What a year
This was the first photo I used in a post. We're all about the nostalgia.
As I mentioned in the Headlines today, we’re 1.
(Notable people we share birthdays with: The Unknown Studio, sort of…Edmonton reporter Simon Ostler…Queen of the Cougars, Courtney Cox…K-9 star Jim Belushi…Neil Patrick Harris, freakin’ NPH…Ice Cube…Waylon Jennings…and Helen Hunt…not bad company at all.)
We had to go back and check when we actually posted for the first time last year, since it’s been a long year. It’s been a lot of blogging, but, as with most things, life also gets in the way. So I mean it when I say the edmontonian has had a long year. Heck, I was really blown away when looking through our old stories. It was lots of “We did that? We talked about that already?”
I like hearing the guys at The Unknown Studio joke in their podcasts that Scott never thought they’d see one year, and Adam gets to gloat. (They’re also turning one!) I feel the same way, sometimes.
the edmontonian is a blog. But it’s just a website. It’s a news aggregator. But it’s also a content creator. It’s an online magazine. It’s about Edmonton. It’s a conversation. It’s just a blog. It’s a place where anyone can share their stories, whether in an actual post or photos or just in the comments.
I think I’ve seen, in the last year, how titles and jurisdictions and mediums matter less. I really don’t think it matters if you’re putting out stories of Edmonton on TV, newspapers, radio, online, in magazines, in photos or videos. People want information, they want discussion, they want to solve problems and celebrate victories. Personally, I feel the Internet can do a combination of that better than traditional mediums (if only for interaction and constant updating) but as long as newsrooms and blogs and people telling stories are after truth I think it’s all good.
Truth being stories about this place we live in, good and bad. Truth being facts not plainly stated or available, sometimes only revealed through digging of crusading reporters. Truth being that we’re all in this, so we better find some common ground and try to solve problems, be for something and not against everything.
And truth being that we’ll talk about stuff like broken doors and mall openings because it’s fun and funny, not because we think it will attract eyeballs.
And I like to think this is all part of a wider connection of blogs, podcasts and passionate Edmontontians that are changing, not just how the city approaches things, but also, the way people get their news.
There you go. Edmonton’s got a world-class online, and tech, community. That’s how you become a great place to live, you do it without trying.
Don't go shopping for glasses with Sally. She'll just take photos of you to make you look like a perv.
It’s been a wild year. I can’t believe we’re still here, and I’m glad we are. I can’t believe people readily write for us and team up with us. I’m blown away when people talk about us, or thank us for talking about their blog or their issues.
It’s humbling. And it’s not something I always got, or recognized, when working in daily news. This little blog has changed my life.
Thanks for sticking with us for one year. We hope to be thanking you again in 365 days.
We always appreciate your help
Hey there, Edmonton.
You might have noticed some new buttons on our sidebar, over there, to the right of these very words.
One is bright yellow and has a beautiful gold running shoe in it. That funky little ad takes you on the way to our PayPal donation page. Yes, we’re now openly soliciting you for money.
But it’s not actually for gold shoes. Yet.
It’s our attempt to start growing the edmontonian bigger and better. We love when we get stories and opinions and photos and videos from you, and we’d like to keep growing that relationship. We’d also love to get to the point where we could do this more of the time, and maybe even slide YOU a few bucks for helping.
So, when you’re dumping a fistful of quarters into newspaper boxes I hope you’ll think of us, and how we’re not even putting a definitive price tag on the cost of readership. We don’t think you have to pay $1 a day, or even a week. Heck, $10 a year from you could run this whole operation at tremendous new levels.
Though, if you like this idea, we’re going to have to think up great rewards for your financial contributions…perhaps giant clocks.
The other new button over there is a revamped link to our Cafe Press store. Oh yeah, we’ve got new stuff in there! Hilarious stuff.
The other ads and links are from various friends and if you want to check them out, we say you do it.
All in all, this is just one of many “thank you” letters we’ve written, to thank you for reading, for contributing, and for being a part of the Edmonton conversation.
Why didn't anyone tell me the Dawson Bridge was out? (Photo: Brittney Le Blanc)
You found us!
If you could read my mind...you'd know that I wasn't dead. Oopsie by Canwest. (Great screen grab by ChrisD.ca)
What a day on the Interweb tubes!
