Citizen journalism site Backfence shutting down: A news site that has allowed its users to write and submit their own articles is shutting down, citing unspecified "business issues."Backfence Inc. had "hyperlocal" sites serving 13 communities in the Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Chicago areas. Residents were allowed to write on any topic, including event announcements and neighborhood traffic congestion, without the meddling of editors.
About the Backfence Closing (by Dan Gillmor): Most startups fail. That is not a bad thing. It is a necessary thing, because a tolerance for risk — no, a need to embrace it — is at the core of how good things eventually come from experimentation. It’s a vital part of how we learn, and improve.
