Call me naive
I just watched a rerun of "The West Wing" and listened to Sam tell Leo's daughter whose name I forget that he thought schools should be palaces, teachers should get paid six figures, all education should be exemplary and attendance at any school should be free. "That's what I believe," he said. "I just haven't figured out how to do it yet."
After reading the discussion at Ed Cone's and at theShu's about the role of the newspaper in this burgeoning blogosphere, I'm moved to say that I believe the newspaper's web presence should be open and inclusive, should include lots of voices and commentary and news, should feature so many blogs on so many topics that everyone wants to be a part of the community and, better yet, everyone wants to visit here, should generate revenue that we can plow into the site to make it better, should be dynamic so that it takes its lead from the market, and should engender the civic-oriented discussion of ideas that makes Greensboro such an interesting place.
I just haven't figured out how to do it. Yet.
Comments (12)
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Thanks for this post after a long day of debate. I trust the N&R to be an active participant in discussions that enrich all blogs, the N&R, and our community.
And her name is Mallory.
Posted on December 20, 2004 10:15 PM
I think you're on the right track. Will some complain? Yes, even me, sometimes. Will you make mistakes? Yes, the rest of us do. Will you drive yourself crazy trying to correct your mistakes? Probably, but in the end I believe the commitment I think I'm reading between the lines will pay-off for all who chose to become involved as well as a few who stand back and watch.
Also, I've sent Lex some ideas.
Posted on December 20, 2004 11:29 PM
Whew! Well summarized. I feel like I can finally stop reading and have a beer. Thanks.
Posted on December 21, 2004 12:19 AM
John, can we clone you?
Posted on December 21, 2004 12:42 AM
Mallory! Yes, right. The program's not the same with Sam gone.
I know there's suspicion about us out there. I know, too, that we need to walk my talk. I know we'll make mistakes; we make them now. I'm just pretty confident we all can figure this out.
You don't want to clone me. Clone someone with better hair and better posture.
And I'll offer to buy the coffee at the next meet up if I don't get accused of imposing my corporate presence upon everyone! :)
Posted on December 21, 2004 5:42 AM
John,
You're presence would be very much welcomed and appreciated at the next meetup. Everyone is welcome and is encouraged to bring new ideas to the table...and you are certainly doing that with your willingness to hear all views on the subject.
I know the last day or so has been kind of rough and I regret that the discussion degenerated down to a personal level among the bloggers at times. I meant no harm and hopefully, cooler heads, my own included, will prevail in the future.
I realize there is still a lot of work to be done and a lot of decisions yet to me made. I hope the questions that I and others have asked and the concerns we've voiced will help you shape what is to come. And we sincerely appreciate that you're listening.
Posted on December 21, 2004 9:10 AM
Thanks. I've commented on a few sites how I appreciate the feedback and have learned much from the ongoing discussion. It is why we're asking, after all.
Compared to the letters on the editorial pages, this stuff is tame. (Not that I'm challenging anyone.)
Posted on December 21, 2004 10:35 AM
One word for you. Slashdot. Imitate, copy, whatever. But that IS the way geeks do it, and that's the way N&R can feature as many people on whatever topics. It will definitely put a strain on your online division, but it might be worthwhile. It sure has been for Slashdot and OSDN.
Posted on December 21, 2004 2:42 PM
"And I'll offer to buy the coffee at the next meet up if I don't get accused of imposing my corporate presence upon everyone! :)"
Have you seen the prices of coffee at a "coffee shop" these days? Impose away! I'll have a vanilla skim latte.
(Disclaimer - my son worked for the N&R as a teen reviewer WAY back and no, didn't get paid)
Regarding what Ben wrote, when a site gets "Slash-dotted," it can often take down an unsuspecting server. It's the motherlode of information on a variety of techy topics. Surely, the simple design and OS software can be replicated w/i the N&R's budget. Like I said a while ago (but can't seem to find online; did I get the magic numbers wrong?), The Depot was way ahead of its time; it didn't have the financial base, I think, to keep being ahead. Whatever the N&R decides to do regarding blogging, make it cheap, easy and automated. Your readers *are* the news so let them post and you get some winners from time to time.
Posted on December 21, 2004 8:48 PM
Well, one thing you'll need is obviously a great team of web developers/designers and database experts. That's where I come in. If you need someone with experience in the blogging world (see my sites at http://www.dirtygreek.org and http://www.stringcans.com) and web development/database design, I will be glad to help.
I think your idea is a revolutionary connection between media, community, and technology, and it could mean a whole new way of seeing and using the news.
Thanks,
George Peterson
Posted on January 14, 2005 10:13 AM
I live in Winston-Salem and commute to Greensboro every day, so I know the area and would love to be involved.
I think your idea is a revolutionary connection between media, community, and technology, and it could mean a whole new way of seeing and using the news.
Also, be sure to listen to Jay and Zack Rosen, who I'm sure you're already talking to. They know what they're talking about.
http://journalism.nyu.edu/pubzone/weblogs/pressthink/2004/12/28/zack_grnsbr.html
Posted on January 14, 2005 10:18 AM
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Posted on February 9, 2007 12:32 AM