First, there was the big Laura Secord story this morning. It’s back in Canadian hands, but we (people on Twitter) discovered that this chocolate has left town.
Thank goodness we have the awesome chocolate of Kerstin and Sweet Lollapalooza to fill our bellies. If it gets cold again I think some drinking chocolate from Kerstin’s is in order… (We’ve also been chatting up Edmonton chocolate spots at our Facebook page.)
Then, this afternoon, Gordon Lightfoot died. For about 25 minutes. Online only.
I love how people are blaming Twitter, an inanimate social media platform, for the rumours. Unless the machines are about to take over I don’t think “Twitter” was spreading rumours. I think people were. And they were using Twitter as they would their voice, e-mail or a pen and paper. Oh, and once you mix in some major news outlets, you get why this can spread. (Check the screen capture, from Winnipeg blog Chris D.ca, above.)
Where’s TMZ when you need them? Can Shaw buy that too?
But…onto what I actually wanted to ask you: How’d you get here?
I’ve recently aquired a sweet new BlackBerry, and my venture into the realm of smartphones has been great. I just got an RSS feed reader and I’ve never been more on top of my blog reading!
I also noticed, in our own visit stats (now Edmonton’s 93rd favourite blog), that more people are coming to our website and our stories via our RSS feed rather than just plunking theedmontonian.com into a browser. That blew me away! Until I got my feed reader.
So, I’m just curious, are you coming to the website directly, following links off Twitter, catching up with us on Facebook or waiting for your RSS reader to alert you?
There are no wrong answers. Heck, you could even be doing some combination of all of that.
But I want answers, Edmonton!
It’s just you and me now, Edmonton
Hey there, Edmonton.
You’re looking good. Have you lost some weight? That haircut really suits you.
Look, I know you totally love Sally and think she’s awesome for taking on big business, mind-numbing city hall meetings, and other important Edmonton stuff in her hilarious, straight-shooting style. But, if you’ve been paying close attention the last few weeks you might have noticed a lack of Sally ’round these parts.
As Sally mentioned, her life in the glamorous TV industry came to an end, due
mostly to the fact that industry is on pretty shaky ground these days. So, she’s heading back to school to re-educate and take on this wired world.
I expect she’ll have plenty of homework I’m not smart enough to help her with, so she’s going to need time to study and get her dioramas done. That means the edmontonian will be all Jeff all the time.
(Except for all the wonderfully amazing times people contribute. Those times will not be Jeff-time and shall remain the time of said contributor.)
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to Staples to stock up our little student for the school year.
(Thanks to Teresa for the Staples link.)
Time to say thanks
Since we weren’t around all of 2009 we won’t fill this blog with top 10 this and best of that.
(To clarify, we were alive the whole time, the website just wasn’t around the entire year).
I hope "Looking dumb in photos" ends up a needed job skill one day.
We might mention 2009, or review it, but we’re not going full-out. Maybe we’ll just keep doing things whenever we like and review it in June or something.
Instead, I’ll ease back from the holidays by simply saying thanks.
Thank you for reading stuff we put up on this website. It continues to blow me and Sally away that people come here. Thank you for contributing your own ideas. Thanks for letting us post your stuff and sharing it with more people. Those last two are great because we always wanted this to be a conversation between Edmontonians.
Thanks for talking Edmonton, and really trying to figure out what this city is all about and what it could be. There’s lots of talk today about complaining vs. acting and what makes a city a good place to live. I think complaining is fun, but there really is a point where you either keep doing that or suck it up and try to fix what you don’t like.
Thanks for indulging my news nerdiness and reading the boring old headlines each morning. It’s fantastic that people want to be informed, and neat that I can help point you in some of the right directions. It’s also great to know people want to be more media-savvy.
Thanks for sticking with us when we take time off.
Thanks to those who’ve dropped our name, chatted about (and with) us on radio and podcasts, scooped up our story ideas, linked to our website and become new friends. That’s all super-neat-o number 1.
As for 2010, it’s cool that people come to the website and give it a reason to keep on existing. So, we’ll keep writing, keep asking you to contribute, keep asking you for your thoughts and see where this all ends up.
Thanks again.
