A gaggle of ex-Post-Dispatch employees banded together this year to create Saint Louis Platform, an online news magazine filled with original reporting on the metro area. But strangely on Sunday the St. Louis Post-Dispatch announced their new editorial blog called The Platform.
Coincidence or not?
Platform Editor Margaret Wolf Freivogel weighed in Monday that the timing seemed “odd.”
“We’ve been operating under that name for a number of months,” she said, later adding, “You’d have to see what’s going on in the mind with the corporate headquarters.”
Because of the kerfuffle, Freivogel said the site will be changing its name to avoid confusion and a possible copyright drama. The Post-Dispatch has placed a trademark symbol near their blog’s name. While it’s unlikely that they have the trademark, Freivogel said it may demonstrate their intent.
“We’re just getting started and we’re at a point that we can change things pretty easy,” she said, adding she is “flattered that they like it.”
Freivogel said the non-profit site picked the name platform because of the word’s multiple meanings, referring to the technology platform of the internet, a platform for people to speak out on and Post-Dispatch Publisher Joseph Pulitzer’s platform statement, which was an “inspiration” to the site’s creators.
“But we feel like whether it was deliberate or not this is causing confusion about who we area. It makes it difficult for people to find us,” she said.
As for the site itself, Freivogel said it’s going well. They have a beta site up for people to peruse and give feedback on. They’ve already started posting original content and hope for the site to become a place for people to get information and voice their own opinions about St. Louis.
April 8th, 2008 at 11:19 am
We do need Platforms to get the message out in St. Louis; Good Luck in this endeavor and my contribution to the Platform is to ask those of you who are aware of the discriminatory practices in the Office of the Circuit Attorney to vote NONE OF THE ABOVE on election day as Jennifer Joyce runs un-apposed.
Where are the Black Attorneys on this issue as we have seen creditable evidence as to the need to investigate the Circuit Attorney’s Office as they make decision after decision based on the color of one’s skin.
Bill Monroe
My vote on election day for the Office of the Circuit Attorney is NONE OF THE ABOVE-Join me in sending this message to Jennifer Joyce and Company.
April 8th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
They should change their name to “Pullets are Disgraceful reporters”. And keep their reporting unfailingly courageous.
April 9th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
From archcity
Media Watch
April 9, 2008
A News Website By Any Other Name
From The St. Louis Platform:
The St. Louis Platform is about to become the St. Louis Beacon. Within a few days, you will find us at stlbeacon.org. If you come here to our original address, we’ll send you automatically to our new home.
We’re taking this step to avoid any confusion that might result from the recent appearance of a new blog created for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial page. We were surprised to discover that the blog’s name is The Platform and that the name appears in print announcements with a trademark symbol next to it.
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