In the end Saratoga is a small-town. The online community of
independent websites in Saratoga is even smaller. We all kind of know each
other, if not personally then through each others work. I’m not a commercial
site, I just pick up a bone or two to help with my blogging expenses .Some people try to make a go of it as a commercial venture. Trust
me it ain’t easy and no one at least locally is getting rich.
I don’t personally know Mamatoga Jenny but I know her work.
I’ve seen her grow her website and her brand as it became the most successful home
grown blog and website in this city. Targeting young women with children even
this old bastard found interesting content and even good restaurant tips. I
admired her writing style and wished I could write as well as her.She was a cool Mom with an edge.
As any good independent business women knows there would be challenges and imitators.
Maltamama set up shop in Saratoga and renamed herself SaratogaMama. If that
wasn’t enough her website was a virtual clone and used the same template as Mamatoga.
But what's that crap people spout? “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?
Yea my ass, in my world we call that bullshit. But this isn’t my world but the
civilized world of family websites. Mamatoga Jenny took it all in stride and
sought new ways to build her brand.
Enter Saratoga TODAY owner, Chad Beatty. Saratoga TODAY
started out as a pretty good rag and many people thought it might expand to
replace the Saratogian. But under the ownership of Chad Beatty it never lived
up to its potential. Mind you it still has a few good writers and they do a
pretty good roundup of council meeting, but budgets were cut, reporters let go
and more and more fluff replaced real news. In fairness they still do about
the best coverage of Wilton Town Politics but thats the exception. The paper has
been getting thinner and many stories were little more than infomercials for
Chad’s advertisers.
I think its fair to say Chad was on the way down and Jenny
and her Mamatoga brand was on the way up. Chad never really did grasp the
internet or online content. He was more an old school dinosaur waddling off to the
tar pits. But he did do one smart thing. He hooked his wagon up to Mamatoga and
her brand name to breathe some life into his dying medium. Jenny was a bit naive
and trusting as she took on a month to month contract for Chad to print a year
of the glossy Mamatoga Magazine, and it became the first Saratoga Springs
parenting magazine. Jenny is paid a modest {very modest} sum each issue and
Chad keeps ALL the ad revenue.
Last week MamatogaJenny thinks everything is hunky dory as she is putting the finishing touches
on the newest issue of Mamatoga Magazine when Chad calls Thursday night and
tells her “your services are no longer needed”
The next morning he announces his new partnership with the aforementioned
SaratogaMama who I would bet is cloning a cheap copy of Mamatoga Magazine that
she will no doubt call SaratogaMama magazine. Does the women ever have an
independent idea of her own?
Now before the peanut gallery climes in with “this is just business”. Yes I understand that. Please go back to my first line. “In the end Saratoga
is a small-town”
There are better ways to handle a business decision than
this. Unprofessional is one of the kinder words I can think off. Shitty comes
to mind or crappy and lowlife. That’s about right. A shitty, lowlife classless
way to end a business relationship.
PS.I hope your advertisers read this.
Anyway Mamatoga Jenny is being magnanimous in all this,wishing them both the best.She is publishing her Magazine independent of Chad. Personally I hope she hires a lawyer and sues both
their asses. Hell Chad is about broke anyway. Teach the prick a lesson his mother should have taught him a long time ago. Namely "manners and honesty". Do you really need to treat a small website operator in such a treacherous way? Is this how you treat everyone?. I will have Part 2 of my Turcotte saga coming up soon,
Saratoga in Decline
We never Sleep
Because you can’t trust anyone
42 comments:
You got me thinking now.
I am starting a blog called Mama Clancy. With a magazine, too.
Does anyone have Chad's phone number handy?
Why was Chad Beatty fired from the Saratogian?? Did he have something in his computer that maybe wasn't to family oriented.
This is a low life and dishonest way to behave. Hopefully Chad's advertisers will pull the ads from this guy. It would be nice if the Saratogians picked up Mamatoga.
What ever happened to Art Granick. He was an outstanding reported??
Citizen Clancy - Please get a phychological test. You really have no purpose in life other than to frag up dirt anywhere yu can get it. What really do you stand for. You lack morals. You lack ethics and normally deal with the whiners in the city who in some cases created the probelms we have faced in the city or are phycholically disturbed themselves. Your commentary really adds nothing to this blog. Find something better to do with your time.
Are you talking about Art Gonick, not Art Granick...He is still in town and wiritng..If you want, I can make the contact..
