Citizen journalists we appreciate (need) you

Over the weekend Keri Mitchell and I attended a Blog/New Media Expo in Las Vegas. I am sure we will sporadically share our newfound wisdom with you over future days and weeks, but for now I’d like to touch on one important thing I derived from the experience:

I learned that in order to have an outstanding neighborhood blog, you have to have outstanding folks out in the neighborhood writing regular, interesting, super-local posts. Advocate has a stellar editorial staff, if I do say so myself.  But we are but a very few people putting out five neighborhood magazines every month, plus the occasional special addition. While we want to be all over the place covering news for Back Talk, we can’t be more than one place at a time — or should I say we haven’t figured out how to yet. 

That brings me back to my aforementioned assessment — we need the Carol Tolers, JJ Pairs and Bill Kennedys. We are so very fortunate to have these citizen journalists, who help us keep our finger on the pulse of Lake Highlands and do a great job of writing about it.

Allow me, please, to take this opportunity to THANK YOU non-staff bloggers for your fabulous contributions to Back Talk.

In addition, I want to thank all of you who participate and leave comments — sometimes the comments hurt, but for the most part, your participation is invaluable! 

We are looking for more contributors who, like Carol, JJ and Bill, have something to say about what's happening in our hood, and who can do it eloquently and regularly. If that’s you, drop me a line. 

Comments

[carol_toler]

I appreciate the kind words. I especially appreciate all who read my posts and those who suggest blogs for me. Sometimes I act on your leads (sometimes I don't) but I greatly appreciate the dialog. Especially those who begin with, "don't quote me, but..."

[Bill Kennedy]

Thanks, Christina, for the kind words. I should be able to find more time starting next month, as things are going very well, now.

But right now, I don't think anyone is interested in what's happening at the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta... ;-)

[Christina Hughes-Babb]

That's what we love about you guys — always quick with a quip ... I'm sure we'll have a comment from Pair soon too, as soon as she returns from whatever community garden or school function she's surely involved with at the moment!

[rarepair]

Well aren't you just a sweetheart Christina, thanks! And thanks Carol and Bill, and Jeff (the guy's really smart) and Rick and Maria and Keri...and (almost) all the commentators!

A couple of things I find so interesting about doing this is a) how often I'm lifted from mushroom manure and learn about something thanks to contributors and b), how often I intuit that I'm having a face to face conversation with a commentator who uses a funny alias.