Life, I wrote.

Towne Crier in Pawling to stay open - for now

2012-02-01T18:06:00.000-05:00

The Town Crier in Pawling in Dutchess County announced it will stay open for March and April after it reached an agreement with its landlord "to stay put until a new venue is located."

Here's a gigantic photo list of noted musicians who have performed at the venue. (And yes, the guy in the right is folk giant Pete Seeger of Beacon performing at the venue).

Shows at the venue, on its 39th year, are currently being booked for March and April.

In a news release, the venue announced:

With its building for sale by its owner, the music club had planned to vacate its Pawling location after February. "We haven't been able to find an appropriate new location as quickly as we hoped," Ciganer said. "Fortunately, we've been able to arrange to stay on a month-by-month basis."

Ciganer said he was startled by the outpouring of concerns, fond sentiments and invitations to different communities throughout the region after he announced the closing of the Pawling location in early January. "What I heard was 'Nooooo—please don't close.' This was both heartwarming and gratifying. I didn't realize how important the Towne Crier has been to so many people. So, we're going to make sure to keep the Towne Crier experience -- great music & food -- going for our fans in the interim."

The Cafe, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, will continue to present live music three our four nights a week, plus open mics on Wednesdays and Thursdays, until the new location is set -- or the building is sold, Ciganer said. The search for a new location continues actively. "We hope to be in a new place soon," Ciganer said. "After four decades, we intend to keep the tradition alive."

The Town Crier is located here.

For more information, visit towncrier.com

February Life story list

2012-02-01T15:07:00.001-05:00

Here are some of the stories we are working on in February:

DFM chat on data in journalism

2012-02-01T11:18:00.000-05:00

Good morning! Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat at noon.

Today we're talking about data in journalism: What to use, how to use it and present it, tips, etc.

The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.
Better yet, type your question in the box below if you want some clarification.

DFM Chat on data in journalism

5 digital tools for newsrooms and how they help journalism

2012-01-30T18:18:00.000-05:00

Here's my list for the top five digital tools and how they can help journalism

1. Storify.
The most overdone way this tool has been used is to pile up tweets and facebook posts. I believe this is a gross underuse of the tool.

For example, you can use it for curation of stories, images, videos and tips when reporters can’t be at the scene (say, if the National Guard closes access to the town because the town was washed away by floods);
But, yes, you can use it to gather community reaction (best practices is to always give context/link to story);

And for narratives;

And for ridiculously comprehensive context/timelines;

And for fun;

Or even just to pile up resources.

More examples at http://storify.com/ivanlajara

2. CoveritLive
Live blogging made easy. Highly customizable, it also archives the information posted there. Examples:

As an emergency resource for information;

For encapsulating live-blogging/tweeting of trials;

And public meetings of great interest;

And even budget votes;

For twitter chats;

For curation of national stories.

3. Google Maps
Easiest use is to show where crime scenes are;

Can also be used for crowdsourced efforts, like holiday lights;
Don’t neglect road closings;

4. Ustream (or Livestream)
For political debates (note combo with Coveritlive and Slideshare with crowdsourced questions);
For press conferences (you can use coveritlive for this too, depends on the story, who’s doing it and what you have available);
For cultural events;

Both can be added to Facebook as a tab as well.

5. ManyEyes
For crime statistics; (and here)

For school reports
For investigations

BONUS TOOL: Scribd. Good for any primary document. Upload, embed. Done. Also good for front pages.
And mugs.

That was some of 2011, so here are (some) of my goals for the first half of this year.

· Continued recruitment of local blogger network and subsequent regular informal and informational meet-ups at an outside location.

· Expansion of livestreaming sessions and political debates with live public questions and with physical public participation at an outside location (our facilities do not currently allow us to host an audience to our sessions). These sessions are also scheduled to include a post debate discussion with the community, as to further the Citizens Agenda project as well. THIS WILL BE DONE BY STAFF, GOING SOLO.

· Staff boxes, contact info at the bottom of stories. Expansion and measuring of newly created Facebook pages.

· Fact Check blog integration and visibility

· Continued use of the (small) conference room for events, and the implementation of livestreamed newsroom discussions and training sessions.

· Soft opening of a small-scale Community Media Lab in the current conference room on selected dates, to feature public availability of computers and wifi, with public tutorials to accommodate access to microfilm and archives elsewhere in the building (and to compensate for the size of the room).

· The development of classes geared toward better communication between community, government and police agencies and the Freeman. (“How to get It published in the Daily Freeman,” “Communicating vital information during disasters,” etc).

· Establishment of an occasional ‘mobile bureau,’ where once a month, a reporter sets up ‘camp’ at different locations to gather story ideas, get community tips and feedback and develop sources.

· Resume newsroom tours.

· Pulitzer.

Heck, why not.

UPDATE: It should be noted that fellow Idealabber Tom Caprood at the Troy Record has an earlier post for his top five and upcoming goals. Check it out!

New York Legislature map proposals are laughable. Here's why

2012-01-26T21:22:00.001-05:00

There's more. A lot more.

How the crowd helps journalism

2012-01-25T14:14:00.002-05:00

A Twitter discussion on issues concerning today's journalism. This week: "How the crowd helps journalism":

Sh*t Public Radio Listeners Say

2012-01-24T09:51:00.001-05:00

"Sh*t Public Radio Listeners Say" is a rethinking of the "Sh*t xx say" meme going around the Interwebs.
This particular one is about public radio, and it's gaining viralness.

UPDATE: The video was uploaded Jan. 22. As of Jan. 31, it has more than 20,000 hits.

Oh, yes, if you recognize the voices, it is because the people onscreen are WAM
's Sarah LaDuke and Ian Pickus.
Now you know what they look like.

Maurice Hinchey press conference: Most memorable moment

2012-01-19T15:42:00.002-05:00

What part of the press conference of U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey announcing his retirement from Congress was the most memorable?

When the seal came down, of course!

Nothing like this happened, however, to my snarky dismay:

Though there will be no mo' Mo' in Congress after this year, at least he can now rest and practice his enjoyment of music:And, as you know, Hinchey did not take the brown acid.

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

DFM chat on top digital story telling tools

2012-01-18T03:09:00.000-05:00

Good morning! Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat at noon.

Today we're talking about the best and/or favorite digital tools, how they can improve narratives and how they can help improve journalism. As always, we'll be bringing examples (otherwise this exercise would be, you know, just blah blah blah). We'll also try to address concerns and point to How-Tos.

The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.
Better yet, type your question in the box below if you want some clarification.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=666489e37e" &amp;gt;DFM chat on&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

"I have a dream" through tweets

2012-01-16T14:53:00.000-05:00

Hat tip to Sonya Quick of the Orange County (Calif.) Register for sharing this.

