TAPinto

Last updated
TAPinto.net
(formerly The Alternative Press)
TAP Logo 2014.png
Type of site
News, digital advertising
Founded2008
Headquarters,
U.S.
No. of locations95
Area served New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida
Founder(s) Michael Shapiro
Key peopleMichael Shapiro, CEO
IndustryLocal News
Services Local news and digital marketing
URL www.tapinto.net
LaunchedOctober 2008
Current statusActive

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. [1] 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.

Contents

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. [2]

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. [3]

Honors and awards

In 2023, the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists honored TAPinto with three Excellence in Journalism Awards. [4] In 2022, the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists honored TAPinto with eight Excellence in Journalism Awards. [5] Also in 2022, TAPinto journalists were honored with three Excellence in Local News Awards, from the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. [6]

In 2023, Franchise Business Review named TAPinto as a Top Franchise, [7] Most Innovative Franchise, [8] Top Low-Cost Franchise [9] and Top Franchise for Women. [10]

Media coverage

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References

  1. "About TAPinto &#124". TAPinto.
  2. "Start TAPinto". TAPinto.
  3. "Berkeley Heights, NJ, The Highlander Section". TAPinto.
  4. "New Jersey Society Of Professional Journalists Recognizes TAPinto With 2023 Excellence In Journalism Awards". TAPinto.[ dead link ]
  5. "New Jersey Society Of Professional Journalists Recognizes TAPinto With 8 Excellence In Journalism Awards". TAPinto. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022.
  6. "TAPinto Journalists Honored With 2022 Excellence In Local News Awards". TAPinto.[ dead link ]
  7. "TAPinto Named A 2023 Top Franchise By Franchise Business Review". TAPinto. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023.
  8. "TAPinto Recognized as a Most Innovative Franchise by Franchise Business Review". TAPinto.
  9. "TAPinto Named A 2023 Top Low Cost Franchise By Franchise Business Review". TAPinto. Archived from the original on June 13, 2023.
  10. "TAPinto Named A 2023 Top Franchise For Women By Franchise Business Review". TAPinto. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023.
  11. Wildstein, David (October 2, 2023). "TAPinto turns 15 today". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  12. "Local News: The Business Community's Lifeblood". Downtown NJ.
  13. Blinder, Robin (March 1, 2022). "10 news publishers that do it right". Editor and Publisher . Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  14. Kennedy, Dan (April 27, 2022). "A network of community news franchises: Mike Shapiro on what makes TAPinto click". What Works. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  15. "Inside TAPinto's franchise model for local news". The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  16. Owens, Simon (November 11, 2020). "It's not all doom and gloom. These 9 local news orgs are thriving". Simon Owens. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  17. Chen, David W. (January 3, 2017). "In New Jersey, Only a Few Media Watchdogs Are Left". The New York Times . Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  18. "TAPinto.net Providing Hyperlocal News to NJ Communities". March 17, 2017 via YouTube.
  19. Xie, Suzie (March 25, 2016). "New Jersey sites tap into local news". Columbia Journalism Review . Retrieved January 21, 2025.