Is that why the RtD site is SO BAD today? Guess I'll focus on Salon now

Well, as of today the Richmond.com phones have been disconnected, and any email sent to a richmond.com address is returned "host unknown." Figures, doesn't it. Now try getting support for the products there.

Is anyone going to ever reveal how much MG bought this site for? MG shareholders would like to know.

#1 - There was never any competition with inrich, are YOU kidding me? Richmond.com was, unofficially "the anti-inrich" #2 - Talent? Writing talent? Is that what they call aggregating stories from other sources (AP) onto your website? #3 - Do it "right?" PLEASE. You guys couldn't even do your own website right. RVANews, BizSense and other up-and coming-independent media sites will take you guys by storm. You won't know what hit you.

Furthermore, have you really looked at this site, Shannon, since MG took it over? Check out the typos in Week of Fortune. Oh, and check out the Holiday Guide, Richmond. I didn't know the "right" way to publish a website was to leave empty cells with big "Xs" in them. But that's OK. You'll "show us," won't you MG employee, Shannon?

To Carol- #1 John Whitlock did not sell to Media General because of competition with InRich. #2 Media Genreal full of talented people??? R u kidding me? Why do you think they bought richmond.com? - So WE can show them how to do it right.

OMG!! How does Media General have any money to do this. Their operation is on it's knees with hedge fund managers elected by the shareholders to their board. Don't trust big media with anything. Go Rogue. Like Sarah P...be your own web developer

One simple comment...popular vote won out. The negative comments posted here represent a miniscule part of the Metro Richmond Area. Mr. Whitlock sold out because he had to, because he couldn't compete with InRich.com and Media General. I am looking forward to the change that the talented team at MG will make.

I worked for Barry not long ago and he is the worst manager I ever had. He contributed nothing to the sales effort but took any and all credit. He must have seen the writing on the walls when all sales went stagnant due to his lack of effort. I wonder if he was smart enough to try his sales efforts ( or lack thereof ) in a different industry.

Wow, there's a lot of misinformation in these comments. I think it's funny so many of you _know_ the traffic numbers for Richmond.com. Trust me, I do know what they are, and they're far more than many of you have tossed around here. For those of you having so many negative remarks for John Whitlock, keep them to yourself. He's not only concerned with the bottom line. If you knew him as an individual, you'd know that. More sad than Richmond.com being sold are the comments being posted here. What garbage.

I had no idea John Whitlock was involved much less owned Richmond.com, that explains a lot. He has his fingers in so many pies, most of which he knows nothing about. But as said before, it is all about bottom line and therefore no surprise. Buy, make it look like something better and sell it to the top bidder, no regard for who that impacts. Went through all that years ago with one of his ventures (his first actually) and I learned the hard way like so many others who put their heart and soul into growing his business only to be tossed aside. Sorry to all the staff there, but you are going to be better off in the long run.

I like Karri and Ginger and several other reporterss at RdotCom and hope they will remain. Just, please, MGR-TD, don't bring your small-minded editorial political opinions over here!

What the heck is so special about Richmond.com? There's almost no content at all. If it wasn't for their domain name, it wouldn't be worth a dime.

I guess I'll have find a new Homepage but I'll give MG a chance. Maybe they will make up their minds and clear the clutter of InRich.com.

bleh

Yeah, I bet the comments section disappears too. MG doesn't like negative comments. I've left comments on several stories on inrich.com (the future richmond.com), then they never post them. Or they leave it off stories they don't want opinions on.

Goodbye Richmond.com, hello eRichmond.com

Now the site will turn into a blur of advertisements just like all their sites.

awww. well how much you wanna bet the "comments" system quietly disappears when the site gets its next overhaul. goodbye richmond.com hello generic ad site#124233

MG bought Richmond.com for 2 reasons – domain name and the Richmondociate of Realtors contract. Two things they’ve been trying to get their hands on for years. I hear Inrich.com is going away, probably by the end of the year, it will become Richmond.com, but basically still the same crap with a better name.