DFM chat on how Digital First can improve journalism

2012-01-11T08:06:00.001-05:00

Good morning! Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat at noon.

Today we're talking about how the Digital First philosophy can help improve journalism. Some of us will bringing examples, but we'll also address concerns and questions about this disruptive viewpoint.

The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.
Better yet, type your question in the box below if you want some clarification.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=601f08f5ce" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;DFM chat on how Digital First can improve journalism&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

(Image via Inma)

Life section story list

2012-01-10T13:32:00.002-05:00

Here are some of the stories we are working on for January (and February).

I'll be updating this calendar as story ideas and plans come along. You can submit your ideas to the email listed here or in the comments below.

Serious crime in Kingston

2012-01-09T14:09:00.000-05:00

Reports of serious crime in the city of Kingston were 2.75 percent lower in 2011 than in 2010, according to statistics released by the Kingston Police Department.

Here's a graph that shows those statistics.

Let's see how it's played out and how it has previously:

* Serious crime down in Kingston last year (with stat charts), Jan. 07, 2012:
Sample comment: KingsHwy wrote on Jan 7, 2012 8:07 AM:

" It's the same story each and every year...CRIME IS DOWN!!!
Now, all we need is for Chief Tinti to don a leather flight jacket and land a plane on Broadway in front of a "Mission Accomplished" banner.
Our city administration must think that denial is a river in Egypt. "

* Statistics don't support claim of juvenile 'crisis,' Kingston police chief says (with charts), July 24, 2011:
Sample comment: thesurfr wrote on Jul 24, 2011 8:53 AM:

" FORGET STATISTICS! OPEN YOUR EYES AND EARS!!!!!!!!! "

* Crime rate increases in Kingston (with video, crime statistics chart) July, 14, 2011
Sample comment: keomik1x wrote on Jul 14, 2011 6:10 AM:

" There is a sense in the city that crime is up,” said Hoffay, D-Ward 2. “There is no way around it. There is a sense crime is up and people are uneasy about it, especially those living in the center of the city.
NEWS FLASH: CRIME IS UP!!! "

* Reports of serious crime decline in Kingston, Jan. 8, 2011
Sample comment: nana2002 wrote on Jan 9, 2011 9:14 PM:

" I find it real hard to believe that the crime rate in Kingston was down by that much. I would have to say that KPD only reports what they want to report. I also believe that they only take certain reports seriously. I have had encounters with them that they never did anything about. I have no faith in our local police department. Please do not get me wrong, their are some officers that do an incredible job but, for the most part they do not. Even a simple call regarding a warrant and where the person is does not get taken seriously. Really? How about we letr the civilians take over? We would get better results. "

* Rate of serious crime falls sharply in Kingston (video, statistics) July 4, 2010:
Sample comment: AVB wrote on Jul 4, 2010 8:28 AM:

" Wow! What a coincidence that this article, comes out, on the front page, just two days after, a 22 year old gets shot twice on the street! If I didn't know better, I would almost say that the Mayor and police chief, owns the Freeman.
Also, I find it interesting that The number of shootings in Kingston are not addressed at all, in this fine piece of publishing. I guess it's NOT considered "serious" if the shooter misses his target or the "target" doesn't die.
Very creative reporting! "

* Stats belie Kingston crime spree, March 14, 2010

Sample comment: MIKEP wrote on Mar 14, 2010 1:33 PM:

" I think the this newspaper could do more than sensationalize these types of reports.
every city has crime.
Pay more attention to positive reporting & keep these types of crimes limited to "The Police Blotter" whenever possible "

* Crime rate jumps in Kingston, Jan 10, 2010:

Sample comment: 1950kevin wrote on Jan 10, 2010 11:20 AM:

" does that mean the police are arresting more people, thus doing a good job.
Is there more criminals in kingston to be arrested.
or is there more people actually being convicted of crimes?
Chief Keller's figures mean nothing"

And on and on. The Freeman's editorial page usually jumps in as well, and on and on and on.

The more things change...

(Image via Wikipedia commons)

General Election Write-In candidates

2012-01-05T02:11:00.000-05:00

The Ulster County Board of Election released all the Write-In results for all the races in the Nov. 8 elections.
For some reason I'm on its list so I received this from Vic Work, Commissioner of Elections.

See if your name is in it (mine isn't).

To do this, I want your help in a little experiment. Since the Board of Election's document couldn't be searched in the text field (it's an image even though it has text), I uploaded to DocumentCloud, which converts the text images into actual, searchable text (just hit the Text tab in the document below).

It also allows for annotations, which adds much needed context to the names.Hit the yellow tabs on the side of the documents. Or better yet, hit "Notes" on top of the document to just see the notes.

If you are looking for a race or a person in particular, hit text on the tab below and give it a try.

I'll be annotating this document as I find names of note (like writer and featured Freeman blogger Martha Frankel in the town of Olive for supervisor), but feel free to jump in and post a comment if you find something and wanted identifying information added to the document. I'll add a note, like the eight you see below. Add your name if you want credit. Links and supporting information are a plus. I'm aware there are a lot of notable people in the list. I'm looking for the most obscure names. I'll be annotating the document giving preference to those who received a large number of write-in votes, in descending order. The first eight are to show you how it works.

Timothy Matthews timeline update

2012-01-04T18:06:00.001-05:00

The trial of Timothy Matthews has been scheduled for March 12. Matthews is the former city police official charged with stealing more than $200,000. The Freeman has been on top of the close-to-a-year-old scandal. Here is the updated timeline, which includes the most relevant stories, videos, documents and development in the case.

Timeline follows the jump.

DFM Chat on election year initiatives

2012-01-04T12:12:00.001-05:00

Hello! Members of the Digital First Media and everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat at noon.

Today we're talking about, well Election-year story initiatives.
The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below, or post a comment in the field at the bottom of the chat box.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=595483a16b" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;DFM chat on election-year storytelling&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Maurice Hinchey likes music and other thought bubbles

2012-01-03T18:04:00.001-05:00

And he shows it!

Congressman Maurice Hinchey, D-Hurley, who is considering retirement — unless he's not considering retirement — rocks with New Progressive Baptist Church singing at the swearing-in ceremony of Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo and members of the Common Council on Sunday.

Bonus point if you recognized Steve Aaron, who is not in the news at all.

