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Citizen Journalism At MetroJacksonville.com A Model For What’s To Come
Quote from: Alan Colmes on October 10th, 2009, 3:30 PM EDT
With newspapers folding and many denizens in the old media not understanding the new media, the young entrepreneurs at metrojacksonville.com are on the edge of the curve. Locals, including officials, can’t wait to post there, knowing their messages will be read by an engaged citizenry. They are using the web the way it is meant to be used, incorporating a level of interactivity that most newspapers haven’t grabbed onto.
Among the issues that are paramount here is public transportation and sustainable and dynamic urban design towards a better life quality, energy efficiency and lower taxes. They explore issues such as problems commuters have in second-tier cities and how the bus system can improve to meet the need as more of us want to go green. They have been leaders in exploring how Amtrak can help us move toward sustainability by increasing its presence in key communities.
Hyper-local content is a burgeoning trend and we’re going to see more of it., And with its clean design and easy-to-navigate interface, what is happening at metrojacksonville.com can be a blueprint for how the web can be maximized for the greater good.
Among the issues that are paramount here is public transportation and sustainable and dynamic urban design towards a better life quality, energy efficiency and lower taxes. They explore issues such as problems commuters have in second-tier cities and how the bus system can improve to meet the need as more of us want to go green. They have been leaders in exploring how Amtrak can help us move toward sustainability by increasing its presence in key communities.
Hyper-local content is a burgeoning trend and we’re going to see more of it., And with its clean design and easy-to-navigate interface, what is happening at metrojacksonville.com can be a blueprint for how the web can be maximized for the greater good.
One of the things that makes Metro Jacksonville great is the active intelligent participation of so many engaged people in this community. Colmes' praise is directed primarily at the interaction that we all participate in--both the editors and the readers. Thanks to Alan for the recognition for what all of the posters and writers of this site have created!
From Alan's bio on FoxNews.com:
Alan Colmes joined FOX News Channel in 1996. He served as the liberal counterpart and co-host of "Hannity & Colmes," a one-hour debate-driven talk show focusing on controversial newsmakers and issues of the day.
After a string of successful radio shows on WNBC, WABC and WMCA in New York, Colmes gained a reputation as a hard-hitting liberal known for his electric commentary on the American agenda. He has interviewed many key political figures, which include Former President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Steve Forbes, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Ralph Nader and Ken Starr.
Colmes hosted his own self-titled late night radio talk show on WEVD-AM. After penetrating the Boston market with a hit radio show on WZLX, Colmes went from major market success to national talk radio prominence in 1990 with his fast-paced and informative afternoon news-driven show, which aired daily on hundreds of affiliates nationwide. Most recently, he returned to radio as host of a news-driven late-night talk show "The Alan Colmes Show," which is syndicated by the FOX News Channel.
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JaxBorn1962
October 12, 2009, 05:39:38 AMGreat Job MetroJacksonville I've been telling Everyone I know to check this site out. I Love this site for its News, Forums, Photos, and Stories. Thanks Alan too bad your with fox news
BridgeTroll
October 12, 2009, 05:57:12 AMDan, Ennis, Steve, and Stephen have done a great job! I hope this is just the beginning of Metro Jacksonvilles influence regarding local issues. National exposure and recognition of this site is well deserved...
Keep up the good work gentlemen!
Congratulations!!
jaxlore
October 12, 2009, 07:43:32 AMvery nice, much deserved.
GideonGlib
October 12, 2009, 07:52:08 AMI wonder if that could be translated to say "with the Times-Union having become the bastion of the right-wing nut cases and home of yellow journalism for the tea bagging set that people who really want apolitical news of whats going on in this city gladly embrace MetroJacksonville as a fantastic source for information, ideas and consensus building articles about where this city needs to go"
Even if that is just my slant on things, you guys have a wonderful site, fantastic articles, and never fail open my eyes to great new ideas.
Good job!
JeffreyS
October 12, 2009, 08:00:49 AMMr. Mayor MetroJacksonville will see you now.
kramer2k
October 12, 2009, 08:19:53 AMCongrats to all involved for getting this great exposure. Good job.
Captain Zissou
October 12, 2009, 08:27:05 AMHahahaha, we would get recognized by the most liberal guy at Fox News. Now if only Rachel Maddow will give us praise.......
Congrats Metrojax!! This is well deserved praise for all the hard work the founders have put into making an amazing place to meet and discuss important issues about our city and society as a whole.
heights unknown
October 12, 2009, 08:59:03 AMAgain guys, dammit congratulations! All of this recognition, KUDOS, pat on the back(s), you guys are now on the national stage and in the national spotlight and in essence, has put Jax on the map. Look for METROChicago, METRONewYork, METROGainesville, METROBaldwin, etc. in the future (that's what you should do time permitting); get a head or Director for each "METRO" in whatever city with the corporate location in Jax; and oh, we're waiting for you to build that 90 story skyscraper in downtown Jax which will be your corporate Headquarters, and, renovate some of these empty historical scrapers in the core!
Heights Unknown
stjr
October 12, 2009, 09:53:31 AMCongratulations MetroJax. Well deserved. I said in one of my "Suggestions and Comments" in the Feedback forum a while back that MJ had a special opportunity to serve our community in the new age and I am glad to see others think the same. Keep up the good work.
P.S. But that skyline picture of Jax is a bit dated! What will people think? That we have preserved all our historic buildings?
stephendare
October 12, 2009, 12:46:28 PMThanks guys! The rest of the boys are too shy (or modest I guess) to speak up. But we were stoked about the recognition. It was really awesome of Alan to mention us in this way. And of course, what sets the site apart is the purposefulness of the forums.
Thanks for all the input and not putting up with nonsense and setting the records straight. Thats where integrity comes from, and you guys bring that to the game.
sheclown
October 12, 2009, 01:23:35 PMPretty impressive stuff here.
copperfiend
October 12, 2009, 01:36:08 PMThis is great. The people behind this site do one hell of a job. Congrats!!!!
Midway
October 12, 2009, 01:45:18 PMCongrats. Your outstanding work deserves this recognition.
untarded
October 12, 2009, 01:53:46 PMCongratulations!! Well deserved. Keep up the good work. We have a long way to go!!
JaxBorn1962
October 12, 2009, 01:53:57 PMNow the Hard Part? Selling this site to say foxnews or the Fla Times Union for big bucks
stephendare
October 12, 2009, 01:58:36 PMsell it to those guys?
Please. I would turn into a reluctant napoleon, Dan would have a nervous breakdown watching them screw up code and Ennis would never sleep trying to correct all of the tragic mistakes.
Bob would be hospitalized permanently once the site got used to promote the end of rail as we know it, and Steve would have to resign at RAP.
*Not to mention the fact that you guys would all get hunted down and be actively 'stupided at' by the posters of either of their sites. And trust me, the Stupid is enough to raise welts.
Shwaz
October 12, 2009, 02:05:51 PMCongrats! Well deserved.
seaside1991
October 12, 2009, 09:42:38 PMI'm in Tampa and frequently tell people to check out this website. There are a lot of great articles here that other metros can learn from. Great Job!!
CS Foltz
December 31, 2009, 01:20:28 PMI concur with the general concensus..............great site to not only participate but to learn! I salute all conected with metrojax, both from the administration side as well as the participant side!