I guess we scare them.
Well, I read Susan’s post earlier today and decided to saunter over to Blue Hampshire to read Mike Hoefer’s post – Seeking Editorial Lead (reformatted, emphasis mine):
I’ve been an absentee landlord for sometime and do not see that changing in the year ahead. Blue Hampshire’s founding predates Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. and those tools have diversified the “New Media” space for NH political news and allowed politicians and politicos easy, direct publishing abilities without the need for a central hub. I believe there are still some interesting digital opportunities for Blue Hampshire if there was someone(s) to help drive the day-to-day editorial of the site. I think it would be a very interesting opportunity for a NH college student(s) majoring in journalism to get some real world experience (in a state that has national impact) to their resume.
Uh, that would include us as well as far as opening the doors – blogging WAS the New Shiny Object. Heck, it was just Doug and I at the ‘Grok’s beginning but our traffic always has been larger (with a couple of exceptions). Even now, our few authors still outproduce and out-traffic BH’s – even with that whole “community of diarists”. I don’t quite understand why Mike needs help: they’ve always been “a collective” effort (or as they called it, “a community”) and they can’t find one person to step up and lead? Or can it only be successful if this “alternative” happens?
Another potential model of operation would be an intern or new media specialist (perhaps grant funded via a collation of state progressive groups) who could use the BH platform to highlight the activities of many groups working for a more progressive New Hampshire.
We all here at the ‘Grok all hold full time jobs and do what we do on a voluntary basis: no sponsors. Just a self-directed team (of which I am greatly appreciative and honored to have): we all do what is needed to be done with no direction needed from a central authority. Like all good conservatives, see a need – just go fill it. As long as the hosting fee gets paid, I don’t see GraniteGrok going quietly into that good night. BH, on the other hand?
Save some new editorial lead interest, I may need to consider putting the site in to some sort of “archive mode”. Comment below or contact me at mhoefer@gmail.com if you are interested in discussing these ideas and opportunities more detail.
And believe it or not, that would be a shame. Competition is good – for all. Competition in the political Arena of Ideas sharpens the wit, “pithies” the argument, and exercises the vocal chords. We have pretty much outlasted all of the “competition” since opening the doors and I believe that BH (our “biggest competitor here in NH) going dark would be a shame. So, I left a comment earlier this morning:
Well, we at GraniteGrok would be most obliging in filling that “Editorial Lead” need of your’s. After all, we’re just a handful of ordinary schlubs who built the ‘Grok to have a nationwide rep, along with our podcast (which is nationally syndicated now).
We could do that for you as well!
On a serious note – we DO welcome your competition, and I’d love to have some of you folks come on GrokTALK! for that “battle in the Arena of Ideas”.
Well, the comment went to moderation (which I expected) but I just went back to see if anything happened to it – nada. Right into that big bit bucket in the ether. Sad, really – really did want some of them to come on GrokTALK! It IS important to talk to those other than one’s own choir.
I guess we scare them.
