The Pod Makes the News, $1M Liquor Licenses and Two Throwbacks

This week, Columbia Journalism Review takes a close look at how The Montclair Pod became a go-to source for the school budget story, and where Mike and Farnoosh want to take the “Montclair-ish” format next. We also break down why Montclair only has about 13 liquor licenses for a town of around 41,000 people, and what that means for your next dinner reservation. Plus, two throwbacks worth a re-listen: our visit to the Montclair History Center and our conversation with The Local Girl’s Jen Tripucka.

WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE

• CJR’s “Hyperlocal Listening”: Writer Amos Barshad profiles the Pod, starting with the school budget scoop (the deficit turning out to be closer to $18M, not $11M), Governor Sherrill’s follow-up, and the show’s numbers 18 months in: nearly 70,000 downloads, 2,000+ subscribers, and $80,000 in sponsor revenue with no sales team.
• The Montclair Local, addressed head-on: the piece gets into the friction between the Pod and the Montclair Local, including the Local’s policy against its reporters appearing on the podcast. Mike and Farnoosh’s take stays the same: there’s room for everyone covering this town.
• Where the format goes next: the hosts’ working definition of a “Montclair-ish” town (population 30K-100K, median household income around $125K, an engaged community) and why they’re already hearing from journalists in other towns who want to do the same thing.
• Best Bars in Montclair, and why there aren’t more: the new montclairpod.com piece on the town’s roughly 13 liquor licenses, the 1947 New Jersey law behind the cap, why a license can sell for over $1M, and how BYOB spots like Luigino’s, Sam’s Table, and Clementina get around it with curated wine sourced through a licensed winery.
• Throwback #1: Montclair History Center. A replay of the visit to the Crane House and Historic YWCA on Orange Road with director Angelica Diggs, including the old YWCA club room and a look at what the archive turns up about your own house’s history.
• Throwback #2: Jen Tripucka, The Local Girl. A replay of the conversation with the founder of The Local Girl Media Group (parent company of The Montclair Girl) on building a multi-region hyperlocal media company, sponsored vs. editorial content, and her favorite local spots.
• Weekend in town: the Montclair Flea at Lackawanna Plaza, a Dungeons & Dragons trivia night, a couple of singles mixers, and an adult performance night from Jazz House Kids at Montclair Brewery.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• The Pod in the News: “Hyperlocal Listening” by Amos Barshad in The Columbia Journalism Review
• Getting into the City: The Complete (& Only Mildly Infuriating) Guide to Commuting to NYC from Montclair
• Bars: The Best Bars in Montclair and Montclair’s Liquor Licenses Explained (montclairpod.com) —
• Throwback 1: A visit to the Montclair History Center
• Throwback 2: The Montclair Girl meets The Montclair Pod
• Events: Check out what’s happening in and around Montclair and add your own event
• Got a story, a correction, or a compliment? Reach us at [email protected]

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