Most read Daily Freeman stories of 2011

2011-12-31T18:44:00.000-05:00

UPDATE:
A comment below laments, "I am surprised our home town American Hero PFC.Douglas L. Cordo is not on the list." It was 28th.
11. School budgets pass in all local districts except Saugerties and Pine Plains
12. Crash on Thruway in Ulster kills veteran corrections officer
13. Unofficial election results
14. Two arrested after man shot in Uptown Kingston
15. Two Kingston girls charged in break-in, sexual misconduct
16. Pilot from Germantown presumed dead in Hudson River jet crash
17. SPECIAL REPORT: Embattled Kingston cop’s pay and benefit
18. Saugerties used car dealer charged with forgery, fraud scheme
19. High-ranking Kingston cop charged with stealing
20. 3 men shot, woman beaten at New Year’s party in Midtown Kingston
21. Shock, caution follow Kingston cop’s arrest
22. Police say body found in Esopus Creek is missing Saugerties man Zachary Green
23. Arrests mount in connection with shootings at Kingston party
24. Authorities: None of six boaters in accident that killed four were wearing life jackets
25. Hyde Park homicide victim, 18, was FDR High grad, gymnast
26. Area couple to be featured on DIY network
27. 4 Ulster County residents die in boat crash on Hudson
28. Kingston honors fallen soldier
29. Driver in boat crash that killed 4 was drunk, deputies say
30. Father of teen slaying victim commits suicide
31. Germantown man presumed dead in Hudson River plane crash
32. Two charged who police say ran illegal Kingston nightclub where shootings occurred
33. Kingston cop’s request for school pay raised red flag, former administrator says
34. Surveillance videos show missing man just before disappearance
35. Tenant charged with killing woman in Hurley home (video)
36. Management shakeup at Ulster Savings Bank
37. Police shoot Highland girl, 17, in stolen car
38. Kingston businessman accused of fondling job applicant
39. Boy escaped van, swam to safety before mom drowned self, 3 kids in Hudson River
40. WHAT HAPPENED TO JOE? Teen’s disappearance still a mystery after nearly 25 years
41. Mayor raps cops for not knowing beforehand about party where shootings occurred
42. EDITORIAL: School superintendent, police chief missing in action
43. Death of Ulster County Sheriff’s Office detective sergeant being investigated
44. Flooding continues in much of Ulster County
45. Carnright urges calm among Kingston residents riled by unruly youths
46. Rhinebeck man charged with stabbing patient at Northeast Center
47. Victim ID’d in Accord snowmobile crash
48. Disco singer Andrea True, 68, dies in Kingston; had hit with ‘More, More, More’ (with video of song)
49. Zach Green’s family gets closure but still wants answers
50. Driver inattentiveness cited in crash that killed corrections officer

UPDATE 2: The comment on this post also made me rethink the ranking criteria, which is the headline, and not the URL where the story resides, meaning that if a story changes through the day, as stories are wont to do, different headlines will change the rankings. The headline ranking reflects how many people saw a story as it was written. A URL ranking reflects a story re-written multiple times, where the last version ends up being dramatically different from the original. Both rankings have value.
So I did another ranking based on URLs. Here are the 10 based on that. Remember, there were different headlines on the same story, I'm displaying the last headline used.

1. Man says son, 32, missing since Sunday
2. Germantown man presumed dead in Hudson River plane crash

3. Kingston man, 31, found dead, police say

4. Tenant charged with killing woman in Hurley home

5. Authorities: None of six boaters in accident that killed four were wearing life jackets (new video)

6. Police say body found in Esopus Creek is missing Saugerties man Zachary Green

7. Crash on Thruway in Ulster kills veteran corrections officer

8. Freeman editor pulls suicidal woman from bridge railing (video)

9. Kingston cop on leave amid payroll probe; safe removed from office

10. Boat survivor’s feat amazes father; 2 people injured in crash that killed 4 could be hospitalized for weeks

Hudson Valley politicians. BRAAAAAMMMMMM!!!!

2011-12-29T18:54:00.001-05:00

I did a "Law & Order" edition last year. See if you can tell who's who.

DFM Chat on 2012 projects

2011-12-28T12:04:00.000-05:00

Good morning! Members of the Journal Register Company's Idealab - and everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat at noon. Once again, note the name change: It's no longer #jrcchat but #dfmchat, to reflect the inclusion of Media News Group into Digital First Media, which also manages Journal Register.

Today we're talking about journalistic projects for 2012.

The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below, or post a comment in the field at the bottom of the chat box.

DFM Chat on 2012 projects

Santa arrives in Woodstock in a rocket ship

2011-12-27T13:35:00.000-05:00

It's a known tradition. Santa arrives in Woodstock every Christmas Eve in many peculiar and unannounced ways.
This year, he came in a rocket ship, thanks to Steve Heller of Fabulous Furniture in Boiceville, no doubt. Here's a tweet from writer Martha Frankel (Heller's other half), explaining.

After the insane year we've had, it was just so very cool that Woodstock chose one of Steve's rocket cars to be Santa's wheels of choice!
— martha frankel (@marthafrankel) December 25, 2011

The video description states:

The Lindsey Webster Band sang on a float in front. The float was setup as his workshop, complete with his elves, tools, giant toys, a Jack in the Box jumping up and down, a dancing ballerina, nutcrackers, and with him riding in the Rocket Ship on top. Of course he was accompanied by the famous dancing Woodstock Reindeer and Frosty the Snow Woman. Produced by Cinemanomoly

2010:

2009:

2008:

You get the idea.

Happy Holidays from Andy Boyle

2011-12-23T20:36:00.001-05:00

Who's Andy Boyle? He's a bearded web developer for the Boston Globe, somewhat famous Twitter witness of Broken Dreams, owner of a cat and person who has never done many a thing.He posted this:

If you retweet this, I will record you a personalized holiday greeting. And maybe be drunk: andymboyle.tumblr.com/post/146818384…
— Andy Boyle (@andymboyle) December 23, 2011

I replied like this:

You're on RT @andymboyle: If you retweet this, I will record you a personalized holiday greeting. And maybe be drunk: bit.ly/tIIYQy
— Ivan Lajara (@ivanlajara) December 24, 2011

He replied like this:

,@ivanlajara HAPPY HOLIDAYS, SIR: youtu.be/Boagb3-h7VY #andymboyleholidays
— Andy Boyle (@andymboyle) December 24, 2011

Check the rest of them out at #andymboyleholidaysI'm storifying this later because the blog display is lame.

Journalistic predictions for 2012, the serious, the bad and the tweets

2011-12-22T04:01:00.000-05:00

You know you're a digital journalist when ...

2011-12-21T17:09:00.002-05:00

DFM chat on Digital First journalists

2011-12-21T11:54:00.000-05:00

Good morning! Members of the Journal Register Company's Idealab - and everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat at noon.Note the name change: It's no longer #jrcchat but #dfmchat, to reflect the inclusion of Media News Group into Digital First Media, which also manages Journal Register.

Today we're talking about, well Digital First journalists: What does that mean, how we do it and what to expect. And a few surprises.

