AFP

Publisher Notes: First Madison County Candidate Forum - County Commissioners

kpaul.mallasch — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:48:24 -0700

I heard about this late (I know, I know...), but I was able to make it up to the first Candidate Forum at City Hall tonight. The event was put on by The Herald Bulletin and WHBU.

Random notes as I work on video(s)...

Met Leland Franklin for the first time tonight. Nice guy. I hope to contact WHBU to see how AFP can work together with them on ... something.
Mr. Underwood. Heh. Not too many comments here. I think he did a pretty good job asking questions - which were compiled from citizen suggestions picked by the HB editorial board (which, unlike the AFP editorial board, actually exists. ;)
Not having been to one of these in Anderson before, I asked Leland how many people they were expecting. "Oh, 700 or 800," he said non-chalantly. I kind of nodded my head, a little surprised at the number. "No, seriously," he added a minute later. Heh. Funny stuff.
I received some "wind in my sails" tonight. I showed up early to set-up the camera then used the rest of the time to 'work the crowd' - handing out papers, introducing myself, collecting business cards, etc. The network grows. A few had heard about AFP, which was nice.
Henry Bird arrived with a gentleman I don't know. I didn't recognize him at first, across the auditorium as he walked in a few minutes before showtime. I headed over toward that direction, though, with a few papers in my hand. About halfway up the aisle, I recognized him. Heh. We exchanged a few pleasantries and I handed him a copy of AFP. More words were exchanged. It appears we may have lunch once he gets settled in more. Should be interesting.
The real 'wind' came from standing in front of the camera (hungry but happy - although on another level, hungry in a good sense...) and Bird was on stage talking to Underwood and the others before everything started. And I turned around and saw a room full (well, a normal sized room... I should've taken a head count...I did pan the audience once...) ... I saw a lot of people reading AFP. I instantly wished it was better. I wondered what they thought. Would they come to the site and 'talk' with me? The thought of the HB publisher (newly arrived from corporate) standing on stage while a a handful of people read my "rag."
Peter Lyonshad heard of AFP (liked the video interviews, he said) and sought me out to get a copy. It was nice meeting him. At 24, I have a feeling he has a long political career ahead of himself.
I had a chance to talk to all of the candidates at one point or another.
I wish there had been a bigger turnout. There were not many people. (Maybe a bigger banner on the HB homepage? Heh. Freebie there for ya...)
I captured it (to the best of my abilities!) on video. I offered the HB a copy if they wanted - crediting me or not. I'll most likely post it at Hey Martha. They don't seem to have much synergy between their print and online products, imho. I'm obviously a little biased, though.
I'm tired. It's been a long day. But a good one. Met with Prosecutor Broderick and Ed Leonard for lunch as well. (Shameless plug for Tommy J's who feeds me well...) AFP is going to be working with their office more in the future. I almost forgot the 'speech' I give on what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. I haven't given it in so long. Felt good to say those words aloud again, though.
Ok, back to work on the video for a bit. (Yes, I finally had supper too...)

AFP Print 1.3 is here

kpaul.mallasch — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:12:11 -0700

Just got back from Greenfield picking up the single copies. I'll be leaving them at various locations over the next day or so.

Now back out to sell ads. :)

AFP Members Only: Should the mini-tracker stay or go?

kpaul.mallasch — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:53:36 -0700

Worldwide Contest Reopens With $5 Million For Digital Media Experiments to Innovate Journalism

kpaul.mallasch — Tue, 2 Sep 2008 15:23:44 -0700

Worldwide Contest Reopens With $5 Million For Digital Media Experiments to Innovate Journalism

Knight Foundation's News Challenge Contest Now Offers Online Assistance for Applicants; November 1 is Deadline.

MIAMI – The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has launched the third year of the Knight News Challenge, a contest awarding as much as $5 million for innovative ideas using digital experiments to transform community news and information exchange. The deadline for applications is Nov. 1, 2008.

With the slogan “You Invent It. We Fund It!” the contest is open to community-minded innovators worldwide, from software designers to journalists to citizens and students of any age. Do you have a big idea for informing and inspiring a geographic community using social media, Web 2.0 tools or OpenID? How about exchanging information via video, photos or text messaging? A way to integrate game theory with web browsing to support local community engagement? Come on, push the edge – we’re seeking true innovation!

To support applications, Knight has created a new incubator – the News Challenge Garage – where prospective applicants can receive peer reviews and mentoring from screeners and awardees from previous years. A diverse group of developers, online journalists, nonprofit evangelists, video bloggers and social media experts are on hand to coach at garage.newschallenge.com. The 50 mentors are available to coach and guide everyone who enters a project in the Garage. They include Vidoop’s Chris Messina, Spot.us’ David Cohn, Contentious editor Amy Gahran, Placeblogger’s Lisa Williams, Beth Kanter, J.D. Lasica and many other digital media specialists.

The incubator's blog features stories about mentoring already under way (www.kflinks.com/garageblog).

The first two years year of the contest produced individual, private and public winners ranging from Twentysomething journalism innovators to the inventor of the World Wide Web. Winning projects included:

• ChiTownDailyNews.org: Recruits and trains a network of 75 citizen journalists – one in each Chicago neighborhood.
• Everyblock.com: Allows citizens of a large city to learn (and act on) civic information about their neighborhood or block.
• Spot.us: Pays for local investigative reporting by soliciting financial support from the public.

Winning entries must have three elements: 1) use of a digital media; 2) delivery of news or information on a shared basis to 3) a geographically defined community. Entries must be open-source and share the software and knowledge created.

