The blog started in October 2003 and was lucky to receive 35 visitors a day in the first months, but gradually began to build readership.
What started as a promise to my students that if I had them write every day (which I did), I would do the same thing, eventually developed into a source of news and commentary about events in Joplin, southwest Missouri, the state, and politics and education in general.
The number of visitors increased after my writing on state politics and education issues began to build readership in the Jefferson City, Columbia, Kansas City, and St. Louis areas, while much of my area readership came from people who were familiar with my work at the Carthage Press and the Lamar Democrat.
Some out-of-state readers began following the blog after my writing began being published on a regular basis on the Huffington Post and Daily Kos, but the turning point for the Turner Report came after May 22, 2011, when I started posting all of the information I could find about the Joplin Tornado. Until that time, though I lived and worked in Joplin, the city only accounted for a small percentage of my readers.
The next readership explosion began in April 2013 when I began writing about my removal from East Middle School with a police escort and has continued to the present, coinciding with an increase in investigative reporting on the Joplin Schools and the City of Joplin, courts coverage, crime reporting, and commentary.
The past three years have featured the most extensive coverage of any news source on such newsmakers and events as Mark Rohr, C. J. Huff, Wallace Bajjali, Mike Woolston, the Loraine Report, the state audits and of course the news shaper which often skips the real news- the Joplin Globe.
Thanks to those of you who have been here since the beginning and those who began reading along the way for helping the Turner Report remain the top alternative news source for the Joplin area.
3 comments:
What a milestone!! Randy has provided such a great service for our community. We get the truth on his site, much unlike what is reported in the Glob. Now, faithful readers, put your money where it can do some good. Randy cannot live on words alone. He has to pay for the copies of the Sunshine Law documents. Did you know that? If just a small percentage of you who rely on, and benefit from his investigative reporting, would send him a few dollars, or even the $30 per year subscription, it would be so helpful. Randy does not know I am writing this, but it's necessary. He has to live too. I send him $30 every fall for my subscription, but just sent him an additional amount to help him with his medical expenses. Do the right thing readers. Take the time and send him a small amount. It's all adds up, and he deserves our support. Thanks, Randy. Your readers appreciate you!
2:36 - Well said! Time to step-up and help out. That's what we do here in the four states, right?
Congratulations! Thanks for all you do.
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