- Jeff
Festivus Letter from the Editor
Whatever you’ll be celebrating over the holidays, I hope it’s good and fun and warm. If there’s a giant amount of food that’s all the better.
Since I’m already noticing people zipping off to the weekend I think we’ll also scale things back for the Christmas weekend. We’ll be around the next week, though I think we’ll substitute rest and turkey for some of our blogging.
Be sure to check in on us if you’re looking for something to do while relaxing by the fireplace on your bearskin rug with your laptop. There will be an extra mug of Internet cocoa waiting here for you.
If we’re still around next year, and you find us on your holiday shopping list, we are on the hunt for a new Festivus pole for 2010.
If we get you in the Secret Santa, you can be sure you’ll be getting a clock.
Merry Happy,
Jeff
Less like a present and more like a flag than I'd hoped...
We are now Unknown
Once or twice around here we’ve probably dropped the name of a locally produced podcast called “The Unknown Studio.”
Today’s note is all about Sally and I being guests on the latest episode of the show.
We had a great conversation about media, news, Edmonton, community and a bunch of other stuff I can’t remember. We also had a great time, since the hosts (Adam and Scott) have razor sharp wit and always ask good questions.
Final edit notwithstanding, we also talked about websites such as the edmontonian and podcasts like The Unknown Studio and the place they’re finding in the media realm. We discussed the fact they are welcomed as media or news ventures but the people behind the venture need to recognize the responsibility that comes with that.
Enough of me boring you, head over to The Unknown Studio website to listen to the show. While you’re there, I’d recommend listening to their earlier programs – all worth your time. You can also have The Unknown Studio update directly to your iPod since it’s on iTunes.
Unknown hosts Scott (at the computer) Adam (with the beard) and guest Sally prepare for podcast glory.
Letter from the Editor – Oops
Is there stuff much better than a fit, exercise, guy wearing a Fatburger shirt? Nope.
Good day, dear Edmonton.
It was hinted at by Paul, and yes, this is a slow week here at the edmontonian. I’m on vacation, ya’ll.
Not vacay. Don’t you dare call it that.
But, also as you’ve probably noticed, things are still happening here. So, come on by and see what’s up. If you’re new to the place, why not delve into our backlog and see what we’ve been up to.
And since I’m still hanging around, if you’ve got an idea or two, or an event you’ve attended, just let me know and we’ll see if you can’t be the latest contributor.
- Jeff
Letter from the Editor – Falling over you
This is one of my first glimpses of autumn.
We don’t ask a lot of you here, at the edmontonian.
(Oh, except that you read our stuff, keep coming back to the website, contribute your own stuff, tell your friends about the website, give us money in birthday cards, tell us we’re pretty…)
But I’m feeling very fally (is that a thing?) and think we should try and put a positive spin on the changing of the seasons.
The leaves are changing colours, and dropping quite quickly, and the summer warmth is quickly fading to memory. But we don’t have to be sad (though it’s our choice to mope).
No, we can embrace the golds and yellows of fall, enjoy the crunch under our feet and witness the slow build up of clothing layers.
If you happen to catch any of that with your camera, let me know. I’d love to feature some of your visions (or video) of fall in Edmonton right here. It might just be enough to get us to the Thanksgiving long weekend with a smile.
(We already got one photo, capturing the summer fading away, here, from our friend Deja.)
Letter from the Editor – Jeff – Aug 31/09
Thanks for visiting! (And, apologies to Gabe Kaplan.)
We’re back!
Thanks for letting us sneak away for the week. (Sneak away from the website, anyway, we’ve got respectable jobs too.)
One of the big changes you’re going to notice is all our new pop-up ads!
We know this is what people want in a website and we’re going to deliver.
There will be ads that pop-up in front of you, others that drop down from the top of the screen and some that will roll around to try and block you from clicking on actual content.
What?
Oh, that’s right. Pop-up ads are stupid.
Consider them banned at this website. (I don’t think we can be paid enough money to use pop-ups.) And, consider me throwing down that challenge to every other media website in Edmonton.
Mostly, last week was a pause that was to refresh us. We hope that we can keep hitting you with all kinds of Edmonton stuff – from neat people and blogs and websites, to photos of the city (and all those little things that make a city interesting and odd), news and events – to keep you coming back for more.
