The problem with website is: how do you make people look at it? Especially those not already interested in topics you want to write about. The competition is huge.
(With free newspaper, the answer is: reading the paper you already have in your hand is easier than reading any other paper.)
You can't make anyone look at anything. Ok, maybe a bright flashing light, but that's not a lot of information.
Consent is essential. Look at how people dodge advertisements most of the time.
I suspect that raising the sanity waterline (possibly a bad metaphor, because it leaves out the minds of the people we're trying to influence) needs to be thought about more clearly-- which people are we trying to influence, and what exactly are we trying to accomplish?
If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post, even in Discussion, it goes here.