It’s been a while since we chatted. Get yourself a beverage, pull up a chair and put your feet up while we catch up.
At the start of the new year I told about some upcoming changes on anewscafe.com’s horizon – literally. Sure enough, in the last two months we redesigned the masthead and front page to focus less on the few (myself included) and more on the many.
In part it was manifested by the creation of a moving banner with scores of anewscafe.com contributors’ faces. (Some are still MIA, so if you’re a contributor who’s not on the banner, let me apologize for the error, but also let me know so we can fix it. Don’t be shy.)
Along those lines, we discontinued The Dish to make more room for more voices. Then we proudly welcomed the ever-popular weather blog by Chris Fontana, “The Old Forecaster”, who puts his all into meteorology.
Still, to keep things fresh and lively, we continue to add new talent and features all the time. Case in point, I’m pleased to announce a great new column that begins Friday, “Paul Shigley’s Take-Out Window.” You’ll find it on the home page in the center aisle, between Day & Night, Your Guide to North State Arts & Entertainment, and the Food section.
I won’t say too much more about the “Take-Out Window” now, because Paul will do the honors of introducing himself in his first column tomorrow. But I’m confident you’ll like and respect Paul (aka “Shig”) as much as I do, and that you’ll become fast fans of his “Take-Out Window,” too. (Yes, you may recall his “You Can Do This” outdoors columns. Same smart guy. Different column. He’ll explain.)
Also, in the coming weeks you’ll get to know yet another gifted journalist, one dedicated solely to covering hard news, something we’ve wanted to do since this site’s inception. But I’m getting ahead of myself. You’ll meet him soon enough.
We’re open to new ideas, your ideas, too. As always, we genuinely care about what you think, and what you want. We care about what pleases you, and we also care about what bugs you. We want you to feel comfortable here, and if you’re not, we hope you’ll say so.
For example, one reader complained that the contributors’ banner moved too quickly, so we slowed it down. (Better?)
And lately, some of you have suggested I write more and manage less. Point taken. The truth is, I allowed distractions to interfere with my writing. But no more. I’m back 100 percent.
And I hope with all my heart that you’ll be here with me, because your online news magazine continues to expand like everybody’s business. How big? Well, last month anewscafe.com was visited by more than 53,000 unique visitors, and received more than 2.2 million page views.
These numbers absolutely humble me, because they’re not just numbers, but human beings who log onto anewscafe.com and keep coming back for more. I never take those numbers – or any of you – for granted.
Nor do I take for granted how you – the reader, contributor and advertiser – make it possible for our team at anewscafe.com to offer you locally owned, independent journalism every day, often with multiple posts a day. (Check out the Week in Review to see the quantity of content. Pretty impressive, if I do say so myself.)
Because of you, anewscafe.com allows us to communicate with thousands of people in a meaningful, civilized way. Because of you anewscafe.com reflects the people, places, news, fun, information and events – big and small – that matter to us all.
It’s your “we site” and we’re all in this together — all connected, all online. I’m happy to be here. I hope you are, too. Make yourself at home and stay as long as you like. I’ll be here to keep you company.
Independent online journalist Doni Greenberg founded what’s now known as anewscafe.com in 2007 with her son, Joe Domke of the Czech Republic. Prior to 2007 Greenberg was an award-winning newspaper opinion columnist, feature and food writer recognized by the Associated Press, the California Newspaper Publishers Association and E.W. Scripps. She lives in Northern California in the tiny town of Igo.