Before you spew out lies, please check your facts. Your assumptions are all misguided. To start with, during Mamatoga’s inception it was obvious that Jenny copied\cloned her site after MaltaMama. The concept behind SaratogaMama is just an extension of MaltaMama. So to make such baseless accusations, discredit this whole post. Second, Chad is a business man, if you have a profitable relationship with a partner, why would anyone take such a risky move, so we all can intelligently conclude that the relationship was not working out. Let’s put it bluntly, Jenny was fired. Furthermore, Jenny’s reputation among the business community is not necessary stellar, she's extremely divisive and some might call her Bitchy. The truth is that the relationship was not working out; Saratogamama was simply approached with an opportunity that she couldn’t refuse and Jenny needs to re-evaluate her business practices and reflect on why this happened to her. I wish all parties involve good luck. This is a small town and healthy competition should be encouraged and like all industries, people are hired and fired all the time.
Your opinion and rebuttal is welcome here. I would point out I do use my real name and I stand by what I've written.
If you or SaratogaMama orChad would like to have a rebuttal posted on the front page, e-mail it in a word document to
kaisersoze1914@mail.ru
You must include your real name and contact info
John Tighe
The only person who needs a psychological test is Citizen Nancy Dullmoon. I enjoy Citizen Clancy and hopes they keep it up.
The women wrote a women who was brutally attacked and almost killed after kidnapped from a Saratoga city deserved it because Nancy didn't like her. Claiming Karma's a bitch.
'So fuck her
Actually that is inaccurate- SaratogaMaMa was founded Sorensen in 2008 with a full website, blog and calendar of activities. Malta Mama acquired it from Lizzie in 2011 because of the similar audience & the natural fit for growing Malta Mama. -Lizzie Sorensen Original Saratoga Mama owner & business development consultant.
John,
Do you have a address to mail you info?
There is a ethical way to fire people and an unethical way to treat people.
Chad belongs to the latter.And my assertions that Saratoga Today is collapsing is quite correct. The issues are much smaller,lack content and are generally have the same value as the Pennysaver.
Chad doesn't have a stellar reputation in this city either.
He was a proponent for Charter Change,more gun control and a larger police force.A typical liberal Democrat.
Jenny as you like to call it "bitchy" others found her her to be sincere,edgy,honest and not afraid to tell the truth.
Something Chad forgot a long time ago.
Yes I have an address for subpoena delivery,donations,anthrax letters or tips.
John Tighe
496 Rowland St.
Bld6 Apt 4
Ballston Spa NY 12020.
Need directions?
Call Steve Coffey esq . Ph: (518) 462-5601 of O'Connell and Aronowitz.
He knows were I live
Is Chad that stupid he didn't thing they'd be a backlash against him for treating Jenny like shit.
How is Jenny "divisive"? Give me one example. Jenny was "fired" because she wouldn't work for the PEANUTS that Chad Beatty offered her. SaratogaMama got the job because not only would she work for cheaper, she'd be foolish enough to let Chad take equity in her business, something Jenny would never do. And bitchy? How's that? I'm sure instead of "reflecting" on why this happened to her Jenny is counting her blessings that she's not involved with Chad Beatty and his business anymore, good riddance.
Actually, Mr Beatty's political views lean toward the far conservative side, if one were to read his past editorials.
His paper is nothing more that a 'fluff rag'.
But the post by 6:03AM is inappropriate and should be taken off this blog. As should other similar ridiculous allegations with no backing or no confirmed name of author.
Art Gonick worked for both local newspapers, I think. While he did a good story or two here and there on city hall matters, I don't think he was a consistently good journalist by any matter. Plus, there are some reports floating about some past ethical problems with different organizations in town, outside of news reporting. Supposedly, these past sins coming to light resulted in his getting shit canned from the Saratogian.
As far as Nancy Dullmoon, well what can one say? A troubled soul that insists on putting herself on public display. It's very uncomfortable for this citizen to watch, but it's her choice. But she drives a cab now? So what? At least she is working. Good for her. Good for us because it might mean less anonymous comments by her both here and on the Saratogian web site.
The people who post here as Citizen Clancy? I love it. Keep it up. A good laugh is good medicine. I hope Miss Dullmoon has the same lighten up folks attitude to it as well.
Mama toga and Saratoga Mama? Who the hell gives a crap? They each must have rich husbands to support their little fantasies. Nancy, take notes.
Eagle Scout Dad? Have you met Nancy?
