Building a business news startup

Kara Tabor of Silicon Prairie News takes a look at Missouri Business Alert, a business news startup being lead by Missouri journalism professor Randy Smith and Michael Stacy, former editor of Silicon Prairie News.

Tabor writes, “The site launched publicly in late July, covering business news across the state. In addition, it receives wire news and aggregates articles from various state publications such as the Kansas City Star, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and business journals across the state.

“Readers are able to subscribe to email updates daily and industry-specific updates weekly. Additionally, the site will be launching an iPhone app in the near future. The app incorporates a ‘5, 10, 15 minute’ sorting layout, which helps cater to the time-constrained needs of the readership.

“It all started when professor Randall Smith, founder and editor-in-chief of the site and the Donald W. Reynolds endowed chair in business journalism at the School of Journalism, saw a gaping void in the business coverage across the state.

“‘I saw businesses not being covered in the state. I saw business journals and major metros cutting back their business staffs,’ Smith said. ‘What I thought was that there was a highway so large you could drive a Mack truck down it, as far as covering the whole state’s business news.’

“Coupling the need to increase coverage of issues throughout the state with a desire to better equip students with opportunities to hone their journalistic skills, Smith kicked off the startup in fall 2011. Students became directly involved in working on the business plan, content and design. Continuing through 2012 with the work of more students and interns, those working on the site witnessed the emergence of a digital newsroom.”

Read more here.