2008 in review/2009 preview

Each time we toss out the old calendars, make whatever resolutions we figure we can break easily enough before Valentine’s Day, and get ready to spend the night with friends or watching the ball drop on TV, I sit here and figure out where this website has been and where I’d like it to go. Okay, that’s only been the last three years but traditions have to start somewhere you know.

By far, this was a year I did the most posts for the site – not to mention the other four sites I add content to. While I was contributing to Red Maryland in 2007, this year I added the Pro-Maryland Gazette, That’s Elbert With An E, and Red County Wicomico to my writing resume. There’s more eyes on what I write, despite the fact my readership here at the flagship was down somewhat.

And while that readership number is disappointing on its face, the fact is that I wrote a lot of stuff I was pretty proud of over 2008, particularly my coverage of the local Congressional race, the monoblogue Accountability Project, and the resumption of my Ten Questions series. It’s apparent that others liked what I did as well, otherwise I wouldn’t have been asked to partake in the writing opportunities that I have.

However, the little bit of coin I do make from this site depends in large part on readership, so I suppose I need to figure out where I can improve what’s here.

One thing I noticed was when I reached my peak of readers (aside from the Rushalanche) is that it came at a time when I had more local content. While I aspire to be more than the big fish in the little pond, I now have an outlet that would prefer I restore some emphasis on local and state events in Red County. Couple that with local elections, and it’s an opportunity for me to get back into the local mix.

But I can’t ignore what’s going on at the state and national levels either. With the ongoing monoblogue Accountability Project for Maryland’s General Assembly and a new Congressman who’ll likely do all he can to obfuscate his record when re-election time comes around, that needs to stay in focus too. It also goes without saying that with the changeover from Bush 43 to Obama will create many writing opportunities.

I’ve come to the conclusion that as things stand with work and other commitments I have on my time, the pace I had of about 10 to 12 posts per week is about all I can sustain unless I write several posts in advance on the weekends for the following week. But there are a few long-term projects I’d like to accomplish during the next year.

First and foremost is completing the 2009 Guide to the Maryland Blogosphere. At this time, I have over 50 sites which will comprise the bulk of the first guide, which will probably expand once this rendition is complete and people stop and say, hey what about so-and-so’s site? I’m expecting to do a part 2 in the spring and once I have that base, it’ll be easy to follow through on an annual basis. This will also give me an excuse to greatly increase the number of website links I keep on my right column.

In the new year, another plan I have is to set up two new left-hand column areas – one small one devoted to the local Salisbury city election, which will be up until the middle of April, and the other one a more comprehensive area to check out local and regional bands by expanding on the information provided here. No, I’m not going to attempt to keep tabs on who plays where when but I think the local music scene is a great one and I’ve found most who participate are pretty cool people even without an instrument or microphone in their hand.

Another goal for monoblogue is getting more Ten Questions posts and interviewing more people who readers would find interesting. I enjoy doing the interviews and getting to know the subjects a little bit better.

Many of you may not know this, but I’m on Facebook and I’ve established a group called “Fans of monoblogue.” It’s a group I’d like to expand the base of and I update it on a regular basis when I do or find out about something having to do with my site I find newsworthy – usually it’s when I’m linked on other sites or I do a post I feel is quite good. I’m fairly certain that I’m going to be placing some important updates on there as the New Year is dawning over the next few weeks.

Finally, I suspect that my “Blog ideas” e-mail folders will stay pretty full. I’m going to close this post by referring to someone else’s compilations that I found humorous as well. The Media Research Center has come up with their best “Notable Quotables” of 2008 while their Times Watch division skewered the Old Gray Lady with the Top 10 Lowlights of the New York Times. We’ll see a lot of these lists as the calendar turns and surely I’ll share those I find interesting, along with other items I think are worth sharing.

Author: Michael

It's me from my laptop computer.