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Thoughts on the NewsWeb - after a month

David Brison, Editor

Getting a venture like the NewsWeb up and running has first of all been fun. However, it would probably be hard for most of you to understand how I could consider it enjoyable if you knew what agony writing can be for me. I am a hard core procrastinator when it comes to writing. John McPhee, a writer who is an intellectual hero of mine, apparently once said that he had to tie himself to his chair with his bathrobe sash in order to keep himself at the typewriter. I can understand that but it wouldn't work for me -- what would stop me from untying it? Writing, however, has been only one of the tasks in getting the NewsWeb off the ground. Planning it, along with Jim MacPherson, has been a major component of the work. We looked at other web sites, discussed how the NewsWeb related to his plans for the Land O'Lakes Communications Network (see story in this issue), talked about stories (few people know this area better than Jim), experimented with different formats for the site, and kept each other informed of the feedback we were getting. There is a definite division of labour -- Jim has been responsible for developing the site and I have put the content into it. The whole collaboration has been very satisfying and I think productive, so far. If writing is a mixed blessing, both very fulfilling and at the same time often accompanied by debilitating anxiety, getting information for the stories is unmitigated pleasure. The Good New Days in Arden is an example. I met a number of very interesting people and enjoyed talking to them and getting their "stories" -- seeing life from their point of view; getting a glimpse of what they are up to. Enough of this prattle from me to you about how I've reacted to this new venture. We asked you for input and you have given it to us. I want to summarize what you've said, and to then end with what I've gleaned from your comments and advice. First a word of explanation. We asked you for reactions and you have given them to us in personal email correspondence, not as letters to the editor that you thought would be published (at least that is our interpretation). I have therefore included a lot of verbatim quotes without attribution and summarized other comments. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favourable. I'll list a few here that I like:. (from a good friend in Kingston, who is often crotchety and quite critical) " . . . enjoyed it immensely. Wonderful! . . . going to add it to my favourites right away.". "You have done a great job and now have put our part of the world on the international map.". "It is excellent!! Lots of photos, and local informative writing.". "nicely captured the theme behind the program while giving a casual "On the Road" feel to it" (from someone who was profiled). (from a summer cottager) ". . .helps me to put names to places in the area ... I already miss our cottage" hubcaps.jpg (17755 bytes) . "I've sent it to Seattle ... loved the hubcap story and will pass it on to an old car nut friend". "AWESOME!!! As the cool young folks would say" (from someone who I wouldn't think would be so effusive). (from my journalistic critic) "Cut, Cut, Cut". "It's great.". "I'm much enjoying your web site, and think it'll bring us to the area this spring . . . I'd like to rent something for May/June 2000." The first response was from Fiji, the second from Pennsylvania and we have heard from Australia and New Zealand. The world wide web really is! Quite a few people said that the font was too small -- and we changed it. An editor of a weekly newspaper in the area wants to take one of the stories and also plans to do a feature about the NewsWeb. Tex Rind, the hubcap man, when I gave him a copy of the story, said, "I'm going to fax this to my brother in Australia -- his son is a lawyer and is on the Internet." Another person who was profiled offered to pay for the article (I refused). One viewer wants us to do a reader survey because he thinks that we might be trying to satisfy too diverse an audience, and losing some readers with inappropriate content. My response is that for the present (since we don't have time to do market research) we cast the net wide and then see who it appeals to. However, an intended audience and one that seems to be responding, is cottagers who want to stay in touch with the area. Also, we seem to have reached people who aren't in the area now but have had some contact in the past. Finally, a number of viewers who seem to be seasoned "surfers" comment favourably on the web site. They think it works: doesn't take too long to download, has very few dead ends or script errors and when they do occur, they are quickly corrected. They also seem to like the way it looks and is laid out. What is my net takeaway from all this?:. I like those exclamation points!!!. People are impressed that we have a web site that has changing content; and that is because most sites don't;. It remains to be seen whether people will actually read it on a regular basis;. I'll know if people are reading it when they react (either verbally or in writing) to the stories and opinions expressed;. We talk in the editorial policy of "contributing to a sense of pride in the region". I'm encouraged so far in this regard. There is a lot going on that we can be proud of and it seems to be finding its way into print. Please keep your comments and reactions coming -- from now on, we will publish them unless you indicate otherwise.