16 Blocks is a non-profit and independent free print and digital publication and creator of public artworks. From neighborhoods to city districts worldwide, most of what can be physically experienced in a place is within four square blocks, walking distance, mostly within earshot and line of sight.

16 Blocks symbolizes that metaphorical microcosm, mindful of the interconnectedness of neighbors and travelers from all walks of life, along with those who came before, allied in a shared community experience in mindful celebration of our time, our place.    

Our mailbox is always open: hart@16blocks.org

Plan of Operation

Using traditional reporting techniques and modern tools for creative production and communication, we will celebrate art and expression, investigate happenings, and endeavor to be a local beacon through the fog of national mainstream partisan media and the murky anonymity of internet culture.

We are here to curate, guide, and engage in local cultural exploration and document the experience.  

We are here to build a local media platform that is independent of corporate national media and regional outlets, free from cookie cutter public relations reports; shedding bias to investigate politics, mismanagement, societal problems, and social imbalance that shape our local landscape.

We are here to celebrate art and expression and restore a sense of belonging in a gathering place made by the community to share locally and for those just visiting.

The Times

This is a time of rampant despair and disconnect both with traditional local and regional media as well as society at large.

Most long-standing traditional print ad-model based local media organizations have either folded or are headed that way. The Roanoke and New River Valleys are trending to become one of a long list of communities now known as news deserts.

This has led to an opportunity for upstart DIY efforts like 16 Blocks to fill that void. By taking advantage of technological advances that have driven down production costs, our small team of experienced, talented and multi-faceted creators can self-produce, gather and distribute quality short and long form content with little overhead.

Knowing and Growing our Readership

It is our provocative, eclectic, relevant content that makes 16 Blocks stand out and attract attention.   Our coverage aims to be comprehensive with unique takes, deep dives, investigative reporting, and challenging think-pieces.

We learned there is a largely under-served readership that is attuned to our content with the growth.

We know this because of the positive response on so many levels to the nine Free print Editions and online multimedia posts. We know this because of the large response from local undergraduates and faculty interested in working with us. We know this because of the growing number of advertisers that have contacted us after seeing this interest first hand. We know this because of the amount of traffic visiting our website and social media. We know this because we personally handle distribution and watch 16 Blocks fly off the racks while other free publications target different demographics sit dormant or have shuttered.

Print

We are classic and fresh because holding a print issue of a local magazine will be new to some, familiar to many, and free for all. 

This generation has mostly likely never read a city-style print zine, or had a collection on the coffee table or read a column at a diner.

16 Blocks is for those that remember the appeal of a print magazine, and those now learning how it is to pick up the new copy.

Digital

We are locally sourced, but with a certain niche that will reach readers across the world in the digital space.

We network with industry experts and other professionals in an array of fields as sources for our articles. 

We cast a wide net.

Cultivating a Younger Audience

It is mostly Virginia Tech undergraduates that make up   Blacksburg’s largest age demographic of 18–24-year-olds, and the town population on any given day is mainly set by the academic and sports calendars.
For this generation, Tik Tok’s 30 second clips Instagram pics dominate social media and they have never known life without a cell phone. 

Yet they also listen to three hour podcasts, binge-watch epic length series with complex storytelling, and spend a lot of time learning from watching YouTube tutorials.  

Our audio and video production and social media presence will expand our base and grow lifelong readers

Advertising and Sponsorship Opportunities

We are once again working as a promotional platform for local, regional, and national sponsors. 

Our community is not only a news desert, but there are few local marketing venues for  businesses to promote their events and services.  Sponsoring a Block can be a dedication to an art or a loved one or to share your involvement in local culture.

Sponsoring a Block is a partnership with us to support local independent community-based journalism.

We appreciate any and all patrons with much gratitude.