I'm a full-time web editor at a metro newspaper.

My take?

There is plenty of cheap, low-grade, evergreen content out there (think Associated Content), and only low-grade media companies want it.

What decent news outlets want is high-grade, local, exclusive, timely content -- and I can't see a freelancer who is capable of producing that type of content using a platform like StoryMarket, rather than dealing directly with the media outlet. Similarly, I can't see assignment editors using StoryMarket to find that type of content. Assigning editors like to deal with freelancers directly, for a whole host of practical reasons.

My prediction? StoryMarket is going to find itself with a lot of content, and not a lot of people willing to pay for it.

I think we fit in the middle between the two. Obviously not necessarily local or exclusive, but mid to high grade content. I think the important part here is that most of the content will be a la carte and not leave media companies paying for a subscription that they don't or at least under use.

I have thought that something like this would be great for a while. I wonder, is there any DRM like to prevent piracy on grey-area blogs that won't respond to a take-down notice?

I know others probably disagree, but DRM doesn't work.

Interesting. I've pointed a journalist friend of mine at it to see what she makes of it.

Great thanks! We've been building this for awhile, getting input from tons of journalists and editors, but the more the merrier!