Membership Sideblog
- The Marcus Welby of law, by Lance Heisler | Lampe Law Group
July 31, 2010 | 7:45 pmGrowing up in North Dakota during the 50s and 60s, I was privileged to experience something that's all too rare now - the old-fashioned family doctor. "Doc" delivered babies, set broken bones, treated pneumonia, and helped Grandpa with his newfangled hearing aid. Doc knew the community, the families, and the individuals whose basic medical needs he treated from birth through the end of life. Some of you who grew up in that time, and perhaps in smaller communities, may remember a Doc of your own. . . . → Read More: The Marcus Welby of law, by Lance Heisler | Lampe Law Group
- Kitty Mania at the Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
July 28, 2010 | 10:51 pm
Let’s talk about cats, cats and more cats! Why?? Because Prairie’s Edge Humane Society is full of cats and we have many more arriving daily. As of today, there are 44 cats on the adoption floor with more awaiting their surgeries so they are ready for adoption. There are cats in every corner of the shelter who need homes! We are in desperate need of homes for these cats. We cannot emphasize this enough. So we are having a cat sale and we are calling it Kitty Mania ! Kitty Mania is this weekend, beginning Thursday, July . . . → Read More: Kitty Mania at the Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
- On Watermelons and Widgets, by Tom Swift
July 12, 2010 | 11:50 am
The free market does many things well, but we know it does not do everything. Even market fundamentalists concede that the public must build roads, put out fires, police streets, and provide national defense. Most people, at least those to the left of the Tea Party edge of political spectrum, accept that the government must also be involved in education, disaster relief, and health care. That is, certain services must be rendered — necessary services, universal services — whether or not those services are financially profitable. If your house is on fire, you do not have time to . . . → Read More: On Watermelons and Widgets, by Tom Swift
- Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance, by Dan Bergeson
July 12, 2010 | 10:56 am
Okay, so most of the news about the Vintage Band Festival so far has been about the bands. But there’s a number of other events during the weekend. Like the VBF Contra Dance, for instance. The Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance will feature music by The Dodworth Saxhorn Band of Ann Arbor, Michigan and will be led by dance instructor/caller Robin Nelson. Dancing will begin at 8:30 p.m. with a “Grand March” led by 60 costumed members of the 1st Wisconsin Infantry Brigade, followed by a variety of period dances including polkas, contra dances, schottisches, reels and waltzes. . . . → Read More: Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance, by Dan Bergeson
- The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome, by Tom Swift
June 27, 2010 | 8:00 am
Even before I read the first word of this article I had a visceral reaction to it. The accompanying photographs — my eyes tend to skip over photographs in magazines — affected me in a manner that is difficult to articulate. I knew, immediately I knew, I was not going to like what I was about to read. In fact, for that reason I put the piece aside. Not now, I thought. Maybe tomorrow, I said to myself. But, then, I couldn’t not read it, either. If you have not done so already, I hope you will read . . . → Read More: The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome, by Tom Swift
- Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! by Kathy Jasnoch
June 27, 2010 | 7:54 am
June may be Adopt A Cat month here at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society and we have lots of wonderful cats, but we also have PUPPIES! We have a male Newfoundland mix named Chong who is 6 months old, he was a stray so we don’t know a lot about him. He loves to play! We also have three Australian Cattle Dog mixes who are two months old. Marcia, Bobby and Cindy were born at the shelter and spent some time in one of our fabulous foster homes. They are now back at the shelter and ready to find . . . → Read More: Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! by Kathy Jasnoch
- Relay for Life of Rice County, August 6th, Rice County Fairgrounds. By Sandy Vesledahl
June 23, 2010 | 9:35 pm
The American Cancer Society Relay for Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay for Life, teams of people camp out at local parks or fairgrounds and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events. Relay for Life of Rice . . . → Read More: Relay for Life of Rice County, August 6th, Rice County Fairgrounds. By Sandy Vesledahl
- Critter Cam live from Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
June 16, 2010 | 9:04 amNow Showing! Live Kittens playing! You can now watch our adoptable animals at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society (PEHS) live 24/7 on the new Critter Cam installed in conjunction with KYMN Radio. Thanks to the fine folks at KYMN radio we now have a live feed of our adoptable animals showing on our website and KYMN’s website, Tim and Jeff are AWESOME! Currently the Critter Cam is featuring kittens available for adoption. Watch them play, sleep, eat, and everything else they do 24 hours a day 7 days a week! It’s better than anything you can see on TV! . . . → Read More: Critter Cam live from Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
- Save the Northfield Depot: fundraising help needed. By Lynn Vincent
June 11, 2010 | 11:34 am
A BIG Thanks to all of you who came to last Monday’s Volunteer Organization Meeting, and to those who contacted us saying you wanted to help but could not make the meeting. We have pretty full support for Communications and Design and Build sub-committees, and we got a web graphic designer to help with the site. Alice Thomas is facilitating the Communications group, and Steve Edwins is facilitating the Design and Build group. What we are missing and really need are Fund Raising people. We have two grant writiers, but we need folks who are committed to the . . . → Read More: Save the Northfield Depot: fundraising help needed. By Lynn Vincent
- Photo albums: 2010 Prairie’s Edge Humane Society Walk for the Animals, by Bridgette Hallcock Photography
June 11, 2010 | 8:09 am
Thank you to all of those who came to Alexander Park on a beautiful Saturday morning in May to help support Prairie’s Edge Humane Society! I have placed all of the fun photographs on my Bridgette Hallcock Photography Facebook page so that everyone can see how much fun we had! See the two 2010 Walk for the Animals albums here and here. If you would like a print, please contact me, as the proceeds will benefit the animals at PEHS.
