Anderson Free Press

Publisher's Notes: What About Bob?

kpaul.mallasch — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:05:15 -0800

I really didn't want to write this. And I'm firing it off kind of quickly, which is why I'm doing it as a blog post. The economy is, of course, effecting the online world. More people are putting off projects or downsizing projects. This makes the available pool of work smaller (a tiny pond) while there are the same number of people (like me) competing for the work. And some live in countries where they can live nicely for $3 or $4/hour!

Concentrating most of the summer on the print project (phase one was a resounding success!), I neglected my hunting out new clients. This is usually the time of year that things really pick up online. It's not looking that way this year. There are still gains, but not the type of gains I've seen in years past. On the brightside, I've found a new revenue stream - writing content for other people.

I've probably written at least 50,000 words recently. I like the work and am finding better clients. The way I look at it, I'm able to bring revenue in while practicing both typing and writing. On the negative side, I have to think about carpal tunnel syndrome and other health effects.

Anyway, enough of my "whining" (I think of it more as sharing, letting you know that no matter how bad the economy gets there's money to be made online if you know how to apply yourself. I picked up three new clients in Europe over the weekend.) - I want to talk about the "Bob Situation" or maybe the "Bob Effect"... whatever you want to call it.

It's not that I'm not listening, I just don't see a need to deter Bob from what he's doing. He doesn't post too often and he doesn't follow people around to other threads hijacking them with his political views. No, he's just posted his thoughts about a favorite topic of his - politics.

The behavior I saw today really has me shaking my head. I think rusty crossed a line. Bob doesn't control or post in the whole forum. He has his one blog series. If you don't like it, please don't bother to read it! That's the beauty of what I envision AFP to be - freedom for other people to talk and post about things they're interested in.

I fear that Bob is just going to be run off by a seeming mob of villagers with pitchforks. I would hate to see that. I do understand that four or five veteran posters have decided to leave or stop posting or whatever. I'm sorry to see them leave, but here's the thing - I really think it has to do with general burnout with the site rather than Bob or how I've handled politics here at AFP.

And the burnout may be my fault - not putting enough time or effort into the site. I have bills to pay too, though. Not only my humble abode and even humbler car, but my online real estate as well. Don't worry, I'm not begging for money. I'm here typing away and bringing money in to keep things going just a little longer til we hit the next level.

I see AFP at a crossroads maybe. We can go one way or another. Some people have left, but as I mentioned the other night, there are always going to be complainers and those who don't agree. The thing is, I like to think of AFP as a place we can come to talk about our differences, though. (Not tell them to eff off if they post something we don't agree with or are tired of hearing.)

I started four or five positive type threads the other day. In that time there has been only maybe one or two political posts from Bob. Those are the ones that people hone in on and tear apart, though.

What about Bob? Is he *really* the problem here?

I think it's actually a combination of a lot of things - my lack of leadership or seeding the site with new fun stuff (remember three word story?! how many nights of fun was *that*?!) has been hurting the site.

Traffic and new membership continues to grow. Can we maintain that community spirit that AFP had and so many people fell in love with?

Where's all the negativity coming from? Is someone upset we're doing so well? Is that where the negativity is coming from? Because surely it's not Mr. Hertzog, who has been a very civil and welcome part of this community for a long time. (Remember his great letter printed in AFP 1.2?! I mean, come on... that attack on him today. Vicious. Like a back alley stabbing on AFP...

Captain Jack is back. Maybe he can help. I feel I'm not being a good leader here (not charismatic enough), but I'm laying my cards on the table here.

I've cleaned out my ears. I'm listening. Let's talk.

Top three positive ways we can make AFP a better place?

Publisher's Notes: Buckeyes, Hoosiers, and Various Other Sundry

kpaul.mallasch — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:22:14 -0700

Wow. What a week(end).

Took some time off to think and regroup. Had the server misbehave. (I'm working on that one. I promise. And despite what Salmon Fan says, it's not old threads clogging the system.)

Ahem.

Just returned from Columbus (and Wooster) Ohio with grandma. We attended my cousin's wedding. The second to last youngest cousin on that side of the US Mallasch tribe.

Trip was fun. Grandma and I got to talk a lot. My brother in law rode with on the way back. I got to see a lot of relatives (and pass out some print copies of AFP. Small smile.)

Something just struck me, though, as I'm back home trying to heat up. I was at Tommy J's picking up dinner a few hours ago (more on this too), and I walked in to see a young woman reading AFP at the counter.

