Fighting For Credit In The Outer Borough

A big story broke in Brooklyn yesterday: grocery story chain Whole Foods backed out of it’s plan to build a new outlet in Gowanus. The important story first broke on the independent blog Brooklyn The Borough, led by former New York Observer columnist Nicole Brydson.

But, later that afternoon, The Brooklyn Paper sent out an email claiming it had an exclusive on the story. “Exclusive: Whole Foods has shelved its plans to open its first Brooklyn branch on Third Avenue near the Gowanus Canal, The Brooklyn Paper has learned,” the email read. (In its story, the paper does mention in the last line that Brooklyn The Borough got the scoop, although no mention is made in the email.)

Brydson also directed us to Curbed.com, which linked to the Brooklyn Paper but not Brooklyn The Borough. “I’ve put in an email to Lockhart Steele, but haven’t heard back,” Brydson told us.

This might seem like a minor issue, but for fledgling blogs trying to make it in the world, breaking news is a big part of getting recognized. “Meanwhile, WNYC had no problem giving credit where it’s due,” Brydson told us. “They mentioned the site on their hourly news update this morning.”

Update: Brydson just informed us that Curbed has updated its post to give credit to her blog.

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