Read All About It: PIT Launches Blue Sky
Pittsburgh International’s news site shares stories of airports, travel and the state of the industry
By Bob Kerlik
Published November 9, 2018
Read Time: 3 mins
What happens to your luggage after you drop it off at the ticketing counter? What motivates airlines to add flights at Pittsburgh International Airport? What’s that airport modernization project all about, anyway?
That’s what PIT’s new content platform is all about. We call it Blue Sky.
Blue Sky includes news, videos and features from the front lines and behind the scenes, telling the stories of airports, aviation and travel. The stories are written by airport staff, many of whom are former reporters and freelance writers.
“This is naturally the next step in the airport’s evolution as a world leader in aviation,” said Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis. “We want to communicate directly with travelers and the public, unfiltered.
“As the traditional media landscape continues to change, we want to be at the forefront of sharing the latest news,” she said. “This isn’t about PR spin. This is about informing the public with real news stories like any other media outlet.”
PIT is the latest organization to embrace the idea of taking its news distribution in-house. Private companies and organizations have increasingly launched their own news sites, particularly in markets where traditional media outlets have dwindled. Count Coca-Cola, Disney, American Express and Adobe are among the private companies that have launched their own sites. Governmental organizations like Denver Water have also jumped into the news business.
“I think it’s not unusual for those that have been covered by the media to begin publishing their own stories,” said Rick Edmonds, a media business analyst at the Poynter Institute, an organization dedicated to media education and strategy. “In terms of the economics of media, most newspapers don’t have as many people. It’s a way to provide coverage in the same way — and more