You're failing to realize that Saratogamama took this opportunity that was CREATED by Mamatoga and Saratoga Today, together. Not just Saratoga Today. They are using contacts and relationships that Mamatoga herself developed, not to mention that Saratogamama accepted a position that was offered to her while Mamatoga was still working on the magazine. Really ethical. If ANYONE needs to re-evaluate their business practices it is Colleen Pierre, not the other way around. If anyone looks bad in this situation it is her, and Chad. Especially if you are claiming Mamatoga ripped off Maltamama (which she didn't) what is Colleen Pierre doing now? SHE IS DOING THE SAME MAGAZINE THAT USED TO BE CALLED MAMATOGA. Talk about a rip off!! You are delusional. And you're right, it is a small town, too small to pull that kind of bullshit and not come off looking like a total scumbag. People might do it all the time, but it doesn't make it less of a shady, shady move.
Back in elementary school, that was the worst social sin, wasn't it? "You COPIED me!" was the most terrible accusation you could throw at a classmate.
Even an eight year old knows this is wrong.
I won't speak to any of the business concerning the mom blogs, as it did not have anything to do with me or the editorial staff.
What I will say is to not count Saratoga Today out yet. I was worried you were going to bury us all here at ST, but I appreciate what you said about the editorial staff. We do the best with what we have but we are still, at the end of the day, a small local business. I wear a lot of hats around here, and push myself every week to make sure each edition leaves in time.
There are a lot of good people who work here. Chad is my boss and the owner, and while I will not make excuses as to any recent business decisions, I can tell you he cares about his staff here tremendously, and that I've received nothing but his respect and honesty since day one on the job. (Also, I don't know a more obnoxiously staunch conservative than Chad, trust me on that one.)
I say this all as a fan of this blog and as someone who wrestled with whether to post anything regarding this. I hear all of your complaints about the paper and dispute none of them. I welcome anyone else with complaints/comments/suggestions/cookie recipes or whatever else you think we're missing to please, let me know personally. I'm not difficult to reach. I've only been at the helm two months, so give me some time to show you we mean business.
I come in peace, John, as while I do not know you on a personal basis, our paths cross at civic meetings occasionally. I am a frequent reader of this blog, and feel a peculiar sense of pride seeing everyone rip us to shreds over this. After all, we got everyone talking, didn't we?
Thank you.I respect your coverage of Council meeting and your Wilton board coverage is second to none.
All lot of people have hurt feelings over this and aI hope that the hurt bring aired in this very public way will help to keep the anger from festering below the surface.
I have read every editorial from Chad and I can't see how a bigger police force,larger city government along with all the costs that entails is conservative? Anyway if Chad wants to write a rebuttle have him e-mail it to me
John Tighe
This post is childish and base, befitting for a high school cafeteria debate.
Your endorsement of Mamatoga Jenny could only serve to hurt her.
Pulling back the curtain to expose underhanded and deceitful bussnesss practices is never childish.
Perhaps you feel dirty laundry should be kept out of view in polite company but I don't.
Jenny had nothing to do with this post she has been taking the high road despite the large pointed object protruding from her back
I could give a toss about either of these bloggers. But I can say this with NO doubt in my mind: Chad Beatty is a creepy little hyperactive midget with a ceaseless libido, the tact of your standard gutter rat and an eye for modern news content that is comparable to the glaucoma-clouded vision of most octogenarians. He is to the media business what a room full of loaded AR-15s is to a gang of schizophrenic manic depressives. There are only a few reasons Saratoga Today is still circulating:
1. Starving writers still need a job.
2. The Saratogian Beatty worked so hard to destroy sucks goat dick even worse than it did when he was at the helm.
3. All the other papers covering Saratoga County have contracted so greatly.
4. Because it's fucking free.
The fact that EITHER of these two women are or were doing business with this human bedpan is an indication that neither of them has an ounce of business sense or common sense for that matter. By the way, did anyone every care to ask why he "left" the Saratogian? Now that's a funny story...But I'll leave that for the other people who know it to dredge it up.
Advice: This man is the plague. Avoid him at all costs. Runaway fast. Very fast.
Hello, this is Colleen Pierre from SaratogaMama. I will not attempt to change your opinions I will only set the facts straight.
Fact #1: MaltaMama had existed for two years prior to the launch of SaratogaMama. It was a family website dedicated to life in Saratoga County. I started the site and blogged daily for two years.
Fact #2: SaratogaMama was a family website initiated in 2008. I acquired it in early 2011, and launched soon thereafter.
Fact #3: You've obviously never visited SaratogaMama because if you did, you would notice that it is absolutely nothing like Mamatoga and never was. Same "template"? What are you even talking about?
