Culture enthusiasts missing the arts and entertainment coverage once provided by the Ann Arbor News are welcoming Pulp, an online publication (pulp.aadl.org) produced by the Ann Arbor District Library. It posts upbeat previews, reviews, interviews, and up-to-date cultural and event news–whether it’s the Young People’s Theater’s production of “Crazy for You” or a talk by acclaimed author Jonathan Safran Foer at Rackham Auditorium. Contributors include library staff and paid freelancers–among them Jenn McKee, chief entertainment writer for the News before MLive effectively abandoned local arts coverage.
Navigating Pulp is pretty straightforward. Anyone can surf its articles, and registered users can post comments, pitch ideas, and offer material for review by a six-person staff team.
AADL deputy director Eli Neiburger says the idea grew out of staff discussions about how to provide more arts coverage. A March 2016 survey found that even before any formal promotional campaign had begun, 18 percent of library users were aware of Pulp. The library has since done some advertising–including on buses–and feedback from arts organizations has been positive. But Pulp is just starting to build its audience: in October, it delivered only about 3,700 page views.