The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below, or post a comment in the field at the bottom of the chat box.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=929b9767f7" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;DFM Chat on Digital First journalists&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Why is the tree on Broadway and Henry Street in Kingston not lit this year?

2011-12-19T21:31:00.004-05:00

The latest complaint on seeclickfix: Why is the tree on Broadway and Henry Street in Kingston not lit this year?

Your browser does not support iframes. Try it from www.SeeClickFix.com

'Tis the season, and inquiring minds want to know.

How to make QR codes work, really

2011-12-19T15:58:00.003-05:00

Preview cover in one minute

2011-12-15T19:14:00.002-05:00

And this is how the sauce is made.

Story ideas

2011-12-15T17:53:00.002-05:00

What are we working on in the Life Department? 'Glad you asked.

What would you like us to work on?

Ulster County Charter conference liveblog

2011-12-12T20:30:00.000-05:00

Anne Pyburn of the Watershed Post is set to liveblog a conference at SUNY New Paltz from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. about the Ulster County Charter after five years. I've kindly stolen the liveblog code after I found it hanging out naked on the Watershed Post site. After alerting the alert editors, they gave me the OK to include their coverage.

Panelists include County Executive Mike Hein, Comptroller Elliott Auerbach, former Freeman political editor Hugh Reynolds (! and ?), former charter commission head Gerald Benjamin and a hosts of other notables.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=9f90f49d0a" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The Ulster County Charter After Five Years: Conference at SUNY New Paltz&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Twitter embed test

2011-12-08T22:01:00.001-05:00

New interface. New sandbox. Here we go.

I am posting this tweet so I can embed it on its own, using #newnewtwitter
— Ivan Lajara (@ivanlajara) December9, 2011

Another one

Hotel surveillance videos show Strauss-Kahn and accuser after alleged attack: apne.ws/ulng7L Read more: apne.ws/uhaMNQ -CC
— The Associated Press (@AP) December9, 2011

Virginia Tech Shooting live reports

2011-12-08T15:03:00.001-05:00

I'm piling up this as much for me as for you, as I'm trying to follow what's going on.

Virginia Tech Shooting live reports

JRC Chat on news initiatives

2011-12-07T11:53:00.001-05:00

Good morning! Members of the Journal Register Company's Idealab - and everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat at noon.

Today we're talking about news initiatives for 2012: What we're planning, how to do it and what to expect.

The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#jrcchat" so it can automatically appear below, or post a comment in the field at the bottom of the chat box.

JRC Chat on 2012 news initiatives

The Den in Kingston to close

2011-12-05T18:43:00.001-05:00

Ulster County Legislature REMIX!

2011-12-01T02:34:00.001-05:00

Autoplay after jump


YouTube Doubler

JRC Chat on online comments

2011-11-30T11:19:00.001-05:00

Good morning! Members of the Journal Register Company's Idealab - and everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat at noon.

Today we're commenting about, um, online comments and how they can be improved, how they can help journalism and how to avoid problems.

The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#jrcchat" so it can automatically appear below, or post a comment in the field at the bottom of the chat box.

JRC Chat about online coments

JRC Chat on Google for journalism

2011-11-23T10:47:00.001-05:00

Good morning! Members of the Journal Register Company's Idealab - and everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the (kind-of) weekly Twitter chat at noon.

Today we're talking about Google tools and how they can be used in the pursuit of journalism excellence.

The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#jrcchat" so it can automatically appear below, or post a comment in the field at the bottom of the chat box.

Since this is about Google, I figured we could also try livestreaming a Hangout of the chat, if anyone wants in as well.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=5364aff26b" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;JRC Chat on Google for journalists&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

My Mom becomes a U.S. citizen

2011-11-18T16:20:00.001-05:00

New Paltz story goes national

2011-11-17T22:28:00.000-05:00

I was invited to The Little Rebellion tonight at SUNY New Paltz to share some journalistic awesomesauce. Yadda yadday yadda, here's what the crew is doing today.

Brough to you by The Little Rebellion.

Here's the newest story, AND THE LIVESTREAM!

How to use Google Voice for a Sound-Off

2011-11-14T12:21:00.001-05:00

Let's bring back the Sound Off, but this time using Google Voice!

It's an idea shamelessly re-purposed from fellow Idealab member Karen Workman of the Oakland Press in Michigan, and as she's shown, it can have many more uses.

Here's my initial plan: We'll ask a question every day, like the online poll. If you feel the answers are inadequate, you can expand your comments by calling this number:

We would then post your comments, with audio, online.

You can also answer in other ways, of course. Whatever makes it easy.

Here's a very rough way to show you how to do it:
First, you need a Google Voice account. Here's how to set one up (thanks, again, Karen, for the link).

Don't forget to add a phone widget for your site as well. Click on 'Call Widget,' give your widget a name and presto:

You can use download the file and use Audacity to edit and SoundCloud to post the file (both are free services). Or you can post the file directly from the embed code provided by Google (along with transcript!). Click on voicemails, at left, and click on more on the individual voicemails you want, and click on 'embed' to get your code.

Here's an example:

Note that, apparently, Google can't make a transcript of voicemails from heavily accented individuals.

UPDATE: Wow! I hadn't finish posting this and we already have to answers to the question:

And here's a nonanswer from a snarky editor in Trenton that I'm not going to name even though I know is Joey Kulkin of the Trentonian in New Jersey.

The Conan Blimp pays a visit to the Hudson Valley

2011-11-09T12:42:00.000-05:00

Election Day planning

2011-11-07T15:53:00.005-05:00

I'm using my blog to test a new and faster way to publish election results. Here are some of the things we're planning to do at the Freeman:

We've created (still working on completion, so bear with us if there's stuff missing still) a spreadsheet that will constantly update election results as they come in. Here's a preview, with empty results, obviously.

All you have to do is hit refresh every now and then. But how do you know when results are in, right? For that, we'll have a CoverItLive container, with all the people at the Freeman who are working on Election Day stories, pretty much all of us. The best part is that CoverItLive allows YOU to chime in. I'll be moderating that as well, to include relevant comments and questions.

Election Day

In addition, we're including a SeeClickFix Election Problems report widget on our site so that you can tell everyone if there is a problem at the polls. We'll be monitoring those as well.

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Your browser does not support iframes. Try it from &amp;lt;a href="/" target="_blank"&amp;gt;www.SeeClickFix.com&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

Let me know what you think, what we can do better, or any other ideas you might have. And don't forget to vote on Tuesday.

Otherwise, the terrorists win.

Red Goats: Art or vandalism?

2011-11-04T22:12:00.000-04:00

How to make a timeline with specific RSS feeds

2011-11-02T18:20:00.002-04:00

Here's a nifty timeline made in a flash with Idealab-specific posts by members of the Journal Register Company group.