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Locally Grown to be host for Representative Journalism test project
By Griff Wigley, on February 21, 2008, 1:30 pm
Locally Grown has been chosen to test an innovative project called Representative Journalism, led by Communication Chair and Associate Professor Leonard Witt and colleagues at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. See Len’s blog post for details, as well as this press release (PDF).
 
Over half of the $51,000 grant from the Harnisch Family Foundation will flow to Northfield. Ross, Tracy and I will be paid for our time on the project. The Representative Journalism (RepJ) project will contract with a professional journalist who will be based locally. And money’s allocated to experiment with different ways to make the project financially sustainable.
Project staff will be visiting Northfield in the next few weeks to conduct interviews and help us get launched.
There’s lots to discuss about how all this is going to work so fire away with comments. As you’ll soon see, we have some stuff figured out but we expect to making a LOT of it up as we go, primarily based on input from you, our readers, listeners, and fellow citizens.
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but I’d have a hard time during the sabbatical not paying attention to see if that was actually the case. I think the more places in Northfield...
Oh boy! How much is allocated to those of us who contribute comments on a regular basis?
Two cents worth?
That’s kind of a harsh, flippant response Ross.
LoGoNo would a be meaningless rant without its contributors.
If we are only worth two cents, I will be down to pick up my final check, and be done with this.
I know you are kidding… two smilies. I’m only poking at you.
John:
When I offer my two cents worth, I figure that it’s an accurate valuation. Certainly some people even seem to question the second penny. I truly consider yours to be just as valuable.
Ross
OK, I clicked on Leonard Witt’s name above and what did I see? Another guy in a bike helmet. What is it with blogging and bike helmets? Did you guys wear them in your high school graduation photos and at your weddings? Do you sleep in them or only put them on whenever you see a camera?
Respectfully,
Curt (presently not wearing a bike helmet because I am not riding a bike at this moment)
This is your most elaborate faux news yet, Griff! (emoticon smile)
And we look to the web for “information”…? I took me awhile to catch on that this one was a “hoax.” Hmm… Even Mr. Outdoor Enthusiast–Griff–must have cabin fever! Thanks for the entertainment.
I’d bet my $0.02 that this isn’t faux… those links look pretty legit to me.
First off, congratulations on this grant. It seems that it is a wonderful opportunity for LoGroNo.
However, this is somewhat like a young athlete taking money or other incentives.
Once paid, all of you lose the “amateur” status, and become professionals.
Also, this brings back into the play the discussion that we had regarding “citizen blogger” -vs- “citizen journalist” and the responsibilities that that caries. (see http://locallygrownnorthfield.org/archives/1935/ )
I say that, because of this line on http://pjnet.org/representativejournalism/post/21/
This sounds like the “Citizen blogger” tag is falling away, in lieu of a new type of hybrid media reporter, that is part journalist, part blogger, part podcaster, part radio star. It will be interesting to see what other media LoGroNo will move into. Print? Local Cable Access Television? Much could be done with that grant money.
Again, I think this is a wonderful opportunity, and the fact Mr. Bill Densmore, and Mr. Chis Peck, will be joining you is a great step forward.
Congratulations again, I am looking forward to seeing where this goes.
Sue/Christine, I assure you, this is the real deal, not faux news, despite the professor in the bike helmet photo. Feel free to give professor Witt a phone call!
John T, the triumvirate will continue with our citizen blogger/podcaster hats on. The RepJ folks won’t be supervising our blogging or trying to change what we normally do.
Their focus will be entirely on the professional journalist that they will hire. We anticipate that that reporter will practice what’s called ‘collaborative journalism’ or ‘networked journalism’ — and that’s where we and you, the citizens, come in.
John T. -
We had at least two beers…er…ah…discussions about it before we agreed to it.