We’ll also have our Back to School Blowout ready for the return to school.
And don’t forget that we want you to be driving the conversation. Let us know about cool websites, events, stories (that are out there and that are yet to be covered), people and businesses. We’ll point others in those directions, and we’ll ask you to write for us.
Not in that, “We’re big media and you’re so lucky we’re offering you a venue,” kind of way, but because you know better than others what you’re seeing and hearing on the streets of Edmonton and we want to make sure those experiences are shared.
Let’s see, what else is new around here? There’s our new Facebook Page (become a fan today!), and you can check out how to contribute. We’ll be posting our advertising policy (and how YOU can advertise) and our editorial policy soon.
Thanks for choosing the edmontonian. We know you have a lot of website choices out there and we’re glad you’re with us.
- Jeff Samsonow
Letter from the Editor – Jeff – Aug 11/09
This is more a pre-emptive kind of letter, before you get all up in my business about the business of Edmonton.
We are all about Edmonton here at the edmontonian, as I think our daily pile of posts can attest. You may, however, have recently noticed one or two entertainmenty stories popping up.
Living in a metropolitan area of one-million people we get plenty of bands and artists swinging through, whether as part of larger festivals or just on their own tours. That’s a part of living in the big city and that’s something worth celebrating via previews, reviews and interviews. I’ve lived in smaller places and I know what it’s like to only hear about such things happening elsewhere.
Movies, you say, Hollywood movies aren’t from Edmonton!
True, I agree (because you’re so smart), but the movie is showing at theatres in Edmonton and plenty of people in this fair city will be seeing the movie and talking about it at work (instead of doing actual work). Plus, our writers and reviewers are all from Edmonton.
It’s a grey area, I know. But I think if we stick to talking about Edmonton and talking with Edmontonians (and hearing from you) we remain 100% Edmonton.
Now, here’s a picture of something 100% Edmonton:
Techincally the water comes from outside of Edmonton...
Letter from the Editor – Jeff – July 20/09
Great view. But when does my wifi kick in?
How do you do it, Edmonton? How do you make time for your passions?
Not that this website is the greatest thing in forever to come along and rock your world, but I’m pushing hard and going to bed too late. I also was writing for the website last week, while vacationing in Ontario. If I had a Blackberry I’d have been writing from the limo at the wedding of my good friends.
I know that Sally is also squeezing the edmontonian into all minutes of her free time. We also have people sending us photos and stories.
Why am I giving up beautiful sleep for this?
Letter from the editor – Jeff – July 6/09
While I’ve now posted an opinion piece on the Edmonton City Centre Airport (ECCA), I put up a brief update last week that sent you off into the Internet for lots and lots of information.
I hope you’ve taken the time to read up on the airport debate and have sent off an e-mail (or letter, or even a fax) to your city councillor. They need to know what you want to do with that land.
At first I wanted to write a big, wordy, story about the issue. It was going to have history of the airport, and the debate, and lots of information on who wants to keep it open and who wants to turn it into a new neighbourhood. But why waste your time when a few websites had already provided that information?
I would have written a lengthy story if still employed by a media organization that had to prove to advertisers it had all the information its audience could want. But let’s be honest, sometimes those other sources do it first and/or better. Sometimes newsrooms just use the story from the other guys anyway. (Usually through newswire services.)
The great thing about the Internet is that I can check my ego at the (virtual) door and point you to information. Sometimes that’s better than waxing poetic anyway. the edmontonian doesn’t need to be the only website you read, it just has to be part of your Internet checklist for Edmonton stuff.
Thanks for already Bookmarking us. We hope to keep it worth your while.
Letter from the Editor – Sally – July 6/09
Welcome to our fourth week of operation. I’m not going to lie to you guys (I couldn’t if I tried, you just know me too well), I’m starting to get a little worn out. In case this wasn’t readily apparent, Jeff and I run the edmontonian in our off – hours; we still both maintain full-time jobs and pseudo-social lives. But when I’m asleep at the wheel, and ready to crumple into a sleepy pile, I take a moment to reflect upon our astounding success, with less than a month under our belts.
