Rainsystems · Editorial operations
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The newsroom · est. May 2024

Between commits.

A studio notebook. Essays on editorial systems, engineering field notes, the occasional rant about CSS. Published when there's something worth writing, not on a schedule.

All · 36 How we do Business · 12 Services · 11 Strategy · 7 Consulting · 3 Audience Strategy · 2 Editorial Strategy · 2 Real life stories · 2 About Us · 2 Product Thinking · 1 Email Strategy · 1 Media Sustainability · 1 Fundraising Infrastructure · 1 Web Strategy · 1 Tech · 1
Email Strategy · May 11, 2026 · Lead story

Your Newsletter Metrics Are Probably Measuring the Wrong Things

Open rate tells you what happened last Tuesday. It does not tell you whether your newsletter is building a habit. Local newsrooms need to start asking a different question.

By Akel Aguad·May 11, 2026·1 min read
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Open rate tells you what happened last Tuesday. It does not tell you whether your newsletter is building a habit. Local newsrooms need to start asking a different question.

From the lead story
Media Sustainability · May 9

Mission Doesn't Pay for Hosting

A new CNTI report confirms what most community media founders already feel: purpose is abundant, infrastructure is not. Here's what actually moves the needle.

By Akel Aguad·1 min
Editorial Strategy · May 7

Utility Content Is an Audience Strategy

The Intercept's ICE tip sheet pulled 150,000 readers and then they drove it around JFK. The stunt was clever, but the real lesson is about what utility content does to trust.

By Akel Aguad·1 min
Audience Strategy · May 7

Stress Is a Churn Driver. Your Homepage Might Be Making It Worse.

A new study confirms what community media editors already sense: local news doesn't stress people out the way national news does. The question is whether your digital presence is actually built around that difference.

By Akel Aguad·May 7, 2026·1 min
Strategy · Apr 29

How to Know If Your Website Is Actually Working

Most business owners assume their website is working. But working is not a feeling. It's a measurable thing, and measuring it starts with knowing what you're trying to measure.

By Akel Aguad·April 29, 2026·1 min