Noisy Creek operates a portfolio of alternative‑weekly publications, including The Stranger and the Portland Mercury, alongside the event‑guide platform EverOut and ticketing service Bold Type Tickets. By combining editorial content with diversified revenue from ticket sales and targeted advertising, it creates a sustainable model for local journalism while supporting higher wages and collective bargaining for its newsroom staff.
Funding
$3.1M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Local alternative-weekly publications and community event guides struggle with declining advertising revenue and limited resources, leading to reduced coverage of arts, culture, and civic issues in regional markets.
Solution
Noisy Creek acquires and operates established alternative-weekly titles such as The Stranger and the Portland Mercury, combining them with the event‑guide platform EverOut and the ticket‑sales service Bold Type Tickets. By integrating editorial content with a diversified revenue stream that includes ticketing commissions and event‑guide advertising, the company creates a financially sustainable model for local journalism. The combined portfolio leverages shared technology, sales, and distribution infrastructure to reduce operating costs while expanding audience reach across Seattle, Portland, and other U.S. markets. This approach enables higher wages and collective bargaining for newsroom staff, reinforcing talent retention and the quality of local reporting.
Target Audience
Primary customers are regional readers interested in arts, culture, and local news, as well as event organizers and advertisers seeking exposure to engaged urban audiences in the Pacific Northwest and other U.S. cities.
Features
- Consolidated ownership of multiple legacy alternative‑weekly brands to preserve and grow regional news coverage
- Integrated ticketing platform (Bold Type Tickets) that generates commission revenue from live‑event sales
- EverOut community guide that aggregates local event listings and offers targeted advertising opportunities
- Shared content management and distribution systems that streamline publishing across print, web, and email newsletters
- Centralized advertising sales team that sells cross‑property packages to regional and national advertisers
- Commitment to a $70,000 wage floor and union‑backed collective bargaining for editorial staff