After the St. Louis Post-Dispatch launched a blog called “The Platform” Sunday, Margaret Wolf Freivogel, editor of the new non-profit news site the Saint Louis Platform, knew there would have to be a name change.
To be reborn as the “Saint Louis Beacon,” this local news hub created by some former Post-Dispatch employees will focus on shining “the light on news that matters to our region.”
Together, we can pierce the darkness with quality reporting and thoughtful discussion. We can generate a Beacon that illuminates our region and shines outward to the world.
Even though “Platform” name has been in use for months now, Freivogel thought a name change would easier since the site is still in its test phases.
In a statement on the site, the editors wrote:
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.
In the statement, the editors stated that the new Web address will be stlbeacon.org, but if you stop by using the original address it will automatically take you to the new Beacon site.
To see the site at its current address, click here.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Now the Post-Dispatch will have to create a blog called Beacon.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I just find the whole ordeal HIGHLY suspicious. Journalistic competition can be vicious and the Post is essentially a monopoly so they’re going to do what they have to do to marginalize all newcomers. It will be interesting to watch, no doubt.
April 11th, 2008 at 1:35 am
Freivogel is their worst nightmare—a talented person, deeply offended by the bs she has witnessed which has been wrecking the paper’s integrity.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Since the Post takes such a biased pro Slay leaning,I’m surprised the Post didn’t name their blog “Mayor Slay’s Blog”!
April 14th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Suspicious, indeed! I find it easy to suspect that the Freivogel crew decided that the best way to get a lot of free publicity would be to launch using a name that would tick off Pulitzer. Very, very clever.