JRC Idealab on Dipity.

Let this serve you as a tutorial on how to make a timeline.
What I did: I added an RSS feed from RSS feeds to Dipity.
Done.

To do this:

Visit http://rssmix.com/.
Copy and paste all the desired RSS feeds (you can narrow your post even further by selecting RSS feeds from tags like, say, "Idealab"). Create the new RSS feed.
Visit dipity.com (join if you haven't).
The online timeline tool allows you to add events manually or automatically (Twitter, Google News searches, photos from Flickr or Picassa, videos from YouTube or Vimeo, RSS feeds, Yelp, Digg, you name it).
So add your newly created RSS feed.
Done. Serve hot with pinch of parsley in either Timeline, list, map or slide mode.

What is the meaning of Digital First?

2011-11-02T12:19:00.000-04:00

You've probably heard us say 'Digital First' over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and such.

But (pardon me Double Rainbow guy) what does it mean?

Halloween on the web

2011-10-31T12:48:00.000-04:00

How to make an Election Day problems widget with See Click Fix

2011-10-28T14:33:00.003-04:00

Visit http://seeclickfix.com/widget

At bottom, click on “Generate Map Widget Now!”

Add your desired location. (600 for JRC sites or 600 for this blog, for instance). Make sure you select “Report Form” on “Make a primary tab”

Add your contact info.

Click "generate widget", get your code and post in your site.

As I was told by my managing editor, "it's so easy, even an editor can do it." It should look like this:

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Your browser does not support iframes. Try it from &amp;lt;a href="/" target="_blank"&amp;gt;www.SeeClickFix.com&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

The best part? You can share it with your blogger networks and everyone else. A true crowdsourced effort. What do you think?

How much snow? This much

2011-10-27T18:05:00.001-04:00

Google Maps now acknowledges the existence of Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge

2011-10-26T17:33:00.000-04:00

Remember the Before Time, when Google didn't map anything using the Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge?
After contacting them, the services has update their mapping. Now it's like this:

View Larger Map

But the memories, they will live on:

Yay!

Let's celebrate by watching a 1980s Pepsi commercial shot in Kingston!

The Goatpocalypse of Kingston

2011-10-26T15:57:00.001-04:00

Of Goats and Men

JRC Chat on open journalism

2011-10-26T11:35:00.000-04:00

Hello! Members of the Journal Register Company's Idealab - and everyone else who wants to - are currently taking part on the weekly Twitter chat, which started at noon.

Today we're talking about open journalism: Opening the newsroom (physically), story budgets, contacts, even API!

But what's API? Exactly.

The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#jrcchat" so it can automatically appear below, or post a comment in the field at the bottom of the chat box.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=e9d72e33a1" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;JRC Chat on open journalism&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Awesome Kingston playground .. OF DOOM!!!

2011-10-24T16:16:00.004-04:00

Guess where this is and win a free condescending reply!

JRC Chat on live blogging

2011-10-19T12:25:00.000-04:00

Hello! Members of the Journal Register Company's Idealab - and everyone else who wants to - are currently taking part on the weekly Twitter chat, which started at noon.

Today we're talking about live blogging news events: what to cover, how to do it and what are the best practices.

The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#jrcchat" so it can automatically appear below, or post a comment in the field at the bottom of the chat box.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=f179c8c59d" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;JRCChat on liveblogging&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Horrible reactions to horrible Halloween column

2011-10-18T18:26:00.000-04:00

Digital journalism chat at SUNY New Paltz with Ivan Lajara ... Wait! WHAAAAAAAAA????

2011-10-13T20:16:00.000-04:00

I'm going to be a guest journalist/speaker/panelist/something at the SUNY New Paltz Journalism 2 class with Adam Bosch (of the Times-Herald-Record-Gazette-Advertiser-Chronicle-Journal-Thing-Stuff) and Professor Nancy Meyer Heiz (who leads the Little Rebellion) to talk about digital journalism awesomesauce.

The guys over at the Little Rebellion are covering the event live, so they can chronicle a potentially epic failure.

It should be fun. The event takes place at 8:30 a.m. sharp. So don't miss it!

Or miss it and the read the transcript later.

Or don't.

Whatever, man.

Ivan Lajara Live Chat

Your reaction to #OccupyWallStreet #KingstonNY

2011-10-13T14:57:00.000-04:00

If there's going to be more than 150 gathered anywhere in Kingston, there's going to be some buzz on social media. Here's some of the reaction from today's Occupy Wall Street rally in Kingston:

Irrelevant, awesome livestream highlights

2011-10-13T13:37:00.000-04:00

From the Kingston Budget unveiling:'The only person who wants change is a baby with a wet diaper'

"Deadline is NOW!"

Google Maps doesn't like Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge

2011-10-11T14:17:00.002-04:00

What's the closest way from Kingston to Rhinebeck?
Let's ask Google Maps!

View Larger Map
What's the closest way from Kingston to Tivoli?

Let's ask Google Maps!

View Larger Map

FAIL!
So what happens if you want to go from the actual Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge to, say, Kingston? An Epic FAIL, that's what:
View Larger Map
I've put a ticket with Google and will let you know about the resolution.

UPDATE! Google Maps Teams responds:

"Your Google Maps problem report has been reviewed, and you were right! We'll update the map soon and email you when you can see the change."

Fun with the Qwikster fiasco

2011-10-10T13:44:00.000-04:00

The Apple Tree

2011-10-05T22:31:00.003-04:00

Infographic originally published on Mashable.com, found via

My 10,000 tweet

2011-10-05T15:52:00.003-04:00

Historic, it ain't.

JRC chat on live blogging

2011-10-05T10:06:00.002-04:00

Good morning! Members of the Journal Register Company's Idealab - and everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat at noon.

Today we're talking about live blogging news events: what to cover, how to do it and what are the best practices.

The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#jrcchat" so it can automatically appear below, or post a comment in the field at the bottom of the chat box.

JRC chat on live blogging

Journalism and social media at #140confHV

2011-09-30T15:06:00.001-04:00

After the Deluge KDC musical Fundraiser

2011-09-29T15:49:00.001-04:00

UPDATE: Mark Marshall informs:

"So the final totalwe're distributing to relief organizations, after buying folks that beer andpaying for posters, is just over $1100.00 - plus half a carload each of foodand essentials for caring hands / queens galley."
"not too shabby."

Indeed.
***

After the Deluge, is a night of music in support victims of the recent floodings in the Hudson Valley and the Catskills, took place on Wednesday at Keegan Ales in Kingston.
All proceeds that were collected at the event will go to:
Ulster: The Timber Lake Foundation
Delaware: The MARK Project
Greene: Community Action of Greene County
Schoharie: Schoharie County Community Action Program (SCCAP)
Sullivan: Frost Valley YMCA – rebuilding fund
Catskills Region: Red Cross (South Central NY and Northeastern NY disaster relief)

If you couldn’t attend, you can still donate here.

