Editing Billy Penn (section)

== Approach ==

Billy Penn's journalism emphasizes accessibility and practical value. Coverage focuses on news that affects Philadelphians' daily lives—explaining how things work, what's changing, where to go. The explanatory approach assumes readers may be relatively new to Philadelphia or its civic systems, providing context that insider-focused journalism might skip.<ref name="billypenn"/>

Email newsletters became central to distribution, with morning briefings and topic-specific newsletters building direct relationships with readers. This newsletter emphasis anticipated broader industry trends toward email as news distribution. The newsletters' personality and curation distinguished them from automated news feeds.<ref name="billypenn"/>

Social media platforms, particularly Twitter and Instagram, provided additional distribution and community building. The site's social media voice—friendly, accessible, occasionally playful—attracted followers who might not seek out news through traditional channels. This presence made Billy Penn visible to audiences who don't read newspapers or watch television news.<ref name="billypenn"/>