We anticipate some creative tension between the citizen bloggers and the professional journalists. But hey, that’s what Locally Grown has been about since the very beginning.
- Ross
Re “Feel Free to give Professor Witt a phone call” from Griff. This is great! You have even enlisted someone out of state to help perpetuate your faux news! Someone who will play along with the prank. Or is it called “punk”? It gets better and better! (Remember the boy who cried wolf? Now we will never believe you until you send us all our checks for two cents for participating.)
The business reporter at the Rochester Post-Bulletin moves easily through his roles as a blogger and reporter, and he is the most networked and connected guy in town. The tone of writing differs, and the blog allows for some speculation and lots more comments from readers, but it all works to expand journalism, not blow it up. Of course, there is no recession in Rochester, so the business beat is the busiest one at the paper.
And you are coming from the other direction, blending journalism into the mix. The tensions will be real, and interesting to watch, but well worth it.
Congratulations on this wonderful opportunity.
I too am interested to see how this is going to work, and look forward to the opportunity to participate.
If our opinions are worth $0.02, and you were counting posts the other month, when can we anticipate a full accounting and our checks?
That should be really close to enough for a cup of coffee!
Congratulations, Locally Grown, on this well-earned reward! I look forward to seeing how this budding media conglomerate will grow. If I see Rupert Murdoch in town, I’ll know who he’s meeting for lunch. (Or having for lunch?)
I looked at Mr. Witt’s bio and was impressed. He has some Minnesota connections too.
Griff, do you wear a motorcycle helmet? If so, why not join the helmeted crew, at least occasionally?
As another blogger, I have one question: Will your Creative Commons license change? Is that an issue you’ll have to look at?
My reaction to this news was like yours John – that the character of Locally Grown was going to change – and I was a bit skeptical.
As you say, Griff, you’ll be making it up as you go along – so it will be enticing to see what that change will be. You also said: “We anticipate that that reporter will practice what’s called ‘collaborative journalism’ or ‘networked journalism’ — and that’s where we and you, the citizens, come in.”
Can’t wait to see what that’s all about. This is an evolving medium – and that’s what makes it exciting.
Kudos!
It’ll be interesting to see how the other news resources in town react to this…
There are other news sources in town?
Thanks for the congrats everyone.
Bill, as far as I know, LG won’t own any rights to the content posted here by the RepJ reporter. I expect that the reporter and the RepJ project itself probably will, tho.
Jane, one of Len’s colleagues, Donica Mensing, blogged journalism ‘terms’ about a month ago. It’s a good summary, with links to ‘collaborative journalism’ and ‘networked journalism.’ Her blog post:
What’s in a name?
http://www.ourtahoe.org:16080/voices/mensing/?p=20
Media coverage of LoGroNo and RepJ in Editor & Publisher: Journalism Professor Gets Grant to Launch Online News Project.
It’s the first time one of my grants has been considered “faux,” although some have been greeted with “You’ve GOT to be kidding.”
To those who are skeptical (and you have plenty of company in the journalism world), I say: It’s an experiment. You’re the first. You won’t be the last.
(I’m currently looking for a RepJ to cover the field of professional coaching for http://www.coachingcommons.org FYI)
Thanks to all who are participating!
Hi Ruth Ann! Quite the treat to have the head of the Harnisch Family Foundation to add a comment here. Since the foundation’s website is under construction, I’ll link to your bio page on the Thrillionaire’s site in case people want to know more about you.
I found out today that the RepJ trio (Len, Chris and Bill) are visting Northfield for several days in mid-March. I hope we can entice you to visit at some point, tho maybe when it’s warmer and greener.
David Cohn referenced RepJ in his DigiDave blog today in a piece titled “Free” and Future Business Models of Journalism.
What do you think of MinnPost.com and its non-profit journalism model? My understanding is that a lot of former Twin Cities print journalists are working for this site, and that its funding involves donations. This model seems to be something like public TV/radio but without govt. support.
I recently read some good articles there about the transportation funding bill.
See the “About” page at MinnPost.com for more. Here is quote from it: “Our goal is to create a sustainable business model for this kind of journalism, supported by corporate sponsors, advertisers, and members who make annual donations.”
http://www.minnpost.com/about/
I should have said “a lot of former newspaper journalists are working for this site,” since they are still journalists now.
Bill, I see MinnPost.com as regional Slate.com (opinionated journalism) with, as you indicated, an MPR-type funding structure (memberships, sponsorships, and online banner ads).
The journalists don’t practice ‘collaborative journalism’ as far as I can tell. Nor do they seem to interact much with their readers once a piece has been published. Hopefully, the RepJ journalist will do both.
In the current issue of the New Yorker: Out of Print: The death and life of the American newspaper, by Eric Alterman. Lots pertinent to RepJ in this piece.