Here's the replay of the event.

Video streaming by Ustream
Video streaming by Ustream

JRC Chat on Facebook changes

2011-09-28T09:46:00.001-04:00

Good morning! Members of the Journal Register Company's Idealab - and everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat at noon.

Today we're talking about Facebook changes and what it means for journalists and journalism.

The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#jrcchat" so it can automatically appear below, or post a comment in the field at the bottom of the chat box.

JRC Chat on Facebook changes

Don Draper Presents Facebook Timeline

2011-09-27T17:52:00.000-04:00

Youtube user EricLeist mashed a "Mad Men" episode (the one about the Kodak carousel) with some images about the new changes on Facebook and the result is pure magic.

By the way, if you can't wait, here's how to activate Timeline now.

Twitter word cloud

2011-09-26T14:06:00.001-04:00

Word cloud of my Twitter feed made with http://www.tagxedo.com, my new favorite word cloud tool.

Woodstock Film Festival virtual print program

2011-09-20T14:47:00.000-04:00

View the program in a LARGER WINDOW.

'Important questions' answered

2011-09-16T19:54:00.001-04:00

A week ago, in a column, I tried to guilt Kevin Cahill into reading the Freeman and joining Twitter so that he could give information to his constituents directly.
I also created a quasi-humorous interactive questionnaire to gather some information and have some fun.

Well, the results are in. And, to ease the understanding of the issue, I've created some helpful infographics.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FORM: ANSWERS

This documents includes important question because that's what it says in the title.

• Should we engage with government agencies to find a better way to disseminate information to the public?*

• What’s the best way for you to find such information?

• Wouldn’t you like to punch Rain and Flood in the face?
(We are not responsible for people who punch actual people with names such as Rain and Flood.

• Should we have apologized for sending more than 1,200 storm-related tweets over the last week and half?

Should we have apologized for sending other tweets that were videos of cute cats?

What’s a tweet?

Will Kevin Cahill read the Freeman, ever?

There actually is a Ben and Jerry’s “Schweddy Balls” ice cream?

• Seriously, Kevin, can’t you at least get your staff on Twitter and send a news release directly to the public?

Election planning

2011-09-14T22:07:00.000-04:00

This document was updated constantly during yesterday's primary elections

Basically, all you would have had to do to get new result was hit refresh.

The document is an iframe (think of a window) of the Ulster County Board of Elections site.

I don't think you can get live results faster than this.

What do you think about doing something like this for the general election?

JRC Chat on Storify: The Storify recap

2011-09-14T13:39:00.001-04:00

If you are new to Storify, I recommend CHECKING THIS STORIFY!

JRC Chat on Storify

2011-09-14T10:51:00.001-04:00

Good morning! Members of the Journal Register Company's Idealab - and everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat at noon.

Today we're talking about Storify, an online tool which aims "to help journalists, bloggers and experts curate and present the best of the social Web’s real-time content."

I've been using the tool for about a year now, and I've found that curation is but one use. I'm hoping we can use the chat to dredge more uses (and tutorials) and share them.

The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#jrcchat" so it can automatically appear below, or post a comment in the field at the bottom of the chat box.

JRC Chat on Storify

Disaster relief links

2011-09-13T12:35:00.000-04:00

It's not over until it's over.

Gordon Elliott wants you to come to the Freeman Sessions with Stella May

2011-09-13T11:51:00.000-04:00

The Freeman Sessions with Stella May takes place Sunday from 3:30 to 7 p.m. at the home of Eleanor Roosevelt's childhood home, Oak Terrace, in Clermont in Columbia County.
And Gordon Elliott ("Oz" -!?) wants you to come.
The event, "Dinner at Eleanor’s: A Moveable Feast," is being presented by Green Peas TV to benefit The Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill and ARCS, AIDS-Related Community Services.

I toured the property recently, and it's creepy and awesome.

Sept. 11 in my mind

2011-09-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

FEMA's social media resources

2011-09-09T17:23:00.003-04:00

For the skeptics, a press release.

SOCIALMEDIA CAN HELP KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE

ALBANY, N.Y. - Emergency managers can say a lot in 140 characters.
New York State Office of Emergency Management and Federal EmergencyManagement Agency use social media tools Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
You can receive the latest disaster recovery updates and information on howto prepare for emergencies from the following social media sites:

· Twitter - www.twitter.com/NYSEMO

o Twitter.com/fema

o http://mobile.twitter.com/fema(available on mobile devices)

o FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate tweets attwitter.com/CraigatFEMA

o The Ready Campaign, which helps people preparefor emergencies. It links to www.ready.govand tweets at twitter.com/Readydotgov.

o FEMA Region 2, which includes Albany, tweets attwitter.com/femaregion2

· Facebook

o Facebook.com/fema

o http://m.facebook.com/fema(accessible on mobile devices). Users must "like" a specific agency'sFacebook to receive updates.

· YouTube

o www.youtube.com/fema

· Google Books

o FEMA uses Google Books to share some of itspublications in an easy to access, free online format.

· Mobile Website - m.fema.gov

o The mobile website allows for preparedness anddisaster-related information to be delivered directly to a smartphone. Userscan also apply for disaster assistance.

FEMA Blog - blog.fema.gov. The blog provides a place for agency seniorleaders to discuss the current topics of the day. It also encourages openconversation and comments by users.

For official information, go to www.dhses.ny.gov/oemand www.fema.govfor disaster and preparedness information. At the FEMA site, you can find theseonline tools:

o RRS/Date Feeds -www.fema.gov/help/rss.shtm

o RSS/data feeds provide automatically updatedinformation as soon as it's available.

· Widgets- www.fema.gov/help/widgets.Widgets provide information through web-based graphical interfaces. The widgetscan be placed on personal and business websites, allowing visitors to thosesites to access updates FEMA information.

· Multimedia Library - www.fema.gov/medialibrary.The Multimedia Library contains all of FEMA's videos, photos, and audio files.

· Email Updates - www.fema.gov/help/getemail.shtm.Email Updates provide information delivered directly to your inbox. FEMA neversends unsolicited emails and the public can choose which updates they wouldlike to receive.

FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies orapplications.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensurethat as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capabilityto prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate allhazards.

After the Deluge benefit set for Sept. 28 in Kingston

2011-09-09T13:46:00.000-04:00

From our friends at the Kingston Digital Corridor.

"So normally, our monthly get-together is a friendly networking and catch-up event.

