Still clacking after all these years …

Why Me-why NOW?  If I have asked these hard questions, maybe you have asked them of me too. Why no longer full-time radio, and why online work from a tech newbie?

I do still have a radio presence. after 39 years, it is hard not to have a stake in radio.  I plan to broadcast all the West Frankfort Redbird boys basketball games this year.  And, as usual, I will be joined in the booth by my partner of 33 years, Hall of Fame broadcaster Rick Westermeier.  Rick and I have also added other games – for other radio stations- to our broadcast schedule this winter.  We are really excited to be able to expand our reach and bring quality broadcasts to areas that may not have been well served before.  Of course it could not happen without those other radio stations that have trusted us with their airtime. I am also looking at some other things in radio that interest me. I’m no longer burdened with having to be one place, very early and limited in scope.  I may not always like the Boss, but I work for myself now and it is liberating.

A couple of months ago, Jim Muir approached me with an idea.  Jim has made a huge success of his online sports magazine.  He, as I had, had heard rumblings of discontent over traditional newspapers.  Traditional radio,television and newspapers are all under scrutiny with faster, more reliable news outlets popping up online. That was what brought Jim to the conclusion that Franklin County needed an online newspaper to pick up the slack of what was not being reported- and to improve the content of what was being carried on traditional paper and ink.

I was not immediately convinced.  You see, I am technically challenged. I did not see the potential of on online paper.  I did some asking about and made a discovery that many people — of all ages — check online for news frequently each day.  One newspaper can be printed daily.  One online newspaper can add content at will.  Yes, I knew some would see it.  But, why would advertisers buy it? I discoverd online has the same durability (and more) as traditional print.  It can be read and reread at will.  However, I was educated on THE biggest advertising bonus of an online paper. That bonus is that a website can be directly linked to the add. Paper and ink can not do that.  Now, a businesses inventory can be accessed with a click of a mouse. Big stuff that even I can see.  And, introductory rates which are bargain basement helped me see why businesses in Franklin Colunty can get in on ground floor of something big.

Money to be made and stories to be written … not a bad bait to lure ol’ Bruce into a new field.  And, it was just that challenge that appealed to me most. I love the idea of watching a great idea unfold and grow.  In our first month I was astounded to learn that 7,000 unique visitors came to our site, and, did they ever stay! We clocked with 56,000 page hits in just the first month!  I love history and am loving being a part of it with this online paper.

Thank you Jim Muir for inviting me to bring whatever talent I have to this endeavor.  I will do what I have always done: work hard to report the news from Franklin County that you may not read, see, or hear any place else. Readers deserve that, our advertisers are guarnteed that.

What YOU Can do for me is to Facebook me to be a friend, then you can send me your best ideas for good,positive feature stories. I look forward to working for-and with- you all!