We’ve posted more than 50 Edmonton specific pieces. We’re getting 150+ unique visitors to the site a day. We have, to date, accrued 115 followers on twitter (only about 12 of those are friends humouring us, or women with names like ‘Tawni” who have just posted “new HOT PIXX”.) This last bit is particularly flattering, as the whole twitter crew are a pretty savvy bunch when it comes to media (yes, I say that despite the fact that as of 8:30 this morning, ‘#farts’ was a trending topic).
Anyway, suffice it to say that we love you guys, and we are so appreciative of the support. It keeps us forging on even when we have no energy left. So thanks for that! And thanks for your contributions to date – we’re nothing without you, Edmonton. Never leave us!
As always, we hope to hear from you in the comments, or via email, facebook or twitter. Story ideas, questions about the city you’d like answered, blogs or sites you think we should know about, pictures you’ve taken, people who should be profiled – whatever you’ve got, Edmonton, we want some of that.
Have a banner week, people.
Letter from the Editor – Sally – June 30/09
Oh, Edmonton. Yesterday was so, so bad. I knew I was in trouble at 7:30 a.m., when I spilled a large coffee all over myself, the floor and the counter at Java Express on Jasper Ave. I tripped and fell on my way into work. I forgot my lunch. But most troubling, I couldn’t think of a g.d. thing to write about. Sitting there, starving, in my coffee stained shirt, I began to panic. “OMG,” I told myself. “I guess I only had 2 weeks of blogging in me after all.” It seemed that what was once my greatest love, the internet, with all its limitless potential, had gone astray. You fickle, fickle dame.
But then two very important things happened, within moments of each other: first, I received a tweet from my friend Allen (he lives in Regina and has a top notch radio show called Dead Blog Collective Mouth Radio that you can catch online Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.). It said: “Doing what you love and making sure it’s true is the only way to save us from the mess we’re in.”
“Yes, Al,” I thought. “You’re right. I believe in the possibilities of new media. Perhaps it’s not so crazy to think that writing about local news and affairs could be of value to people. Perhaps it’s enough that I just enjoy what we’re doing.”
Spirit reignited by Al, I decided to check my email, in pursuit of interviews for a story I’m working on. I had visions of a Letter from the Editor (which incidentally I am supposed to write on Mondays -#deadline fail) espousing the virtue of doing what you love, whatever it may be, regardless of the outcome, provided it is meaningful to you.
But then something else happened. I got an e-card from my brother, via a site called ‘Hollywood is Calling.’
Dennis Haskins wants YOU to succeed!
Letter from the Editor – Jeff – June 29/09
Many colours of news coverage.
Here at the edmontonian, I hope we end up bringing you stories you aren’t seeing around town, in mainstream or alternative media.
I think we’ve already done that by getting out a couple of stories (uno, dos) on the new gas station being ripped up on Whyte Avenue.
We’ve also begun to break down City Hall. In order for people to be engaged they need to know how things work and that not everything is a mortal combat between two foes.
One neat thing I’d note in part two of the land-use debate is when Sally talks about being distracted by the person next to her. Some may see that as a throw-away comment, or a blogging style focused on the writer, but I think it does a lot to explain what happens to news coverage before it hits the newspaper, newscast or website.
Reporters get distracted. Strangers loudly unwrap candy and snacks at public meetings, gawkers pepper you with questions, people chat all around you, your Blackberry pings constantly…. So keep that in mind the next time you notice the Journal, Sun, CTV and CHED stories all have different portions of the same meeting or court case.
Yes, the reporters (and editors and producers, if any) will focus in on key moments, and of course, we all notice different details or find meaning in different quotes, but sometimes reporters miss something another other newsroom has – simply because of distractions or stepping out of the room. It’s because we’re human. We can’t get everything.
Remember that next time you hear conspiracy talk of news coverage; media overlords aren’t telling reporters how to cover a story. It’s just that sometimes nature calls – and you miss an interesting moment.
We’re certainly going to miss stuff here at the edmontonian too – but we hope to make it up to you by going beyond what happened, and telling you about why it happened, and what the backstory is. Then, when you want to rant and rave you’ll actually have all the ammo you need.
Letter from the Editor – Jeff – June 23/09
Edmonton's skyline has a rearview too.
For those arriving late to the party (like me, I meant to post this yesterday) – come on in and have a look around.
the edmontonian is now officially open for business. “Business” meaning news, events, photos, information and all things Edmonton.
