Much to the chagrin of its users, community Web sites Fresno Famous and Modesto Famous were bought by mainstream competitor, The Fresno Bee, for an undisclosed amount of money.

Buying a competitor is a last resort. So one can’t help wondering why The Bee had to buy a site like this. Here’s what The Bee had to contend with, according to a Famous story about the sale:

Since its launch, FresnoFamous.com has grown to a community of nearly 2,000 active users who submit blogs, articles, photos, event listings and comments about the community. Users frequent FresnoFamous.com to make entertainment plans, debate the latest issues at City Hall and submit news others can use. In September 2006, the site generated 25,604 unique visitors, 44,427 total visits and 138,458 page views.

With the reach and advertising of the newspaper behind Famous, I have no doubt these numbers will grow rapidly.

Famous does all those user-submitted, community driven things that newspaper execs talk a great deal about and rarely hire anyone to do. Four people worked on the site regularly. Goes to show how few resources are needed to create a solid product.

If only newspapers would invest in their own staffs then maybe they wouldn’t find themselves having to buy competitors.

If only newspapers would invest in their own staffs then maybe competitors wouldn’t exist at all. Community sites like Famous are created because there is a vacuum of coverage. The market had room for more arts and culture news, so an astute business-minded person took advantage.

News of this purchase should draw all of our attention to the demands not being met in our own markets. Be forewarned: do something about it, or someone like Famous creator Jarah Euston will.

In her blog, Jarah sounds a lot like the rest of us online newspaper people, except she hadn’t been working for a newspaper. Here’s how she addressed users' concerns that The Bee would ruin their community:

To those who want to say goodbye to Famous because it is no longer owned by me (even though I'll be sticking around), I suppose I should be flattered that you've allowed me to be your capitalist overlord. This venture has always been a for-profit business. Our business is creating online platforms for community; without the community there is no business. Transferring ownership is what I feel will serve this community best. It will allow it to grow, and allow it to evolve positively.

Good luck on wherever opportunity takes you next, Jarah.