Keith Padin tries to stay away from gossip, and reality television shows.
But anything else TV related is fair game on his television review and news website, TheTwoCents.com.
Padin, 36, has been running the website since he started it as a college class project in 2007.
He said in the past four years, his staff of volunteer writers has grown to 35 people, his readership has reached 15,000 people a day, and his street cred with television networks has solidified.
Padin’s day job is the director of marketing for Jones Family Farms. But in his free time, he travels to press junkets, watches television and operates the website.
A staff of volunteers write reviews of dozens of television shows, and updates on casting changes and other insider television news.
Padin said he holds high standards for the writers.
The site has a code of ethics and a style guide for writers to follow, he said.
“We’re very proud of the material we put out,” Padin said. “We don’t focus on gossip. That’s TMZ. That’s not what I want to get into.”
So you might read about Charlie Sheen leaving Two and a Half Men on Padin’s site, but you won’t read much else about his personal life.
Padin said that decision to stay away from gossip results in a clear hit on the number of readers he gets, but he doesn’t mind.
The site has reached about 5,000 readers a day, Padin said.
And in May, that number peaked at 15,000 — something Padin attributes to “sweeps” — or the end of the television season, where new shows are announced and old shows might be discontinued.
The site doesn’t have advertisements, and doesn’t turn any profit. Padin said he isn’t sure he wants to start selling ads.
“Right now it’s still a fun hobby,” Padin said. “Once I start doing it for money, I wonder if it will still be fun.”
