In 2010 Seattle's print media continued to downsize while web-only outlets thrived, despite minimal online ad revenue. A good example: this month at the Belltown Messenger we busted ourselves down from a 7,000-circulation newsprint publication to 2,500 copies of a four page newsletter. We still see the value of print (now on 60-pound paper) but are happily expanding our website while cutting back on the tree-slaughtering ever-so-slightly. Update: The Belltown Messenger Goes Online-Only

The Belltown Messenger (#67) does not have the Gates Foundation ( Crosscut.com, #26) or a cabal of neo-tech millionaires (publicola.net, #25) or a giant corporation (seattlepi.com, #2) to support us. We're as indie as they come and will continue to survive and thrive somehow through various neighborhood scandals and crime alerts and international economic collapses as we have since 2003.

We still have a print product because we know the mythical stream of online ad revenue has not yet arrived and still only works for heavily trafficked sites, or for the real pros who are going all-out with their neighborhood blogging, like Microsoft dude and Next Door Media co-owner Cory Bergman of myballard.com (#13), and the tireless Tracy Record of westseattleblog.com (#14).

Did I mention that web-only local news start-up sites are a hard way to make a living? Take the perceived success of former Stranger writer Jonah Spangenthal-Lee's seattlecrime.com blog. Starting up just as we were publishing last year's top 100 list, seattlecrime.com jumped from number 89 to number 39 in 2010. But an analysis of traffic and advertising there reveals that the site brings in under two hundred dollars a week – not enough to live on, even for an aspiring journalist or lowbrow schlock media entrepreneur.

Here's what Spanganthal-Lee recently said about our beloved neighborhood: "In all seriousness: I was born and raised here. Belltown has been and always will be a sh*t hole." We'll see how long he continues to bad-mouth Belltown while making less than thirty bucks a day. Seattlecrime.com is a good idea and some day it'll be profitable, but right now it's 2010, which brings us to our top 100 list:

(Our ranking system is based on data from Alexa, Google, Quantcast, websiteoutlook.com and also our own private formulas.)

1. - 1. seattletimes.com Alexa: 1,198 / Quantcast rank: - / WSO: dpv 918,196

2. - 2. seattlepi.com Alexa: no data / Quantcast rank: 562 (2.6 million monthly U.S. people) WEB ONLY

3. - 4. komonews.com Alexa: 9,771 / Quantcast rank: 3,728 / WSO: dpv 117,308

4. - 3. thestranger.com Alexa: 9,798/ Quantcast rank: 2,731 / WSO: dpv 112,267

5. - 5. king5.com Alexa: 15,826 / Quantcast rank: 2,739 / WSO: dpv 69,505

6. - 9. seattleweekly.com Alexa: 18,045 / Quantcast rank: 535 K monthly US people / WSO: dpv 62,796

7. - 6. thenewstribune.com Alexa: 18,188 / Quantcast rank: 2,852 / WSO:x dpv 60,479

8. - 7. kirotv.com Alexa: 18,872 / Quantcast rank: 3,154 / WSO: dpv 58,287

9. - 8. techflash.com* Alexa: 23,839 / Quantcast rank: 176,004 / WSO: dpv 46,142

10. - 10. mynorthwest.com Alexa: 31,079 / Quantcast rank: 7,234 / WSO: dpv 35,393

11. - 11. kexp.org Alexa: 69,043 / Quantcast rank: 41,816 / WSO: dpv: 15,932

12. - 13. nwcn.com Alexa: 105,715 / Quantcast rank: 44,331 / WSO: dpv 10,405

13. - 15. myballard.com Alexa: 120,643 / Quantcast rank: 202,522 / WSO: dpv 9,117 WEB ONLY

14. - 16. westseattleblog.com Alexa: 122,222 / Quantcast rank: 27,976 / WSO: dpv 9,000 WEB ONLY

15. - 14. seattle20.com Alexa: 123,659 / Quantcast rank: no data / WSO: dpv: 8,895 WEB ONLY

16. - 21. capitolhillseattle.com Alexa: 138,980 / Quantcast rank: 50,079 / WSO: dpv 7,914 WEB ONLY

17. - 12. kuow.org Alexa: 151,204 / Quantcast rank: 80,294 / WSO: dpv 7,274

18. - 17. q13fox.com Alexa: no data / Quantcast rank: 18,979 / WSO: dpv: (inconclusive data)

19 - 20. seattlest.com Alexa: 196,620 / Quantcast rank: 58,369 / WSO: dpv 5,594 WEB ONLY

20. - 18. seattlebubble.com Alexa: 283,153 / Quantcast rank: 531,950 / WSO: dpv 3,884 WEB ONLY

21. - 19. pnwlocalnews.com* Alexa: 66,509 / Quantcast rank: 7,110 / WSO: dpv: 16,539 WEB ONLY

22. - 23. seattlemet.com Alexa: 204,866 / Quantcast rank: 340,160 / WSO: dpv 5,369

