Thank you
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August 22, 2013 |
By Mike Weland
Publisher
News Bonners Ferry is a truly small business.
Most of what you see and read on these pages is
created on a single computer in a bedroom in a
nondescript home north of Three Mile, by a guy
sitting in a mobility scooter, using one hand
only.
You would think this site would be an asset to
those entrusted to serve, and I would be awash
in public information to share.
Not to say I don't have help, I very much do. I
am constantly amazed at how much help I get, and
I sincerely thank all who've helped build this
site. I couldn't do any of this alone. But so
little I hear is from servants of the public
working to inform, so much from a public feeling
ignored.
Readers are the number one factor for the
success of this site; no other. Readers
who've visited newsbf since it was launched in
March, 2011, as a mere hobby; a way to continue doing
what I love when all other outlets dried up.
No subscription cost, no fee. No pop up ads or
log-in. You can look at ads, and I hope you do,
but you're free to ignore them, too.
A "free" press.
Though I worked full time for Boundary County, I
felt that timely news was important, and that
all the outlets I'd worked for in the past had
dried up; news was getting more regional,
global. No one was here, now.
When I came to Bonners Ferry more than 20 years
ago, I left a good job I'd held at the Spokesman
Review as an editorial assistant. I wanted to be
a reporter, but I didn't have the credentials;
no college, no clip file.
The Bonners Ferry Herald gave me a chance, for
less than a third of what I'd been earning, but
I came to despair. My efforts at writing news
took second place to selling ads. What I did
wasn't the reason for publishing, but a
necessary expense to get the ads out at the
least cost.
The Kootenai Valley Times tried and did
admirably, but the life blood of a free press,
its advertisers, tended toward the media with
the greatest reach, and they would drop a
dependent upstart with the gall to try to
publish honest news if it threatened or, forbid,
wrote news that threatened advertisers.
When I went to KBFI. I worked for people like
Pete Wilson and Muff Howe, who launched that
station knowing how important a local media is.
Sure, not much might happen for awhile, and
comments broadcast in the interest of keeping
people listening might have upset some, might
even cost an advertiser; but listeners flocked
back when in need of immediate and accurate
information.
In the day, KBFI saved lives when tragedy
happened.
That most timely source of news went away, too.
I grew up reading and loving local papers. As an
Army brat, I picked them up near and far.
Regional publications were thicker, and offered
more ads, but mention of what was important
right here, right now, seemed lacking.
In the local papers, I learned who my neighbors
were, where they went, what they did. A local
birthday party or wedding was front page news.
Most radio stations then were similar; they had
a small reach and had to cater to those who
would hear them.
They ran by a rule; keep interest. Entertain if
you have to; keep them reading and listening,
build trust.
A time will come when what you do will make a
difference, and your reason for being will
matter; public service.
"A life time ago radio stations in cities and
towns around the nation employed people to
broadcast what was called local news," Bill
Clatworthy wrote in the wake of a recent tragic
accident. "If there was a fire, a flood or an
accident that impacted the public at large,
these reporters found out what was going on and
put it on the air. RIGHT NOW!
"I was one of those people and I always
considered what I did as a public service.
"Radio stations don't do that any more. Instead,
fortunately, we have social media. In addition
to allowing us to keep track of our friends post
political diatribes and play games, social media
has become an outlet for local news such as
Amber Alerts, weather advisories and traffic
warnings.
"Last night, hundreds of cars were backed up in
both directions for hours while first responders
cleared the scene of a tragic accident on
Highway 95 at the north end of Naples.
"Our only source of information was News Bonners
Ferry and Mike on Facebook. Thanks for keeping
us posted Mike, and keep up the good work. We
appreciate it."
I could play up numbers and reach; 1,100 "hits"
an hour, 26,401 average hits a day, from eight
continents and 113 countries.
But that's not what's important.
What's important is that this is a place readers
can trust and turn to when local and timely news
can make a difference.
Numbers and ad sales mean nothing if I don't
earn the trust of those who read this site that
it can be relied upon
when it's public service that matters most.
I'm not pleasing everyone, but I am doing the
best I can.
It's not me making this site a success, it's
you. |
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