"Not this time.Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you know that our region has been devastated by Hurricane Irene – followed by days and days of torrential rain. People have lost their homes, their stores… towns have lost roads, and whole downtowns. Farms have been lost. People are desperately in need of help.

"On September 28th, KDC and the Ulster County Musicians Network will be doing something to help out.After the Deluge is a night of music in support of these folks. Thanks to our friends at the Watershed Post, we’ve found verified flood relief organizations in Ulster, Schoharie, Greene, and Delaware counties – the whole Catskills region.

All proceeds from this event will go to them.We’re asking you to pay what you can, but $15 bucks or more at the door, and the first beer is on us.We’re not maintaining a list of artists here, as it’s growing faster than we can keep up. But regardless of who ends up playing, it’s going to be a great night of music, and it’s for the worthiest of causes.

So please come out and show your support for your fellow Upstaters.

After the Deluge takes place Sept. 28 from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at Keegan Ales, 20 St. James StreetKingston.

Daily Freeman front pages, Sept. 2001

2011-09-08T20:06:00.000-04:00

Here's a collection of front pages from the Freeman from Sept. 12 to 21, 2001:
Sept 2001 Front Pages

Digital First Media, the beginning

2011-09-07T15:25:00.000-04:00

Journal Register Co., the parent company of the Freeman, announced Wednesday the creation of Digital First Media Inc. Here's some news and reaction from the web.

JRC Chat on disaster coverage

2011-09-07T10:43:00.001-04:00

Good morning! Members of the Journal Register Company's Idealab - and everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat at noon.

Today we are talking about storm coverage in the aftermath of Irene.

The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#jrcchat" so it can automatically appear below, or post a comment in the field at the bottom of the chat box.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=732ed6c1de" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;JRC Chat on disaster coverage&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Irene live blog non-stop since Aug. 27

2011-09-01T22:40:00.000-04:00

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=1e6ca7dde3" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Hurricane Irene -- Catskills Liveblog from the Watershed Post&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Our friends at the Watershed Post are STILL compiling and collaborating to bring you post-Irene reports from across the area, especially the Catskills, and they've gotten some very nice deserved press for their efforts ("hyperlocal" - hahaha!) and have kept the post-Irene issue alive and will do so until this is over.

Anyway, Julia Reischel and Lissa Harris have been sharing reports from government organizations, media (including yours truly since Saturday, helping with info, tech and stuff) but, most importantly your posts.

I'm posting this again because it was buried with all the other Irene-related posts below.

Report your post Irene Catskills issues with SeeClickFix

2011-09-01T12:20:00.005-04:00

Here's a handy widget you can use to report your post-Irene related issues with SeeClickFix:

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Your browser does not support iframes. Try it from &amp;lt;a href="/" target="_blank"&amp;gt;www.SeeClickFix.com&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

You can also get the mobile apps and use it that way.

Watershed Post talks Irene, interviews Cuomo

2011-08-31T20:07:00.006-04:00

Our collaborative friends at the Watershed Post have their own half hour radio show and today they talked (for an hour, guys!) about Irene and somehow managed to get Gov. Andrew Cuomo as a guest.

Hit play and listen to this awesomesauce by Julia Reischel and Lissa Harris.

If you are without power and can't listen to the Flash file above, listen here.

The damage in Greene County

2011-08-31T14:48:00.005-04:00

Alicia Schaefer of Crow Dog Farm in Greene County just posted images from the Irene-related flooed damage in Prattsville and Windham. They are worth a look.

Collaborative map with road and bridge conditions

2011-08-30T15:02:00.005-04:00

GIS genius Don Meltz has created a collaborative map of road conditions in the Hudson Valley and the Catskills. It is amazing.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
View the map in a larger window.

Catskills Flooding: Donation and relief centers open doc

2011-08-30T14:34:00.005-04:00

We were having problems because the spreadsheet was getting high traffic. So here's a form that (hopefully) will solve that problem.
UPDATE: IT DID! check it out.

Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
View the spreadsheet in a larger window.

Stranded people open document

2011-08-30T13:48:00.005-04:00

Here's a live form and live spreadsheet that's still going on with your information and questions about people who are still stranded in the region due to Irene.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

View spreadsheet in a larger window.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Central Hudson's outage map

2011-08-29T11:35:00.002-04:00

Central Hudson has a very handy map with outages that you cannot look at if you have not power. That's why we have neighbors and smartphones.
The map also includes information about dry ice and water distribution. It's essential

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;
View the map in a larger window.

Flash Flooding in the Catskills from Hurricane Irene

2011-08-29T00:00:00.003-04:00

The Weather Channel also did a Storify for the Catskills, and it is impressive as well as horrifying.

Slideshow: Hurricane Irene impact in the Hudson Valley, Catskills

2011-08-28T22:32:00.005-04:00

Here's what was a small sample of your images and videos from the devastation caused by Irene. It is now quite large.

Tree down in front of my house. Thanks Irene!

2011-08-28T06:35:00.001-04:00

What do you do when a tree falls in front of your house in the middle of a terrible storm?
YOU DO A PANORAMA!

Local live cams tracking Hurricane Irene's impact

2011-08-27T22:56:00.004-04:00

Click on 'Live Cam' to see the live video feed. If there is no cam, blame Irene

View Hurricane Irene Live cams in a larger map

Report your Hurricane Irene-related issues with SeeClickFIx

2011-08-27T20:58:00.002-04:00

I made this SeeClickFix widget for easier access to report issues. A reported a tree down in front of my house some hours after I posted this. A neighbor then posted that the power cable was hanging from another tree.
JOY!

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Your browser does not support iframes. Try it from &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="/" target="_blank"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;www.SeeClickFix.com&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Hurricane Irene live reports

2011-08-27T19:44:00.006-04:00

UPDATE: The hurricane was not a hurricane by the time it hit us, but it did beat us badly, and the live reports thus continue until this is all over.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=1e6ca7dde3" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Hurricane Irene -- Catskills Liveblog from the Watershed Post&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Our friends at the Watershed Post are compiling and collaborating to bring you Hurricane Irene reports from across the area, and they are sharing the reports from government organizations, media and your posts. They write:

As Irene gets closer to the Catskills, we'll be bringing in guest correspondents from different parts of the Catskills to talk about what's happening where they are. This liveblog is also pulling in Twitter feeds from local news outlets, FEMA, local Red Cross chapters, and anyone on Twitter using the hashtag #catskills. If you know of a good Twitter source we should be including, let us know and we'll add it.

If you'd like to let us (and your neighbors) know what's going on in your area, please leave a comment through the CoverItLive interface. Comments will be moderated and published as quickly as possible.

Thanks, and stay safe!

You might have noticed that some of our competitors are in the feed. I don't care. The point is to bring you as much information as possible from all areas in the Hudson Valley and the Catskills.