Just look at MGs track record. They took Brick Weekly, a great concept that was full of potential, and turned it into an ad rag that’s now the laughing stock of the local media world. Read all about it – Team Brick gets their chests waxed (that’s no joke either, that was a front page story) and sells restaurant reviews to the highest bidder. So what will they do to Richmond.com? Take the name, the good contract money, and the same idiots who screwed up Brick and turned inrich into the piece of crap that it is today (what’s the stupid mashup crap, does anyone write anymore?) are going to take their brand of stupid and try to extend it to the “new” inrich called Richmond.com. And then they’ll probably fire the 6 people (according to RTD) they kept around to keep it up and running while they figured out the merger.

It’s a sad day for independent media. It’s up to style and rvanews to keep indie media and good content alive. Clearly with all the money, resources, and power the MG has they’ve never been able to figure out how to run a successful alternative weekly or website (and so they blame the product not the people), so it’s a great time for style and rvanews and a sad day for Richmond.com. Bye Richmond.com, you will be missed.

The page view numbers are bogus. If you look at the about us section, they numbers they used to boast -- 300,000 unique visitors -- is still there. This site gets about 1 million page views, most of it coming in the real estate section. I hope the Realtors in Richmond band together to do their own thing.

It had nothing to do with Barry leaving. He was the worst professional and manager, BUT Whitlock couldn't stop the turnover after Barry left, so who was the biggest problem with Richmond.com taking off? WHITLOCK. He put people in charge who got rid of popular columns and features. Sales people had such a high base that they had no motivation to sell. His marketing person that was there for a short time was given no budget. Selling the site was probably a good move since Whitlock didn't understand publishing, but to Media General? Say good-bye to this site as you know it.

The writing has been on this wall for sometime. Once Barry left the crew could not get it together. You are all correct, independent thoughts from young creative professionals are so important to our community. Someone needed to buy this, it’s just sad that it had to be MG. They are going to suck it up and we all lose. You cannot run a business when you are not there and do not actively participate in the day-today. The employees needed the leadership they deserve. Sure, they all have skills, but there are too many good leadership lessons they did not get to learn along the way. Whitlock could be a really great teacher, but chose not to, he took the easy way out!! It’s very SAD.

The 120,000 is probably visits not visitors which is usually measured by a four hour span.The high amount of page views is probably fueled by the real estate section. Btw-accquiring the MLS was probably a key decision in the purchase (along with the url).Based on the 8.8 percent share the site could have revenues higher than many local radio stations.

inrich.com's new calendar is now better than weeklyrant's: http://thingstodo.inrich.com/

I used to work at Richmond.com and let meure you, they never NEVER got 2.7 million page views per month. In fact, I saw numbers like this: in August, they got 150,000 page views for the whole month. Don't believe a word Media General says. Leeches, corporate drones, bottom line. I mean, take a look at inrich.com and the Times Disgrace. What a joke.

bob, I deal with S.E.O. and web stats everyday... The stats are bunk.

I have no connection to www.rvanews.com, and I recommend it as an independent news source. It's a central source for local community blogs--I've learned more about current events and have read more debate about the mayor's race from this site than I've ever learned from RTD or InRich--and now Richmond.com seems to be dissolving into this horrible conglomeration. We need to support the independent sources still out there. Good luck to the Richmond.com staff who lost their jobs.

wow, to the idiot that couldn't figure the stats out. 120000 unique visitors and 2.7 million views that means they gain NEW viewership each month and people still come back to view more stuff. not each person looks at 27 pages... idiot...

anon3, have you ever created jobs for others? At least Whitlock was able to provide jobs, create opportunities, and develop workers for their future endeavors. If he chooses to sell, it' his business, not yours, not anyone else's. That's the risk you have toume, unless you work for yourself. Also, you shouldn't put your hand in other peoples wallets.

The real richmond.com died in 2000 when Style sold it to Whitlock.

I wonder when they are going to tell the businesses that advertise with them? I've had dealings with John Whitlock and he is a very unpleasant, self-serving person (albeit rich). No surprise about his behavior here.

What a shame. I'm so sorry to those of you who lost your jobs today... although it's not the first time in the past 6 months. Now all MG has to do is get around the FCC regulations and buy up a local TV station, then we can get ALL of our news from one media company. Good bye, r.com...

