TAPinto
{{Short description|News network}}
{{About|the hyperlocal news site||Alternative press (disambiguation){{!}}Alternative press}}
{{Promotional|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox website
| name = TAPinto.net
(formerly The Alternative Press)
| logo = TAP Logo 2014.png
| company_type =
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| foundation = 2008
| founder = Michael Shapiro
| location_city = New Providence, New Jersey
| location_country = U.S.
| location =
| locations = 95
| area_served = New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida
| key_people = Michael Shapiro, CEO
| industry = Local News
| products =
| services = Local news and digital marketing
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| url = {{URL|https://www.tapinto.net}}
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| website_type = News, digital advertising
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| registration =
| launch_date = October 2008
| current_status = Active
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}}
TAPinto is a network of more than 95 independently owned and operated local news and digital marketing platforms in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Florida. Based in New Providence, New Jersey.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tapinto.net/pages/about-us|title=About TAPinto ||website=TAPinto}} TAPinto.net is one of the largest online local news gathering operations in New Jersey. New Providence residents Michael and Lauryn Shapiro founded the business in October 2008.
Franchise model
TAPinto operates on a franchise model. Each TAPinto local news and digital marketing platform is independently owned and operated by a franchisee, who pays a small upfront fee, a monthly fee, and a nominal percentage of advertising revenue. In exchange, the network provides thorough training, a content management system, tech development and support, graphic design, billing and credit card processing, contract software, a CRM, ongoing continuing education programs, full-time customer service support, and helps with both the business and editorial sides of their operation. TAPinto provides significant training and support to help local news entrepreneurs own and operate a local news and digital marketing platform in their community.{{Cite web|url=https://marketing.tapinto.net/start-tapinto|title=Start TAPinto|website=TAPinto}}
Partnerships
TAPinto is a member of the Local Media Association, the Local Media Consortium, the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, Downtown New Jersey, the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists and the Center for Cooperative Media. Many TAPinto owner/publishers are members of their local chamber of commerce as well as civic and community organizations.
Many TAPinto sites have a partnership with high school newspapers in their communities, including TAPinto Berkeley Heights and Governor Livingston High School's newspaper, The Highlander.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tapinto.net/towns/berkeley-heights/sections/the-highlander|title=Berkeley Heights, NJ, The Highlander Section|website=TAPinto}}
Honors and awards
In 2023, the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists honored TAPinto with three Excellence in Journalism Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tapinto.net/columns/tapinto-insider/articles/new-jersey-society-of-professional-journalists-recognizes-tapinto-with-2023-excellence-in-journalism-awards|title=New Jersey Society Of Professional Journalists Recognizes TAPinto With 2023 Excellence In Journalism Awards|website=TAPinto}}{{dead link|date=November 2024}} In 2022, the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists honored TAPinto with eight Excellence in Journalism Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tapinto.net/columns/tapinto-insider/articles/new-jersey-society-of-professional-journalists-recognizes-tapinto-with-8-excellence-in-journalism-awards|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227180338/https://www.tapinto.net/columns/tapinto-insider/articles/new-jersey-society-of-professional-journalists-recognizes-tapinto-with-8-excellence-in-journalism-awards|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 27, 2022|title=New Jersey Society Of Professional Journalists Recognizes TAPinto With 8 Excellence In Journalism Awards|website=TAPinto}} Also in 2022, TAPinto journalists were honored with three Excellence in Local News Awards, from the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tapinto.net/columns/tapinto-insider/articles/tapinto-journalists-honored-with-2022-excellence-in-local-news-awards|title=TAPinto Journalists Honored With 2022 Excellence In Local News Awards|website=TAPinto}}{{dead link|date=November 2024}}
