By Senior Editor – Kris Smith (@croncast)

Across my radar today, for a split second, there was a content blip from GlobalPost.com. I’m not sure how it got there but I know what happened after I saw it – research.

What I was able to quickly ascertain from their site and other outlets was that this was a real news organization. And their goal is to be making many more blips on more radars globally.

GlobalPost is working very diligently to build a decentralized news organization in times when traditional news publishers are facing some of their biggest challenges. The main one being the ability maintain a sustainable revenue stream.

GlobalPost is solving this problem in two ways -  partnership syndication and a subscriber model called GlobalPost Passport.

Partnership Syndication

This is a brilliant use of technology, their global network of journalists and freelance stringers. I’m not sure how they are managing the technology but I am well versed in ways to make it work. The global network is easier to is easier to understand in the sense that GlobalPost can manage its array of talent and mobilize them for other brands that are cutting back their international bureaus.

Currently they are partnered with CBS News, Reuters and BillOReilly.com to mention a few. And yes, you did read that right, BillOReilly.com. Proof positive that news can survive today if politics can be set aside for commerce.

GlobalPost Passport

This is where it gets interesting. GlobalPost offers Passport members the additional content and access to the inner workings of the organization. Passport members get access to full content, can join correspondent calls and even pitch story ideas. Essentially, these members that pay around $100 for the year go beyond ‘premium’ content and can become part of the organization.

I think this is a brilliant solution to the typical  paywall problem of needing to create additional content that is ‘premium’. All of their content is considered such and the additional value presented by being able to have access to the internal process is a great move to gauge what the audience wants to read.

After all, if they aren’t producing the content that their audience wants they won’t be in business very long.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0