Michele's List
Building blocks in the emerging local news ecosystem

TAP into Somerville is an independently-owned local news site operating as a franchisee in the TAPinto.net network. The publisher also operates TAP into Somerville. The TAPinto network, launched as The Alternative Press in 2008 by Michael and Lauryn Shapiro, shifted to a franchise model with independent ownership in 2013-14 and re-branded as TAPinto. The network provides franchisees with tech support, regional ad sales, editorial guidelines and business training in exchange for an annual fee. Revenue: Advertising.