In 2023, Franchise Business Review named TAPinto as a Top Franchise,{{Cite web|url=https://www.tapinto.net/columns/tapinto-insider/articles/tapinto-named-a-2023-top-franchise-by-franchise-business-review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124181843/https://www.tapinto.net/columns/tapinto-insider/articles/tapinto-named-a-2023-top-franchise-by-franchise-business-review|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 24, 2023|title=TAPinto Named A 2023 Top Franchise By Franchise Business Review|website=TAPinto}} Most Innovative Franchise,{{Cite web|url=https://www.tapinto.net/towns/piscataway/columns/tapinto-insider/articles/tapinto-recognized-as-a-most-innovative-franchise-by-franchise-business-review|title=TAPinto Recognized as a Most Innovative Franchise by Franchise Business Review|website=TAPinto}} Top Low-Cost Franchise{{Cite web|url=https://www.tapinto.net/columns/tapinto-insider/articles/tapinto-named-a-2023-top-low-cost-franchise-by-franchise-business-review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230613224230/https://www.tapinto.net/columns/tapinto-insider/articles/tapinto-named-a-2023-top-low-cost-franchise-by-franchise-business-review|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 13, 2023|title=TAPinto Named A 2023 Top Low Cost Franchise By Franchise Business Review|website=TAPinto}} and Top Franchise for Women.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tapinto.net/columns/tapinto-insider/articles/tapinto-named-a-2023-top-franchise-for-women-by-franchise-business-review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531135834/https://www.tapinto.net/columns/tapinto-insider/articles/tapinto-named-a-2023-top-franchise-for-women-by-franchise-business-review|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 31, 2023|title=TAPinto Named A 2023 Top Franchise For Women By Franchise Business Review|website=TAPinto}}
Media coverage
- In 2023, New Jersey Globe profiled TAPinto on its 15th anniversary.{{Cite web |last=Wildstein |first=David |date=October 2, 2023 |title=TAPinto turns 15 today |url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/media/tapinto-turns-15-today/ |access-date=January 21, 2025 |website=New Jersey Globe}}
- In 2023, Downtown New Jersey featured a case study by TAPinto on how the Downtown Westfield Corporation has been able to utilize TAPinto to market its initiatives and events.{{Cite web|url=https://www.downtownnj.com/local-news/|title=Local News: The Business Community's Lifeblood|website=Downtown NJ}}
- In 2022, Editor & Publisher magazine named TAPinto as one of 10 publishers that "do it right."{{Cite web |last=Blinder |first=Robin |date=March 1, 2022 |title=10 news publishers that do it right |url=https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/10-news-publishers-that-do-it-right,219623?newsletter=219852 |access-date=January 21, 2025 |website=Editor and Publisher}}
- In 2022, Dan Kennedy of Northeastern University and Boston Globe editor Ellen Clegg interviewed TAPinto Founder and CEO Michael Shapiro on their What Works podcast about local news.{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Dan |date=April 27, 2022 |title=A network of community news franchises: Mike Shapiro on what makes TAPinto click |url=https://whatworks.news/2022/04/27/a-network-of-community-news-franchises-mike-shapiro-on-what-makes-tapinto-click/ |access-date=January 21, 2025 |website=What Works}}
- The Lenfest Institute spoke with TAPinto in a piece about how TAPinto's franchise model is helping to change the local news landscape.{{Cite web |title=Inside TAPinto's franchise model for local news |url=https://www.lenfestinstitute.org/solutions-resources/inside-tapintos-franchise-model-for-local-news/ |access-date=January 21, 2025 |website=The Lenfest Institute for Journalism}}
- In 2020, journalist and news commentator Simon Owens listed TAPinto as a news organization that is "thriving."{{Cite web |last=Owens |first=Simon |date=November 11, 2020 |title=It’s not all doom and gloom. These 9 local news orgs are thriving |url=https://simonowens.substack.com/p/its-not-all-doom-and-gloom-these |access-date=January 21, 2025 |website=Simon Owens}}
- In 2017, TAPinto appeared in a New York Times article called "In New Jersey, Only a Few Media Watchdogs Left."{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=David W. |date=January 3, 2017 |title=In New Jersey, Only a Few Media Watchdogs Are Left |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/03/nyregion/in-new-jersey-only-a-few-media-watchdogs-are-left.html |access-date=January 21, 2025 |website=The New York Times}}
- In 2017, CEO Michael Shapiro appeared on One on One with Steve Adubato discussing the state of news media.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu4hYQHA99c|title=TAPinto.net Providing Hyperlocal News to NJ Communities|date=March 17, 2017|via=YouTube}}
- In 2016, Columbia Journalism Review profiled TAPinto on its business model.{{Cite web |last=Xie |first=Suzie |date=March 25, 2016 |title=New Jersey sites tap into local news |url=https://www.cjr.org/united_states_project/new_jersey_sites_tap_into_local_news.php |access-date=January 21, 2025 |website=Columbia Journalism Review}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.tapinto.net/pages/start-tap TAPinto franchise information]
Category:Internet properties established in 2008
Category:Local mass media in the United States
Category:Mass media in New Jersey
Category:Mass media in Pennsylvania