Clearly you favor Mamatoga (linking to her 7 times) because you didn't even give me the respect of linking to SaratogaMama or MaltaMama.
As for the magazine, it's business. I made a decision to grow my brand and to accept an opportunity to partner with Saratoga Today. I had little control over how the situation was handled from an HR standpoint.
If you choose to write about me or my business again, you can reach me at colleen@saratogamama.com.
It is absurd that a simple website check of MaltaMama and/or SaratogaMama did not occur prior to you blasting me and my brand publicly.
You are of course welcome to write here anytime and I applaud you for signing your name.
That said have I have visited your website many times.
I find it humorous that you take offence at me not linking to you.
Did you bother to tell Mamatoga you were slitting her that? When you made your big announcement did you link to her?You know the Women that you screwed?
There are ways to do things and ways not to.I make my choices and live with the consequences.You will have to do the same
But in fairness send me your full rebuttle with title and I'LL give you front page tomorrow night that will.give you a chance to compose it.Sent in a wood document to
tighotwo@hotmail.com
Forgive my grammer I'm writing from a ph
Colleen, the fact that you blast other people, Mamatoga's site actually, yourself, on your OWN site, and then complain about it happening to you here is pretty funny. And I quote: "I’m certainly not the only family resource in Saratoga County, but if you’re comparing websites, SaratogaMama has “stayed the course” and remained dedicated to family life; not social life." Practice what you preach. Oh and good luck with Chad Beatty! Pretty cool that you sold your work to him.
Beautiful post JT it swells the Heart but when it comes to Chad Beatty who amounts to a pimple on a frogs'ass,,,one would think that his thorny reputation would be a red flag to anyone needing(?)a business venture a clear sign to stay away-------------maybe not??
I think it is safe to say I will not be dining at Ms. Saratogamama's home this year.
She says she is moving on will not be writing a rebuttal.
Colleen, you claim "As for the magazine, it's business. I made a decision to grow my brand and to accept an opportunity to partner with Saratoga Today. I had little control over how the situation was handled from an HR standpoint." But you knew that was Mamatoga's magazine, that she started. You knew when Chad Beatty started talking to you about it that she was still working there, because her issue hadn't come out yet, so you knew all of those things, then you knew she only found out she was no longer working on the magazine the day before you announced your "NEW" (read: not new) partnership in a spectacularly tacky fashion because you guys were scrambling. To claim ignorance about how it all went down is unacceptable. It's clear you have an axe to grind with her because you think she stole your maltamamma idea and jumped at the chance to screw her. The only catch? You screwed yourselves instead.
Of course she isn't writing a rebuttal it probably took her all day to come up with that comment she wrote. And she does have a new magazine to write after all.
Wow! So much mama anger! Who knew? These guys need to relax. I never realized the young Moms in Saratoga spent so much time reading John's blog. Hysterical!
Just because it is two "mamas" that are involved doesn't take away from the fact that there were some very screwed up business dealings at play, which greatly affect people's businesses which they have worked hard at. Don't diminish it because it is women involved. If it was two men would you tell everyone to "relax"? I think not. And don't let it overshadow the fact that Chad Beatty is a giant douche. That's the real lesson here.
Greetings, John:
It's been a while-- Happy New Year to you and yours!. I will add to the discussion in the hope that I can clarify a few fine pts.
Insofar as the discussion to date, like my hero Justice William O.Douglas; i agree and dissent in part.
1-First and foremost, let me say that I now make my home in Nashville, TN--I have been here since March-- a little further away than B'Spa to be sure, but you'd be surprised how a distance of 1,100 miles adds to one's amused perspective on things 12866. I continue to write for Saratoga TODAY on a freelance basis, and am very pleased to do so... In my career, I have acquired quite a few contacts and thus, even from here, have been able to write stories about the UPH/Proctors joint venture, etc., that scooped everyone.
2- I continue this relationship, and am pleased to do so... I consider my hometown to be Saratoga Springs, and will till the day i die. I will be visiting often to dig around, so don't be surprised to see me in line at the UG-- though I assure you it won't be before the spring.... in the meantime, you all can read my piece about Mare Barker of Impressions in the next issue of Simply Saratoga, due out on newsstands January 18-- a minor digression - you are forgetting the robust (meaning: lotsa ads) magazines that are put out by Saratoga Publishing on a regular basis... the last (Holiday) issue was 100 pages from cover to cover-- aint bad for what you describe as a 'small town' - i am sure that the Jan 18 issue will be smaller than that, but guess what, it's January! How many ads does anyone sell at that time of year in the Northeast? Honestly, when I was Editor of that magazine, I begged Chad Beatty to bag that issue and add one to the summertime, but I was vetoed because of his commitment to the community that lives here year-round.