Still wearing my spiffy sport coat, I smiled and said aloud, "I LOVE that paper!" Heh. I then gave the speil, explaining that AFP Print was once a month (although more closely an occasional publication at the moment) while all the action happened online.

She then said to me, "That's where I get my news anyway." Heh. I like to hear that.

Was great meeting her tonight, although we didn't exchange names. I wonder if she'll stop by and what she will think. Hope the site stays up!

Also got to talk to owner of Tommy J's a bit. I told him about the negative review on AFP. He was glad I hadn't taken it down and explained his side of the story. I invited him on the site to explain his side of the story. I may go down to help him create an account next week. (He has free wifi at the shop too, btw...Smile.)

I don't know. As publisher, I'm not taking sides on this one. I stressed that it might be important for him to come on AFP and 'talk to the community...' This brave new form of interactive advertising wherein you can ENGAGE customers or potential customers.

(Can you copy *that* HB? Hello? Sly smile. I've heard some of their sales reps. have told some advertisers at AFP that others have had problems with advertising at AFP. To that, I counter, here publicly, that if they want to contact me, we can work out any problems. I had problems with Creative Gift's ad, but that has been rectified - I urge people to stop down there on 8th street. She's doing fresh flowers now too.)

Anyway, it was good to interact with a new AFPer - a potential new AFPer.

Lots of other thoughts, but this is a start of a conversation...

Madison County Candidate Forum - 9/30/08

kpaul.mallasch — Wed, 1 Oct 2008 09:56:15 -0700

thevideo

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

Welcome to all the new members!

kpaul.mallasch — Sat, 6 Sep 2008 20:09:18 -0700

Who's new

Don't be shy. If you have questions, just ask (by starting a 'forum' or sending a PM - private message...)

Welcome aboard!

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 AFP meet-up

kpaul.mallasch — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:19:55 -0700

Another breakfast later in the month?

Or another B-Dubs excursion?

Will I arrive dressed as Napolean?

I do know there's the Wickey Bon Voyage bbq in a park maybe also coming up?

This is the thread for April AFP meet-up info.

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 Demographic Information

kpaul.mallasch — Sat, 5 Apr 2008 00:06:39 -0700

There's a lot of talk in the 'industry' on how accurate numbers like these are, etc., but I think they're probably pretty close.

http://www.quantcast.com/andersonfreepress.net/demographics

Herald Bulletin #1

http://www.quantcast.com/heraldbulletin.com

http://www.quantcast.com/theheraldbulletin.com

Which one is the real one? Who knows. I think they're mirrors of each other? I wrote something about it on J-Hope the other day because they're kinda gaming the search engines a little... Anyway, some interesting data if you're into that kind of stuff.

K. Paul Mallasch - Publisher

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.

First Official Anderson Free Press Membership Drive

kpaul.mallasch — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:00:39 -0800

Well, I hoped to have a picture of the prize, but I forgot to pick it up earlier with the storm coming in.

In any case, I want to get this going and get some feedback. (I'll have a picture of the prize tomorrow...)

Here are the rules (Which may change slightly before February 1, 2008 when the contest starts.

* To be qualified as a new member (for the purposes of this contest anyway), you need to invite someone (via the link or on your own - if the latter, let me know the details...) they need to sign-up for an account and make five posts.

Now, we may have some problems with this with all the trolls recently, so for purposes of this contest, the new members need to show-up in person at the next meet-up (place and time TBD...) along with the person who invited them. Whoever brings the most new members to the next meet-up will win.......

A knitted Afghan from my grandma!

Yes, that's right. I really wanted to have a pic before posting this, but it's blue and white (Colt's colors...) I haven't seen it yet, but I love the one she'd already made for me and am sure it's top-notch.

Questions? Reactions?

Contest will (most likely) start February 1, 2008, which will give us a day or so to work out the details and continue through the month of February with the meet-up sometime in March.

This is bound to be a collector's item.

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.

B-Roll: 2008 Anderson State of the City

kpaul.mallasch — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:49:12 -0800

thevideo

Your browser is not able to display this multimedia content.

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?

Shawn McGrath - Also Covering the Protest

kpaul.mallasch — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:56:19 -0700

This is a reporter who was also there covering the event for the Herald Bulletin. Many thanks to Craig Mayes for covering the event for Anderson Free Press readers.