A little more than a year after launching, the news on the online political news outlet Texas Tribune is mixed. Memberships have fallen short of expectations, but the organization attracted more donor money and website traffic than it had initially projected.
Despite the head-turning start led by former Texas Monthly editor and president Evan Smith, Tribune executives said the nonprofit website that covers state politics like a newspaper needs to attract more subscribers while it weans itself off contributions — but that’s still a long way off.
“We’re not ready to declare victory,” Tribune investor and Chairman John Thornton said, “but we’re encouraged.”