You can call this a blog, a website, a news site, an online magazine, an Edmonton aggregator or anything else you think fits. I get stuck on what to call it, most likely due to my “old” media ways. Official descriptors aside, let’s call it an open dialogue.
We’ll tell you what we’re up to in the city, what we’re seeing, who we’re talking to, just a little bit about what we think Edmonton is – and you can do the same. Your neighbourhood has some great stories, you have questions about what’s going on at City Hall, your camera caught the greatest sunset reflecting off Commerce Place. The only way other Edmontonians can find out what makes this city tick is if we all engage in the discussion.
Be part of the conversation by commenting on our posts, following us on Twitter or joining our Facebook group. You can also write the stories, take the photos, record podcasts and blog your opinion. Already blogging? Send us a link, so we share your site with the rest of the city.
We’re not asking you to provide us with free labour – we’re asking you to tell us about your Edmonton.
Letter from the Editor – Sally – June 23/09
Good morning, folks! It’s certainly a beautiful day, and what better way to start it than with some breakfast at Wild Earth Bakery on 99 St and 89 Ave.? Jeff and I stopped in this morning; I feel I owe their crew a shout out, as not only are they open for business at the ungodly hour of 6 a.m., their staff isn’t even surly about it. Check them out if you get the chance.
So, we’ve got quite a lot on the go for this week. I’ll be heading to City Hall tomorrow night for a municipal development plan meeting, where local non-profit ‘Greater Edmonton Alliance’ is rounding up citizens to show their support for a local food economy. I’ll also be chatting up some area businesses to find out who has loyalty programs that you can take advantage of – and we’re going to have the edmontonian’s first contest. Be sure to follow us on twitter for more info!
Thanks for joining us in our second week! Remember, if you have story ideas or submissions (we welcome stories, photos, videos – whatever you’ve got!), please send them our way, via email, twitter, or leave them in the comments.
Letter From the Editor – Jeff – June 15/09
Seat of political power. Great place to cool off in summer.
Welcome to the edmontonian.
the edmontonian comes from the old idea that you can do anything you put your mind to. It also comes from the new idea that the Internet (among other advancing technologies) allows you to have publishing power at your fingertips.
I’m inspired by great local news coverage. I’ve been a reporter in Edmonton and other Canadian cities, and it’s almost always the best in local news that sticks in my memory. It’s also my opinion that news staff (my reporter self included) can do more to inform and educate, especially on local events. That’s where Sally and I hope to bring something to the table.
Letter From the Editor – Sally – June 15/09
Edmonton has great things around every corner. Like old couches in empty lots.
Well, happy Monday, Edmonton. It is with great pleasure that I make the inaugural post here on the edmontonian (you snooze, you lose, Samsonow) and before I get to anything else, let me take this opportunity to thank you so much for checking out our site. Jeff and I have some pretty grand ambitions for this bad boy, and we couldn’t be more excited to get the ball rolling. We’re also looking forward to hearing from you; so if you have stories that need telling, events that need promoting, or anything else you think we should know about, drop us a line! We hope you’ll help us make this the premiere spot on the web for Edmonton news, information and events.
Letter from the Editor – Comments
My bad for not doing these letters on a regular basis. I mean, you couldn’t publish a magazine without the letter from the editor. Maybe I need to use this as an excuse to get a better phone with more calendar options…
Anyway.
Told to call someone who cares? We care.
We are pleased to see more and more commenting going on. (Even more pleasing is when it’s not just our friends coming to the website.)
It got really busy last week when a new contributor explained why he felt the City Centre Theatre was a great secret of the city. So many people had so many things to say.
We love when you interact with all of our writers. (We’d love for you to write for us, too.) Just try and remember that tearing strips off someone for expressing their opinion isn’t cool, but hilarious and logical counter-arguments are game. If we keep on point we can really learn some good stuff about other people in Edmonton.
(Selfishly, keeping on point, and limiting pure anger and flame wars, also means less time required on comment moderation.)
We also hope people can spend as much time engaging in debate when we talk about other important things, such as why political affairs need to matter in your life. Any comments?
Sep 21, 2009 | Categories: Letter(s) from the Editor(s) | Tags: comments, jeff, letter from the editor | Comments Off