23. - 28. seattlemag.com Alexa: 206,408 / Quantcast rank: 103,790 / WSO: 5,329

24. - 39. wallyhood.org Alexa: 245,882 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 4,473 WEB ONLY

25. - 35. publicola.net Alexa: 248,131 / Quantcast rank: 254,710 / WSO: dpv 4,433 WEB ONLY

26. - 24. crosscut.com Alexa: 341,766 / Quantcast rank: 47,976 / WSO: dpv 3,218 WEB ONLY

27. - 25. djc.com Alexa: 273,625 / Quantcast rank: 96,659 / WSO: dpv 4,023

28. - 37. nodepression.com* Alexa: 182,337 / Quantcast rank: 50,415 / WSO: dpv: 6,032

29. - 27. grist.org* Alexa: 16,910 / Quantcast rank: 6,202 / WSO: dpv: 65,111 WEB ONLY

30. - xx. b-townblog.com* Alexa: 162,444 / Quantcast: 106,535 / WSO: dpv 7,102 WEB ONLY

31. - 43. seattle.bizjournals.com Alexa: no data / Quantcast rank: no data / WSO: no data

32. - 29. researchchannel.org Alexa: 366,109 / Quantcast rank: 96,285 / WSO: dpv: 3,004

33. - 30. dailyuw.com Alexa: 316,519 / Quantcast rank: 80,186 / WSO: dpv 3,475

34. - 31. xconomy.com* Alexa: 36,563 / Quantcast rank: 18,661 / WSO: dpv: 30,085 WEB ONLY

35. - 88. sportsnwmag.com Alexa: 457,140 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 2,407

36. - 42. am1090seattle.com*(kptk.cbslocal.com) Alexa: not available / Quantcast rank: no data / WSO: no data

37. - 33. horsesass.org Alexa: 522,424 / Quantcast rank: 195,765 / WSO: dpv 2,321 WEB ONLY

38. - 34. parentmap.com Alexa: 473,307 / Quantcast rank: no data / WSO: dpv 2,324

39. - 89. seattlecrime.com Alexa: 503,109 / Quantcast rank: 122,715 / WSO: dpv 2,186 WEB ONLY

40. - 83. soundpolitics.com Alexa: 518,273 / Quantcast: 94,698 / WSO: dpv 2,122

41. - 54. thesunbreak.com Alexa: 555,813 / Quantcast rank: 153,428 / WSO: dpv 1979 WEB ONLY

42. - xx. su-spectator.com Alexa: 571,668 / Quantcast: 208,285 / WSO: dpv 1,924

43. - xx. wildworldnews.com (Update: changed url and servers from marywa.com - new rank unknown)

44. - 36. kcts9.org Alexa: 649,857 / Quantcast rank: 66,686 / WSO: dpv 1,692

45. - 50. seattletransitblog.com Alexa: 659,902 / Quantcast rank: 102,615 / WSO: dpv: 1,666

46. - 40. theskanner.com Alexa: 622,035 / Quantcast rank: 253,100 / WSO: dpv 1,768

47. - 41. worldchanging.com* Alexa: 65,057 / Quantcast rank: 69,984 / WSO: dpv:16,908 WEB ONLY

48. - 44. centraldistrictnews.com Alexa: 633,193 / Quantcast rank: 127,936 / WSO: dpv 1,737 WEB ONLY

49. - 52. fremontuniverse.com Alexa: 698,950 / Quantcast rank: 666,539 / WSO: dpv 1573 WEB ONLY

50. - 46. robinsonnews.com Alexa: 623,566 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 1,765
(West Seattle Herald & White Center News)

51. - 55. seattlechannel.org Alexa: 693,981 / Quantcast rank: 197,151 / WSO: dpv 1,585

52. - 64. phinneywood.com Alexa: 762,007 / Quantcast rank: 241,089 / WSO: dpv 1,443 WEB ONLY

53. - 47. nwasianweekly.com Alexa: 769,607 / Quantcast rank: 511,414 / WSO: dpv 1,429

54. - 22. kvi.com Alexa: 775,100 / Quantcast rank: 186,534 / WSO: dpv 1,419

55. - 61. mygreenlake.com Alexa: 895,285 / Quantcast rank: 313,220 / WSO: dpv: 1,228 WEB ONLY

56. - 38. seattlepostglobe.org Alexa: 991,275 / Quantcast rank : 141,317 / WSO: dpv 1,109 WEB ONLY

57. - 49. magnoliavoice.com Alexa: 1,011,311 / Quantcast rank: 239,136 / WSO: dpv 1,087 WEB ONLY

58. - 83. seattleschild.com Alexa: 1,092,092 / Quantcast: 220,517 / WSO: dpv 1,066

59. - xx. seattle.indymedia.org Alexa: no data / Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv no data WEB ONLY

60. - 26. kplu.org Alexa: 1,170,489 / Quantcast rank: 272,640 / WSO: dpv 939

61. - 63. tvw.org Alexa: 1,165,556 / Quantcast rank: 400,173 / WSO: dpv 944

62. - 69. cityartsmagazine.com Alexa: 1,281,406 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 784