“We have committed $25 million over five years to the Knight News Challenge because we believe in media innovation through experimentation,” says Alberto Ibargüen, Knight Foundation president and CEO. “Each winning project is an experiment with the potential to transform how we practice journalism in the digital age.”

“With the addition of the incubator site, we are taking a page from technology companies,” says Gary Kebbel, Knight Foundation’s journalism program director. “We hope that the Garage coaches will help the applicants create even more high quality applications and proposals.”

In September and October, Knight is holding a series of meet-ups in various cities to provide real-time brainstorming and discussion – check newschallenge.org for more information.

A simple online entry form is available at www.newschallenge.org. The web site will accept applications through Nov. 1, 2008. Winners should be announced by the spring of 2009.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation invests in journalism excellence worldwide and in the vitality of 26 U.S. communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Since 1950, the foundation has granted more than $400 million to advance quality journalism and freedom of expression. The foundation focuses on projects with the potential to create transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.

______________________

I'm going to enter this again this year. I did the first year and skipped the second year.

This time, I'd like to involve YOU, the community at AFP, in some way.

Stay tuned for details...

AFP Web: APD Stuff

kpaul.mallasch — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:28:56 -0700

I'm currently trying to get the next interview with Chief Darron Sparks set-up. When I do, I'll start a thread for questions.

Also, how much interest is there for the police logs online here at AFP? Are they needed here right away if they can be found at the HB website?

May Nominations for AFP Member of the Month

kpaul.mallasch — Mon, 5 May 2008 07:16:59 -0700

The contest for Grandma's afghan is back on.

Please leave your nominations for an AFP member who you think should be recognized as Member of the Month for May 2008. Please use at least 200 words to explain why you think they should receive this honor.

Nominations will close in a week or so and then the AFP editorial board will make a decision.

Thanks,
K. Paul Mallasch - Publisher
http://www.kpaulmedia.com

April 2008 AFP Donation Drive

kpaul.mallasch — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:29:34 -0700

Do you enjoy AFP? If so, now's a GREAT time to pass a few bucks my way so I can keep this thing going.

You can donate via credit card with PayPal

Also, checks or money orders accepted:

K. Paul Mallasch
1536 South B
Elwood, IN 46036

Some might consider this begging for money (and maybe it is), but the expenses to run this site and the others is quite high. Most of the money I make goes back into this or other sites. It's paying off, but I like to buy groceries too sometimes. ;)

A lot of people have been complaining lately - so how about some love? Any little bit helps.

As I grow my business things like this will be needed less and less, but for now, it's part of the plan to keep going (ala PBS and public radio.) Hopefully by next month I'll have some answers on a few of the top secret projects I'm working on. I think they may help out a lot.

In the meantime, if you LIKE AFP and the direction we're moving in, please help if you can.

Thanks, K. Paul Mallasch - Publisher http://www.kpaulmedia.com

p.s. - Any beers at Sam's have been on the house. ;)

Anderson Free Press to be Closed Down in Seven Days by New Owner

kpaul.mallasch — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:08:07 -0700

Well guys, it's been fun, but someone's interested in purchasing the Free Press Project. After the transaction later this week, they'll be closing the site next Monday.

So long and thanks for all the fish!

Attention AFP Welcome Wagon Committee

kpaul.mallasch — Sun, 2 Mar 2008 21:33:04 -0800

I expect we're going to have a lot of visitors tomorrow looking at photos and video of the show at Sam's Wonder Bar over the weekend. Feel free to comment on a photo or two or one of the videos to try to 'reel one in' as Cap'n Jack would say.

AFP's older sister (IFP) is getting a facelift...

kpaul.mallasch — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:27:02 -0800

Another of AFP's siblings - Indy Free Press is going through a facelift/relaunch. I have someone that will be working with me on that site. We hope to have someone covering the statehouse soon. Of course, that news, will filter here where you can talk about it.

I've also been working here in Elwood on a revenue producer that's starting to take off.

How is AFP this evening?

Editorial: Helping Turn the Animal Shelter Around with AFP Operation Adoption

kpaul.mallasch — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:04:29 -0800

By K. Paul Mallasch

It's come to light that there have been problems at the Anderson Animal Shelter in the past. Instead of dwelling on the past (which we can't change), I say we as a community try to help turn things around.

Now, I'm sure the Mayor has surrounded himself with people much smarter than myself when it comes to Animal Control. I've listened to the State of the City a few times now and one thing that stuck out is that they have too many animals for the facility.

Instead of spending money the city doesn't have building a bigger facility, the best thing to do, in my humble opinion, is to help the city with animal adoption and spread the problem amongst the city.

I don't have a lot of time to devote to the issue, so I turn to the community here at Anderson Free Press to ask how we, as a group, can go about getting some of these animals adopted. Highlight a photo on the homepage? Offer AFP points for valid adoptions?

I'm willing to help however I can, but as a group we can accomplish more.

Perhaps someday in the future, they'll turn one of the Accomplishment Arch lights on for our group effort.

For now, though, what's the best way we can help get the word out about the need for animal adoption?

Thanks.

2008 State of the Free Press Project

kpaul.mallasch — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:10:47 -0800

I was asked to write a guest post at NewAssignment.net (a pretty big deal in the journo world...)

Anyway, wanted to leave a link here. Please go read and offer up your opinion here or there.

Thanks!

http://newassignment.net/blog/k_paul_mallasch/jan2008/14/the_state_of_th...

2008 State of the AFP

kpaul.mallasch — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:31:58 -0800

How do you think it's going so far?

How can we improve?

What's most important over the next few months?