I have seen some criticisms that ring true and have helped me improve the coverage my blogs offer.
On the other hand, I have noted that the most critical of those who comment often have nothing to say about the topic at hand, but opt for attacking me personally. When that is the best that they can do, I know I am on the right track.
If you want news and commentary that you are not going to get anywhere else in southwest Missouri, I will provide it. And this is not a flash in the pan thing. I have been blogging (which some snobs look down upon) for 10 years and I have been reporting in this area for the past 36 years. I will not run out of stories; I will not run out of things to say.
But in order for these blogs to improve, every once in a while I am going to make a pitch for the business side of the operation. This is one of those pitches.
Advertisements
You will notice that over the past few weeks, my blogs have begun carrying advertising from Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, and Best Buy. I don't make a cent off those three companies unless orders are placed. I am not asking any of you to buy anything you did not plan on buying, but if you plan on buying something from one of those three businesses, I would love it if you did so through those ads. And you might check,out the Cyber Monday specials that are being advertised in the Wal-Mart banners at the top of my blogs. Those sales are for today only.
Books and E-Books
For those who are interested, my books from Small Town News and Devil's Messenger through Let Teachers Teach and including No Child Left Alive and the three Joplin Tornado books are for sale and can be purchased at my Amazon page, for those who are not able to visit the retail outlets in Joplin, Carthage, and Granby.
Subscriptions
For those who value what the Turner Report, Inside Joplin, Turner Resports, Inside the Ozarks, and Inside Joplin Obituaries are providing for southwest Missouri and for the entire state, please consider a voluntary subscription, which can be accomplished through the button on the upper right hand side of this page. The subscription price is $10 for three months and it can be paid through PayPal or by credit card through that button. You can also mail $10 to me at 2306 E. 8th, Apt. G, Joplin, Missouri.
Again, if you think it is important to have a voice that is not beholden to the powers that be in Joplin, Jasper County, or in the state of Missouri, please consider a subscription.
Some subscriptions have been trickling in so far, but surprisingly, almost none of them are coming from Joplin. I hope that is not a sign that people are satisfied with the status quo.
Thanks for reading. Your support is much appreciated.
4 comments:
Randy, I've been reading your blog for years, and I've recommended it to others. I don't even live in Joplin anymore, but I still read it from here in KC. I was excited about Inside Joplin, too. But then I saw that you were posting ads-as-news from churches about their upcoming activities or sermons, so I didn't come back to that site. That kind of thing isn't news, and if those businesses (yep, churches are businesses) want to buy ad space, then fine, but posting church information as if it is community news is the reason why I don't read Inside Joplin. I think that was a misstep, and it may have cost you readers other than just me. (On another note, it's also really irritating how you don't use jump breaks for at least your very long blog posts.)
I will subscribe once the tabloid-like coverage of the Joplin R-8 ends. I see many many wonderful developments happening and I know there are some things that need to change. I wish your coverage could show a more balanced approach. I don't like how you suggest the new schools are unnecessary or too good for Joplin. My kids are attending a school by the dog food factory and in a building that is obsolete and in a mall. Knowing that the district has made getting the schools built as quickly as possible is something I appreciate. Knowing the district is making those schools top of the line is something I appreciate. When I see one blog that is able to see there ARE good things happening (as well as bad) is the day I will financially support your sites.
I will subscribe once you stop writing articles that have no truth to them. I have seen several articles that you have written that are slanderous and hold no truth. They are either based on hearsay or your opinion on the matter. Maybe once you delete those blogs and quit writing those types of blogs more readers would be inclined to subscribe to your blog.
What?!? Someone wrote about his own opinion in his own blog? Scoundrel! How dare he. It's scandalous is what it is.
Keep up the good work, Turner. You've provided a lot of documentation to support your stories. I'll keep reading and supporting you.
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