A month or so after its launch, you'll have to peg me as a disappointed reader of the franklinnow.com web site.
The potential is there. Imagine a site where there is true interactivity and an exchange of ideas. Franklinnow.com doesn't deliver. It is, evidently, understaffed; new content is rare, stories are perfunctory, and even photos are sparse.
But here's my biggest complaint: The only two bloggers on the site are strident right wing Republicans.
Kevin Fischer is advertised as "an award-winning veteran broadcaster who has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for nearly three decades." True. He also seems to be a nice enough guy on a personal level, and I enjoy many of his non-political posts.
Not mentioned, however: He works for Republican State Senator Mary Lazich, Franklinnow.com's other blogger.
Think you read that wrong? Let me repeat myself: Franklinnow.com has two bloggers, not only both Republican, but one works for the other in her Republican senate office.
Imagine the diversity of opinion!
Why would someone let a situation like the above occur? And why not play straight and correct Kevin Fischer's bio line to read "an award-winning veteran broadcaster who has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for nearly three decades, and he is an employee of our other blogger, Republican state senator Mary Lazich."
Because it sounds terrible, that's why.
Add to this a stunning lack of interactivity. The above-mentioned bloggers are allowed to lay out GOP talking points ("The vote is no April 3") without any possibility of level-ground rebuttal. A blog without a talkback or forum? That's just odd.
Hoping to see improvement ...
Please voice your concern to Mark Maley the editor of all of the MyCommunityNOW.com sites. He seems to be a very concerned editor exploring the possibilities of Web journalism. These sites hold promise for an informed citizenry.
Posted by: Kristan | February 27, 2007 at 04:53 PM