Clark Lindsey has an excellent idea. The problem, of course, is how to make it pay.

The idea for a space press syndicate makes little sense. First, Space.com already has a corner on that market. What's a new "press syndicate" going to contribute? You have to answer that question if you want anybody to actually buy (or at least use) your articles. Try convincing a client that the "alt-space" message is uniquely different--and attractive--compared to what is already out there. That will be a tough sell.

Second, who is out there to write this stuff that is not writing it already, usually for free? There are maybe a dozen blogs with info relevant to this subject (alt-space) and many of them have lousy writing. (Example of someone who doesn't even bother to spellcheck: http://spacepragmatism.blogspot.com/ )

It is not a surprise that UPI is dropping Zimmerman. I could never find evidence that any of those columns were actually printed anywhere, or carried by any other websites. Keep in mind that UPI has to make money, and paying somebody to write a column that no clients want is not a good way to do that.

UPI's quality has long sucked, anyway. Their return from bankruptcy has not improved the product.

Timothy,
If you followed the typical syndication model I'd agree. Plus you assume this would compete with space.com when I suspect it would be a partner with space.com to provide outsourced content development. I think a successful syndication effort would have to be handled more like Pajamas Media. And it would have to generate income from other sources besides just content.

I clicked on the Pajamas Media link and it says "coming soon" and nothing else. Not exactly informative. So is their revenue stream based upon squatting on domain names?

Sorry. I thought the existence of Pajamas Media was a more widely known phenomenon. Here's the original invite from Roger Simon: http://www.rogerlsimon.com/mt-archives/2005/04/an_open_letter.php

The idea is basically a blog only news service. Think of it as a topic oriented Blogspot type service with only A-level bloggers/news sources...

It's a popular historic observation that after a few moon landings, 'the American public lost interest in space.' I've always held the oft-disputed theory that it was the MEDIA and then politicians who lost interest in space, and the American public (being a nation of sheep) simply followed.
Stories like this tend to support my thinking, despite UPI's other troubles.

I have a concept I am calling "edit my blog" that would basically be a subscription site that offers blogs to paid subscribers and editors a day in advance of free publication. Any good sources on what a news service entails these days?

I have a concept I am calling "edit my blog" that would basically be a subscription site that offers blogs to paid subscribers and editors a day in advance of free publication. Any good sources on what a news service entails these days?

> I've always held the oft-disputed theory that it was the MEDIA and then politicians who lost interest in space, and the American public (being a nation of sheep) simply followed.

That's the spirit that has made expansion into space so dynamic and unstoppable. Bash the media, the politicians, and the public for good measure, then take up the banner and lead... who, exactly?

How many times have we seen space enthusiasts wrap themselves in the universal human urge to explore, the ancient evolutionary outward urge, the world-wide march of progress -- and then indulge in childish rants like this that alienate every potential ally needed to actually *do* anything...?

March on.

So it is your contention that the American public DID lose interest in space after Apollo? If that's the case, why are we here reading and commenting? At considerably over 60, I'd suspect I'm the true "geezer" here. I was at the Cape through much of Apollo and saw these events first hand.