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Blogging with the Beacon
Sep 2009
By Doreen Marion Gee
Our newspaper lighthouse is shining its beacon in a whole new direction. With a tweaked website and new blog, we have entered the exciting new era of instant communication and citizen involvement via the Internet. We've expanded how the James Bay community can be involved in our discussions of important news and events. With a few flicks of computer keys, you can instantly give the Beacon your take on community issues and give us feedback on what we write and report. For all you Karsh wannabes, you can now blog us your photos of splendid James Bay.
A blog, derived from "web log," refers to a type of website or website link that maintains an ongoing chronicle of information that is frequently updated. It is a running commentary comprised of community perspectives about anything under the sun. All you do is log on and start the joy ride. You can also put in photos and links to other articles or websites.
The new blog is the brainchild of Victoria Adams. Her zest was the catalyst for the project. Adams sees blogging as an innovative vehicle to communicate news and views and to receive feedback. She believes that it will benefit James Bay in making it easier for people to connect with one another. Regarding the Beacon, "It is a way of expanding its reach to a wider audience who are familiar with the new technology and are keen on helping create the news as amateur journalists."
Joel Legassie is the technical whiz kid behind the Beacon changes. His blog experience comes from being the co-creator (along with Reed Kirkpatrick) of a high quality sophisticated website and blog about James Bay at www.jamesbay.org. His role in the present project is handling the transfer of the old Beacon site to an open source format complete with a blog. Legassie hope that "the new blog will create an interactive forum for the community to discuss things that are important to the neighbourhood."
As a member of the Beacon's New Media Committee, Josie Bannerman had a chance to use her expertise from her work with Bridges for Women, where she set up their on-line services. She mentions that the Beacon writers will find the blog as hande as community members. They can add more information to their articles or ask the community for leads or feedback. It is also a way for writers and readers to network and pass along contacts. Bannerman is excited about the new Beacon blog because it is an opportunity for locals to get more personally involved with our community paper. "The blog has exciting possibilities in providing another way that you can express opinions and have input into what the Beacon covers and how it is covered. It is a way to contribute to what we are about." It may also attract more young people who were raised on a diet of You Tube mixed with Twitter.
So, click on that "BLOG" tab and feel the adventure.