Ferndale 115 Video: Here’s How You Can Help
(C. Proxmire, June 20, 2013)
June 15th was the four year anniversary of The Ferndale 115 News. It’s a perfect time to reflect on what we’ve accomplished the last four years, what we’ve learned, and where we can go from here.
The Ferndale 115 has overcome many challenges facing online news sites, including how best to gather news online, how to have a format that is easy for readers to use, how to connect with groups and share stories, and how to balance social media with the need for being a destination site. We’ve grown from 184 unique readers to an average of over 10,000 per month. There are an average of 590,000 hits to this website. It has grown more than we could have imagined. When we began back in 2009, the 115 only came out with new stories on the 1st and 15th of each month. Now there are updates nearly every day. All of this is possible because of readers like you who share information, encouragement and stories. So thank you.
The next two concerns are funding and growth.
Growth is really the key. When the 115 began, the idea was to create a model site that would work in other cities too. Ferndale has a great, active, and organized community full of informed citizens. There are lots of communities, particularly poorer communities, that don’t. These are the places where a good news hub is needed most, and where it is least likely to thrive because there are not businesses there. The 115 needs to remain a low-cost solution to meeting the news needs of communities. But it also can’t happen for free.
That’s why funding is so important. The 115 has always had a mindset toward reader supported news, with many people giving small amounts to keep the publication going. Anyone who chips in $15 or more, gets a “thank you” ad on our page. Advertising is another important funding mechanism. There are now ways to buy advertising monthly, as well as to give monthly reader support. Check out https://oaklandcounty115.com/reader-support/ and https://oaklandcounty115.com/become-a-sponsor/ for more info.
Another focus moving forward is how to get more people involved in the project. We’re looking for a good salesperson, and keeping our eyes open for a potential business partner – ideally someone who has been in the media business, who understands the importance of working towards good independent journalism, and who likes the challenge and rewards of making money. We also need members of the community to get more involved. Send in stories and pictures, press releases, essays (blogs) etc. Lastly, if any other writers out there would like to try their hand at a 115 site in their community, we can help.
Sign up for Reader Support below, and contact Crystal Proxmire at editor@ferndale115.com with questions, ideas, stories etc. You can mail payment to Ferndale 115 News, PO Box 20293, Ferndale, MI 48220.
>Here is the button to use for ONE-TIME Thank You ad:
Thanks to everyone who continues to make this project great!