Carly Harrington: Journalist starts online news site

With traditional ink-on-paper journalism in a state of flux, some have been setting their sights toward Internet news publishing.

This shift to the web is where you'll find former print reporter, John Huotari. He has teamed up with his wife, Dawn, to start an online only newspaper called Oak Ridge Today (http://oakridgetoday.com). The first post went live on March 29.

"What we have a passion for is covering the community, keeping up with what's happening in and around Oak Ridge,"Huotari said.

The 42-year-old writer called the work liberating as he and his wife chart their own course in a rapidly developing field. The idea was one Huotari said he had been researching on and off over the last four years.

"A lot of it was just self preservation. What comes next if print is having various declines in subscribers and advertising?" Huotari said.

A former reporter for the Oak Ridger who has also written for the News Sentinel, Huotari said he hopes to join other pioneers who want to help establish the next model of journalism. There are people already doing what he's trying to do and doing it well.

Huotari points to The Batavian in New York, West Seattle Blog, The Grant County Beat in New Mexico and Chattanoogan.com as examples of providing comprehensive coverage and good compelling content. And the websites are full of ads.

Oak Ridge Today has two ads on its site and the couple is working to soon post a third.

The site features a mix of five to seven news items five days a week, and the occasional weekend post. And its beginning to gain traction. It started with 150 page views per day to Wednesday's 3,300 views.

It even got the attention of WATE Channel 6, which credited Oak Ridge Today for a photo it used on its 11 p.m. newscast this week about a black bear on the loose in Oak Ridge. The story resulted in 2,000 views alone.

"It was validation in a way," Dawn Huotari said. "It's getting there."

If it doesn't work out, John Huotari said the experience would hopefully leave him better prepared for a new career. He's already got work lined up to help a couple of small businesses with website design and marketing.

This is Dawn Huotari's first media venture and she's discovered that there's a lot more to do, visit and see in her hometown than she knew existed. Her most popular post: a summer camp guide.

"It's our baby, but this is something he's been wanting to do for so long. I know there are things I can help," she said. "This is definitely been a learning experience, a good experience."