Tracking Irene

2011-08-26T20:50:00.002-04:00

UPDATE: If you don't see Irene in the live map it is because it is a live map and Irene is gone. That's what happens.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Irene

2011-08-26T14:55:00.003-04:00

UPDATE: This map of the current hurricane season also is live. But it will come in handy later, so I'm keeping it here.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

JRC Chat on breaking news and social media

2011-08-24T11:16:00.001-04:00

Good morning! Members of the Journal Register Company's Idealab - and everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat at noon.

Today we are talking about breaking news and social media. What we've done, how to do it and OMG! QUAKE!

The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#jrcchat" so it can automatically appear below, or post a comment in the field at the bottom of the chat box.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=0d2d564378" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;JRC Chat on Breaking News and Social Media&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Journalism at Social Media

2011-08-23T17:47:00.006-04:00

I was a speaker at the #140confHV, the 140-character conference at the Seven21 Media Center in Kingston today. I met many of the tweeps that I follow, in person, and it was an overall enjoying and enlightening experience.
My talk focused on Journalism and Social Media (and yes, I grab my hair a lot when I'm nervous and I say "uh").

Here are the slides. I'll post the transcript later because I know nobody understands a word I say.

Journalism and social media

Here's the transcript:

The newspaper business model is dead.

And you have killed it.

I said this not because I’m a masochist. But because it is true.

And I say this not with morbidity, but with excitement.

We used to have ‘readers’: People who, after we decided what was news, would come to us, read our stories and maybe later write a letter to the editor that we would later decide whether if we wanted to publish or not.

The conversation was driven by us (or at least we would tell that to ourselves).

And so the agenda was set by us.

But when this thing called the Internet came around and the readers began writing and taking photos and the viewers picked up their cameras and phones and posted them in their blogs and social networks, the newspapers’ model was broken.

Newspapers realized that their consumers have become their competitors. And newspapers panicked.

This was awesome.

It was awesome because it meant newspapers have finally seen the writing on the wall.

Newspapers had to transform and evolve in order to survive.

It is in that context that we have tried to reinvent ourselves.

But we could not have done it without you. Because this change represented a humble realization:

We can’t be everyone.

We can’t cover everything.

But you are.

And you can.

So, humbled, we came to you, and we asked for your help.

Not as consumers, or as viewers, or as readers, or even users. But as partners.

We are all members of this community, we all contribute to this community.

So why can’t we work together?

I have to be clear. This does not mean outsourcing our job to you. Partnering means listening, collaborating, and mutually benefiting from an open and transparent process.

But OK, that’s a lot of nice and fancy theory. But at this moment you are probably asking: OK, buddy? But what have you done at the Daily Freeman?

And my reply, is to show you, some of the things that you, and we, as a community, have done.

For instance, when of the Daily Freeman’s reporters, Patricia Doxsey, we live-tweeting a murder trial, we not only opened a window into our writing process, but also invited you to comment, to post questions, to challenge our reporting.

And you did.

Sometimes you corrected us. Sometimes you asked for clarification. Sometimes you offered clarification about posts that we or others had posted.

The experience became more informative because of this collaborative process.

In another instance, one of the Daily Freeman reporters, Paul Kirby, held a livestream forum with the mayor of this city in which the questions were asked live by the reporter, and by you.

Most recently we held two debates with all the candidates for mayor of the city of Kingston and the questions, once again, were asked by you in advance and while the livestream was taking place.

We have partnered with area bloggers to increase their visibility in our community. And the roster is growing and expanding. They cover everything from politics to dogs, food, film, photography, theater, sports, business, mental health, and, yes, even social media.

We have partnered with a venue here in Kingston, Stella May, to bring you livestreams of benefit concerts and events, so you can enjoy them and participate even if you can’t be there physically.

We have cultivated our Twitter and Facebook presence, not to push links, although we do some of that, but to hear from you, to have a conversation.

Now let me step back a little bit, and admit this: We are not perfect. As a matter of fact, we have no idea what we are doing.

First of all,

I personally sit on a desk most of the day and monitor and participate in the conversation online while doing pages, writing and creating web features. But that hardly constitutes shoe-leather journalism.

Fortunately for all of us, we do have real journalists in our staff who do the heavy lifting with old school practices and new media readiness.

When I have gone out to do some livestreaming and such, I have messed up.

Big time.

Numerous times.

And guess what? I’m probably going to do it again. Because we’re learning as we find new ways to tell stories.

Some of the story-telling tools that we are now using, like Storify, a social media curation tool, are no more than a year old.

We have told stories with

Ustream, Scribd, CoverItLive, Google Maps, docs, forms, spreadsheets, ManyEyes, Photaf, Photosynth , Timetoast, Dipit, Batchgeo, and of course, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Myspace, Formspring. The list goes on.

But we haven’t used these tools because they’re cool. And, believe me, they are.

We have used them to bring you the context that you rightly have demanded from us.

On a personal note, I was chosen last year by the Journal Register Company, the parent company of the Freeman, as a member of the Idelab, a selected group of people that received tools, time and money to experiment for 10 hours a week in order to improve our journalism.

Most recenetly, the company’s CEO, John Paton, released the company’s rules for social media. And I think they deserve much consideration.

These rules have had great impact in our mission. These ‘rules’ have given us the freedom to be unafraid and creative and, yes, to fail on occasion.

Unbound by an invisible duty to serve the newspaper god of a dead tree, we are finally free to do what we signed up to do:

Journalism. True and new journalism.

That means that the standards for excellence still apply. Report the fact, Be fair, etc.

But we also listen. And we are part of and take part on the conversation, via text or email or tweet or post or story or any other media.

Bottom line is the medium doesn’t matter.

The journalism does.

And crappy journalism is crappy journalism in a newspaper or a phone or an iPad.

So we have refocused our mission and our journalism. And social media is a big, integral part of that.

Has it worked? So far, many indicators point to this.

Our web traffic and presence has skyrocketed and I’ve heard from many members of this community that our credibility and scope of coverage has improved. Because we are not just in the community, we are OF the community.

So where do we go from here?

And the simple answer is I don’t know.

And I couldn’t be more excited about that.

Thank you very much.

BONUS! An earthquake pays a visit to the conference:

Steve Buttry at the Daily Freeman

2011-08-23T13:52:00.001-04:00

#140confHV replay

2011-08-22T19:45:00.009-04:00

The Hudson Valley's 140 Characters conference took place today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Seven21 Media Center on Broadway in Kingston.

The focus was "The State of Now." Our friends at Dragon Search Marketing livestreamed the event and I have shamelessly taken it from their Facebook page.

Full disclosure: I'm a speaker and I embarrassed myself at 3 p.m.

Here's the replay.

And here's the Twitter stream.