3- Regarding Publisher Beatty:
He has truly earned that title. All I can say about Chad is that everything, EVERYTHING he ever promised me, he has delivered-- and then some. I can only speak from my experience, and perhaps YMMV, but from day one I have found him to be challenging, forthright and transparent about all subjects... he is, in my experience, one of the finest individuals i have come to know... not because of his political beliefs, which are totally wrong BTW (didn't we have a bet on the last Pres election?) and would probably be regarded as 'dangerously conservative' even here in the South, but because of the person that he is: a person who accepted me at face value...i told him that i could re-engineer his entertainment pages, and while he had (and still has, i believe) no idea what i was talking about, he wrote checks that cleared instantly at a time when i needed them to.
Publisher Beatty: I thank you for that. You have no idea how much that meant to me at the time. Happy New Year to u, K, and young Mr. K,
4- oh, BTW--- you people who think that there is going to be a mass cancellation of advertising -- Dream On! Are you kidding me? The people who have been working hard to deliver relevant product, who have done so for DECADES, are going to to keep on delivering numbers while you just whine,, Give it up; this is a waste of time. Can you imagine a real business person canceling their advertising because a business person made a business decision? get real!
5- Re:Mamatoga/SaratogaMama:
Frankly, I have no opinion on this bruhaha: i'm going to say this: there is no way that Chad would favor a month-to-month deal for a PRINTED publication.,,, the expense of the paper from month 2 month vs. an annual contract are so prohibitive that it is hard to envision Saratoga Publishing preferring the former... just saying.
5- I personally would have favored a classic cat fight at high noon between the "Mama's" - with hair pulling, kicking and scratching... the winner gets a year contract from Saratoga Publishing.
But that's just me, John.
Regards,
Arthur Gonick
I don't know about that Arthur, people might just want to pull their advertising when they find out Chad Beatty wasn't actually working THAT hard to "deliver relevant product", considering he sold ads claiming that a certain number of copies we be distributed and didn't even come CLOSE to printing as many as he said he would, let alone distributing them. In fact, if I was an advertiser, I'd demand about HALF of my money back. Someone might want to do a bit of digging into that.
Omg you are pathetic human beings!!! Unfortunately I was introduced to this joke of a website or "blog" today and everyone needs to get OFF ASAP you sound ridiculous and are sitting behind a computer arguing with what I'm assuming is a fat and hairy guy named John who probably needs to feel Important and this is his only way-to sit safely behind a screen and try to stir up you people and let me tell you... You are all better than this!!!! He's a joke obviously. It's so sad we even give him the time of day. What ever happened to face to face confrontation? Instead it's like a high school girl trying to start cyber fights ... Aren't you a grown man? Come on people! His opinions are worthless and he gets involved apparently in things that have absolutely NOTHING to do with him. Quite sad for you as a person, but hilarious to people like me. Let's all realize this is no professional website or blog... This is some bum ... Apparently a very angry bum with way toooo much time on his bands!!!!!
is that you Chsd? Seriously you dismiss me but than take the time to write your angry diatribe. Glad to read I have a new angry fan
Arthur - I don't know how well you know Beatty, but he's scum. How he made it this far in the publishing business is beyond me, especially after what he did during his very shortened tenure at the Saratogian. The only explanation is that there are a lot of businesses out there with too much money and a lot of writers with absolutely none.
Ask around and you'll find out what kind of a raging ass-clown this guy really is. I always got that sense from him. Then I started to hear stories...And I'll leave it at that.
And I wouldn't be surprised if 9:58 IS Beatty. Whoever wrote the post is just about as illiterate as he is...
jt,he wants a face to face...why?...he lives in a world he hates and besides your to easy to find,sounds like this neo-nerd needs a life.
“In memory of the 13000 killed by drunk drivers will Saratoga cancel beer week?”
John, your flippant attitude regarding gun safety is surprising.
Surely, well meaning people can get together to make improvements.
Word on the street is Chad Beatty is into bondage & femdom. Apparently he lets these wanna be Martha Stewarts bang him with a strap on & then urinate on his face. He's a complete inner female dueschbag.
isn't this capitalism at work? can't have it both ways. Is there anyone with factual, educated, thought out comments?
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