossing the world via the Internet instead, talking with new companions in virtual reality and searching for things and subjects that interest them most. Local papers or even national magazines still have a place, for sure, but the Internet— instantly crossing every state and national border-- is uniting us from Hong Kong to Harrisburg. Natalie Davis: What is it that makes Gay Today special and vital to the gay community? Jack Nichols: Its willingness to consider a variety of perspectives, for one thing. Its global focus, for another. GayToday's politics are multi-dimensional. It makes no pretension to absolute objectivity as do some papers but instead it most often gives out an honestly-expressed personal slant that makes it enjoyable to read. It isn't prudish and it isn't X-rated. It's both happy-go-lucky and serious simultaneously. Natalie Davis: Of course, it costs money to keep an operation such as this going. I know GayToday is affiliated with adult-oriented site Badpuppy. Does GayToday suffer or benefit from the association, and what exactly is the relationship between the two?
Natalie Davis: Precisely what method(s) will you use, banner ads, classifieds, personals? Is it successful, in terms of profitability? Does the site pay for itself? How about traffic--how much does Gay Today get? Jack Nichols: We're just now sending out media kits for our advertising project this week. We average about 55,000 monthly readers—upwards of 2,500 users a day who each spend an average of about 10 minutes reading. As soon as it is supported by advertising GayToday can easily pay for itself. We charge by the number of page-views, I believe, for ads of all the types and sorts you mentioned. Natalie Davis: Many gay newspapers are putting themselves on the World Wide Web? Do you see this as a good trend? Is it possible to make money offering news on the Web? Jack Nichols: To get enough traffic to generate ad-chargeable page views, a newsmagazine may have to be around for a while-- to get known. There has to be real commitment to such a product too, of the sort that Badpuppy has shown for more than two years by supporting GayToday's editor, designer and staff. Not just any news will do. People like to feel there's something special about the on-line news-mag they read. Natalie Davis: What advice do you have for gay papers who want to turn their sites into moneymakers? Jack Nichols: Make sure you've got something to say, that you want to be of service. Host writers who show talent and make sure that you're not just starting up a paper to be in the business. Enjoy what you do and turn it out showing such an attitude. Attitude is what counts—more than most other factors. Success is made of 10% what happens in the world and 90% attitude--how we react to it. Money? Be patient while your audience grows and then advertise or start your own on-line mall. Natalie Davis: And in terms of content do you see them as presenting a compelling product? Jack Nichols: I'm a kind of an iconoclast, and so I like newspapers that provoke people to think. Many don't go there at all. Natalie Davis: What does it take to make a gay news site attract and keep a faithful audience? Jack Nichols: Sending clear signals that the site is committed to informing, provoking, and entertaining. Opening doors to exciting ideas that can take root in the personal experiences of an audience. Being wide enough, intellectually athletic enough, to draw attention. |
Lige Clarke 
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