2019 is here, and that caused me to look back on this blog & my podcasts. Just how many years have I been writing this blog? How long have I been producing podcasts?
So, I looked back and realized I am entering my 8th year of writing this blog as 2019 begins. Yes, time does fly.
Then I asked myself how long I’ve been producing local podcasts….turns out I am beginning my 4th year of podcasting. It may seem like less time than that, but my equipment is showing the wear & tear of hauling it around Fishers on a regular basis. Never fear, replacement gear is on its way.
I also thought back to the goal I had set for myself when the blog started in January of 2012. I was hoping a few hundred government geeks like me would read the postings. Now, I measure the number of people reading at least one blog post last year in the tens of thousands. I never imagined anything like that in 2012.
With several years under my belt in the radio broadcasting business (yes, it was a very long time ago) I wondered whether anyone would be interested in listening to locally-based podcast discussions. After all, there are very few venues where local people can have an extended discussion about the work they do around our community. So, that project started in early 2016
But, again, would anyone care to listen? The first year of podcasting answered that question, because the statistics show there were nearly 7,000 times a person listened to most or all of a podcast in 2016…in 2018, the number reached just under 16,000 times a person listened to most or all of one podcast. If I were a national podcast I would be out of business with those stats, but for a locally focused podcast, those are big numbers.
It should be noted I do produce film and local stage reviews on my podcasting series. Also, Adam Aasen & I produced a weekly film podcast, but that went into hiatus last September when both of our schedules were just to busy to continue. Adam & I do plan restarting the podcast sometime this year, and will have some special editions.
When I look at the numbers, an important fact jumps out at me….people in Fishers want more information and reporting about what is happening in this city. You are sending that message loud and clear by reading this blog and listening to my podcasts.
I have found a demand for local news, the most important news for all of us. But news is expensive to produce commercially and most media outlets in this area have cut-back on local coverage. That’s why I started this blog and the podcast series as a volunteer effort to provide news to those wanting it for free. That’s why I continue.
The news-gathering partnership I established with Jeff Jellison at the Hamilton County Reporter has worked well for me, and I assume it’s working well for the Reporter as well. This partnership allows me to provide news of what’s going on throughout Hamilton County. Obviously, what is happening at the county level in Noblesville impact us in Fishers.
But keep this in mind….I’m not getting any younger. I made a commitment to stay with this blog during the Fishers city election in 2019. After that, there will be an evaluation of whether I can continue with this blog. I may continue, and I may not. Time will tell.
But here is something I want to say….thanks to everyone for reading this blog. It is a labor of love because of the regular feedback I receive from so many of you. That feedback is what keeps me going.
Happy New Year to you all! Let’s see what this city election year brings, and what other news no one can predict will come our way during 2019.