63. - 56. realchangenews.org Alexa: 1,223,388 / Quantcast rank: 192,382 / WSO: dpv 899

64. - 57. therainiervalley.com Alexa: 1,177,306 / Quantcast rank: 74,400 / WSO: dpv 934 WEB ONLY

65. - 72. seattlewomanmagazine.com Alexa: 1,147, 467 / Quantcast rank: 245,523 / WSO: dpv: 959

66. - 53. ballardnewstribune.com Alexa: 1,227,557 / Quantcast rank: no data / WSO: dpv 896

67. - 67. belltownmessenger.com Alexa: 1,438,197 / Quantcast rank: 496,808 / WSO: dpv 714

68. - 45. sgn.org Alexa: 1,420,891 / Quantcast rank: 107,285 / WSO: dpv 1,195

69. - 62. jtnews.net Alexa: 1,579,194 / Quantcast rank: 586,465 / WSO: dpv 696

70. - 77. soysource.net* Alexa: 1,168,438 Quantcast: hidden data / WSO: dpv 941

71. - 80. iexaminer.org Alexa: 1,179,800 Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 932

72. - 32. seattle.metblogs.com Alexa: no data / Quantcast rank: 4,000 monthly people / WSO: dpv: 1,010 WEB ONLY

73. - xx. kbcs.fm Alexa: 1,855,283 / Quantcast: 466,078 / WSO: dpv 592

74. - 90. citydogmagazine.com Alexa: 1,848,992 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: no data

75. - xx. pacificfishing.com* Alexa: 1,555,898 / Quantcast: 801,235 / WSO: dpv 706

76. - xx. enterprisenewspapers.com* Alexa: 999,036 / Quantcast: 228,972 / WSO: dpv 1,101

77. - 68. belltownpeople.com Alexa: 1,992,749 / Quantcast rank : no data / WSO: dpv 632 WEB ONLY

78. - 60. rainiervalleypost.com Alexa: 2,098,444 / Quantcast rank: no data / WSO: dpv 524 WEB ONLY

79. - 48. seattlecondoreview.com Alexa: 2,179,845 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 504 WEB ONLY

80. - 65. nguoiviet-taybac.com Alexa: 2,798,067 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 393

81. - xx. alaskaairlinesmagazine.com* Alexa: 2,865,985 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: no data

82. - 66. seattlemedium.com Alexa: 2,183,722 Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 503

83. - 71. thesouthlake.com Alexa: 2,745,107/ Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 400 WEB ONLY

84. - 59. eatthestate.org Alexa: 3,071,980 / Quantcast rank: no data / WSO: dpv 344

85. - 51. seattlebusinessmonthly.com Alexa: 3,698,007 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 297

86. - 75. queenannenews.com Alexa: 3,327,731 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 330

87. - 76. media-inc.com Alexa: 3,602,201 / Quantcast rank: no data / WSO: dpv: 309

88. - 78. capitolhilltimes.com Alexa: 4,154,000 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 271

89. - 79. pacificpublishingcompany.com Alexa: 4,046,000/ Quantcast rank: no data / WSO: dpv: 271

90. - 85. wafreepress.org Alexa: 4,580,111 / Quantcast rank: 1,531,000 / WSO: dpv 240

91. - xx. nwrunner.com Alexa: 4,773,922 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 230

92. - xx. thefalcononline.com Alexa: 4,982,292 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv no data

93. - 84. beaconhillblog.com (beaconhill.seattle.wa.us) Alexa: no data / Quantcast rank: no data / WSO: no data WEB ONLY

94. - 74. miscmedia.com Alexa: 6,379,543 / Quantcast rank: no data / WSO: dpv 171 WEB ONLY

95. - xx. nwyachting.com Alexa: 8,803,032 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 124

96. - 86. northseattleherald-outlook.com Alexa: 9,318,37 1/ Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 112

97. - 84. theseattlesinner.com Alexa: 9,505,000 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 115

98. - 87. seattlechinesepost.com Alexa: 11,866,093 Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 92

99. - 82. madisonparktimes.com Alexa: 13,226,993 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 83

100. - 73. blogginggeorgetown.com Alexa: 13,777,892 Quantcast: 698,400 / WSO: dpv 79 WEB ONLY

101. - 83. southseattlebeacon.com Alexa: 16,377,418 / Quantcast: no data / WSO: dpv 67

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Feel left out? Email editor@belltownmessenger.com.

All the stats in the universe and three bucks will get you a cup of coffee

Notes:

1. To qualify, your Seattle-based media site must produce some local news content on a regular basis.

2. Your site must have a unique domain name - no subdomains, subdirectories or other weird addresses.

*Reports on Seattle news but Seattle not the primary focus of this locally-based outlet. An asterix means the outlet might appear lower on the list than web stats might otherwise justify.

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-Alex R. Mayer
alex@belltownmessenger.com