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Entrepreneurship:  We're starting a local online newsblog  |
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therealshari
True Blue Farmgirl
235 Posts
Shari
Beryl
UT
USA
235 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 29 2008 : 4:46:28 PM
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A few months ago, the nearest town "newsletter" ceased publication. This had been a print piece that was distributed once a month as a flyer in a larger newspaper. I think they had something like 1400 circulation.
I've decided to take up the cause, but do it using the Internet and Wordpress. That way, I can reach all the little settlements in the Escalante Desert Valley. That will include Lund, Beryl, Newcastle, Modena, and Enterprise.
I've purchased some software that will take care of purchasing ads.
The biggest challenge to date is to pull in the RSS feeds. I've never been well-versed in that area, so may be asking for help from some of you more experienced bloggers.
If you would like to watch the progress, I've started laying out the structure at http://swutahnews.com
Within the week, I should be adding content. I'd like to enlist the help of "local folks" to become reporters for their respective areas. I envision this being a true "small-town" publication, reporting on ag stuff, the weather, obits, high school sports, FFA, auction reports, and then bringing in syndicated topics of interest such as recipes, CNN, maybe the state newspapers, etc.
We don't plan to make a ton of money, but do plan to have the advertising help defray our expenses.
Experience? If you count 2 years of working on my weekly high school newspaper (one year as editor), a couple of college journalism classes and participation in my college newspaper. Of course, that was better than 40 years ago.
Shari Thomas
From the "middle of nowhere" Beryl, Utah. Our farm is nearly complete with 3 horses, 6 ewes, a cow and heifer calf, 19 chickens, 5 dogs and four country gals. I blog about it at http://sharithomas.com |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
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wild daisy
True Blue Farmgirl
503 Posts
Madelynne
Billings
Montana
USA
503 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2008 : 12:19:33 PM
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The funny thing is I know where Beryl Utah is. Some of my fathers relatives lived out in that country a long time ago. Congratulations on starting up your newsletter.
Madelynne |
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therealshari
True Blue Farmgirl
235 Posts
Shari
Beryl
UT
USA
235 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2008 : 12:20:54 PM
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Thanks y'all,
I should be ready to start adding content this next week. I'm a bit of a rookie when it comes to adding the "feeds" from some sources that will help make it a real "country" read.
Shari Thomas
From the "middle of nowhere" Beryl, Utah. Our farm is nearly complete with 3 horses, 6 ewes, a cow and heifer calf, 19 chickens, 5 dogs and four country gals. I blog about it at http://sharithomas.com |
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bohemiangel
True Blue Farmgirl
2087 Posts
Bridget
Ligonier
pa
USA
2087 Posts |
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therealshari
True Blue Farmgirl
235 Posts
Shari
Beryl
UT
USA
235 Posts |
Posted - Nov 05 2008 : 8:02:55 PM
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Bridget, neat blog!
You're in a much more populated area than I am. I'm not too sure about the total valley population, but most of us are on at least 10 acres and many more are on at least 80 acres. The "local" town, 17 miles from us has a population of just over 1500. From what I've found out, there are about 700 hardy folk spread out from Modena to Lund to NewCastle, to Beryl Junction.
Shari Thomas
From the "middle of nowhere" Beryl, Utah. Our farm is nearly complete with 3 horses, 6 ewes, a cow and heifer calf, 19 chickens, 5 dogs and four country gals. I blog about it at http://sharithomas.com |
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therealshari
True Blue Farmgirl
235 Posts
Shari
Beryl
UT
USA
235 Posts |
Posted - Nov 13 2008 : 4:30:09 PM
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Ok, news posts are up, including last week's election results and some demographics for my zip code, a major part of the Escalante Desert Valley.
Shari Thomas
From the "middle of nowhere" Beryl, Utah. Our farm is nearly complete with 3 horses, 6 ewes, a cow and heifer calf, 19 chickens, 5 dogs and four country gals. I blog about it at http://sharithomas.com |
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therealshari
True Blue Farmgirl
235 Posts
Shari
Beryl
UT
USA
235 Posts |
Posted - Nov 30 2008 : 08:52:32 AM
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Enterprise Desert Valley news is now really ready to move forward. The server migration from Canada to Texas is complete. I've made modifications to the header... The pic is from our farm.
Look for news to begin flowing!
Shari Thomas
From the "middle of nowhere" Beryl, Utah. Our farm is nearly complete with 3 horses, 6 ewes, a cow and heifer calf, 19 chickens, 5 dogs and four country gals. I blog about it at http://sharithomas.com |
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bohemiangel
True Blue Farmgirl
2087 Posts
Bridget
Ligonier
pa
USA
2087 Posts |
Posted - Nov 30 2008 : 09:56:30 AM
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Cool Shari! Yeah that is more spread out than here but our "town" is spread out over several ridges so we have folks up there :-p We have under 2000 in our town. It's dwindling a lil bit lately. You'll have this. Well I wish you the best with it! :)
**~~Farmgirl Sister #60~~**
"... to thine ownself be true."
http://liggybitsandpieces.blogspot.com/
http://ligonierliving.blogspot.com/
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Entrepreneurship: We're starting a local online newsblog |
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We're starting a local online newsblog
