From print to the Web to action

  We dipped our toes even deeper into that pool of Web site possibilities this week.

   A front page story on Tuesday and another on Wednesday focused on two important community issues. But instead of the stories ending with the last print paragraphs, we offered a link to a blog on  Buffalonews.com, and invited readers to get involved.

Tuesday's story dealt with the problem of potholes - and getting them fixed. At this time of year, I don't know anyone who doesn't get that sinking feeling (pardon the pun) when they hit a deep one on a local road. Potholes can rattle your body at the same time they blow your tire.

So we asked readers to use the Inside the News blog to tell us their pothole stories. We've heard a few and we'd like to hear more. Think of it as a community therapy session to rid ourselves of pothole frustration.

Our front page Focus story today concentrates on the serious challenge to restore trees damaged in the October storm. It's going to take a community-wide effort to restore the "treescape" that we lost last fall.  And we're asking Western New Yorkers to share their ideas how to "retree Buffalo Niagara" on the Inside the News blog.

Here's a chance to make a difference through the power of the newspaper, the outreach of the Web site and the collected effort of those who live here.

Comments

[Anonymous]

U.S. newspaper companies are reporting steep declines in advertising revenue for February, as classifieds continue to shift from print to online. Says Jupiter Research analyst Barry Parr: "The format, the business model, the organization of newspapers have outlived their usefulness." ***Hearst's San Francisco Chronicle is rumored to be in "big trouble." Phil Bronstein, the editor-in-chief, told staff in a recent "emergency meeting" that the news business "is broken, and no one knows how to fix it." Reportedly, the paper plans to announce more layoffs before the year is out.

[FedUp]

Whitney Place - the entire length of the first block in the historic section AND a huge single spot across from 45 Whitney - filled in many times but keeps on dipping - bad sewer lines - why not fix the dang sewer?

[BobbyCat]

"Dipping your toes in", is the problem with the Buffalo News blogs, not the solution.

Why don't you jump in head first? Why are these blog topics so bland? Potholes? Trees? Those "pesky mistakes"?
Those are cutsie topics. Where are the red meat issues?

We have no shortage of serious and compelling issues to talk about in WNY, so why not talk about them?

You might begin with a follow up on a recent story (told for the upteenth time): Why are people leaving WNY? (And why are some of us so afraid to talk about it?)

I think that reader participation in these blogs will remain anemic until you break some eggs and get serious.