It is indeed a sad day. Several talented writers and web developers lost their jobs today. John Whitlock - you have cowardly given up on something special. I hope you sleep well. While richmond.com (like any other business) needed improvement, the staff and writers were dedicated to their jobs, the site, and to the City of Richmond. Goodbye richmond.com and good bye to the (mostly) good people we looked forward to reading, criticizing, and making us appreciate the amazing place we call Richmond.

um tim those are monthly stats. Imagine that, a site that has repeat visitors. I'm going to miss Richmond.com

www.weeklyrant.com rules over either Richmond.com or inrich.com calendar features. Those two are horrid.

I'll miss some of Rich.com's features though. Will the Brick/MashUp crew be unleashed on this site?

They have to be fudging their numbers. 120,000 unique visitors with 2.7 million page views. Do the math. Each person is viewing 26-27 pages per visit. No way!!!!! I think you might want to check those stats media general.

"So much for independent media." Check out http://rvanews.com http://chpn.net etc.

Terrible news. I will officially stop visiting this site and will urge all of my friends and colleagues to do the same. I do not enjoy Media General's biased opinions and articles that slam Richmond's own backyard businesses...a very big Booooooo!

This not the only true independent, truly local, etc etc media. Haven't you heard of RichmondBizSense.com. It was way better than this site.

Maybe we need to come up with a "Top 5" reasons this will be a good thing?

Nope, I can't think of any either.

Oh such a happy story. Yay, it is all such great news. Whatever. What about the people who lost their jobs today?

I heard that half the staff was "let go" this morning...

how many people at richmond.com lost their jobs today?

Do you really think they bought it for the "GREAT" content and "AMAZING" layout. Let's say it together "DOMAIN NAME"

M, I am not a Christian so I can easily pass judgement on whomever I please with out guilt or remorse. It is wholly satisfying and I highly suggest it. Also, it's not un-Christian that he sold his business. It's un-Christian to say you are a devout Chrisitan but not act the part---ever. It's un-Christian to be greedy.

So much for independent media. When the mighty fall, they sure do fall hard. Or they just sell out. Good buy for MG – it may be the smartest move in years. But good-bye Richmond.com

Media General may suck and they may make the site worse than it has ever been, but what sucks worse is that this negotiation has probably been going on for some time now. John Whitlock didn't have the human decency to inform any of his employees what was going on. Not only that, but they found out today like the rest of us. So now over half are out of jobs, but why would John Whitlock care? He's worth millions I'm sure. Real upright and respectable of you John.

Why do you label someone un-Christian just because they decide to sell their own business. On the other hand, passing judjement on others is un-Christian.

I used to work for Media General and they simply Satan in the flesh. They don't care about their employees AT ALL and can't even remember what GOOD JOURNALISM means. Whitlock made a horrible decision; I hope you can sleep at night.

Media General is horrible. The Times Disgrace is a terrible paper. Richmond.com will now stoop to the depths of mediocrity.

who would EVER think selling to MG is a good idea? the paper SUCKS, inrich SUCKS and now they'll ruin richmond's greatest little independent medis source.

SHAME on you John Whitlock! What a sell out!

Wasn't the unofficial motto of Richmond.com "At least we aren't the Times Dispatch"? Shame on you John Whitlock. You really are a sellout, you lazy-eyed faux-Christian.

This concerns me. Richmond.com has always had a lousy interface, but MG's inRich.com is worse. This is sad news.

Anon: Don't blame Media General. Blame John Whitlock.

John Whitlock always has and always will only care about the bottom line. Real Christian of you, John...

EXACTLY. But look at it this way, at least they'll have the opportunity to move onto much bigger and better things, escaping the claws of the corporate dumbasses at MG.

Some businessman Mr. Whitlock is. Sellout!

Mary and Amanda -- pluck out your eyes. They are useless to you. Hmmm...Mary seems to rhyme with another name...

The best part of this article is the positive spin media general has placed on the whole merger. What none of you will see is the part about all the Richmond.com staff members that just got laid off this morning. Good one Media General, just in time for the holidays.

I thought Richmond.com was better than this. Media General? "The best is yet to come?" Right, Whitloct....what a sell-out. You're about to see the worst transformation of a web site ever.

maybe they will actaully do something worth-while with this site now... oh wait, that's right MG just bought it.

nervermind then.

This is the worst news I have ever heard. Media General will only ruin everything richmond.com has tried to stand for. If any of you are left, GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN!

deeply troubling news. RIP richmond's only truly independent, truly local, alternative media.