Will you support Fulton Kentucky News?
You may not realize it, but as a reader of Fulton Kentucky News, you’re a guinea pig in a 2 ½ year experiment in local journalism and community building that may well have nationwide importance.
With print newspapers and AM radio in the midst of decline, many are wondering if the Web might be the future of local news. Here at Fulton Kentucky News, it’s not the future; it’s the present. What started out as an experiment, and hobby has turned into more readership and participation than I could have ever imagined.
Usually not a day goes by that I don’t receive an e-mail or letter telling me how much the website is appreciated, and is the first thing they look at in the mornings with their coffee.
We are covering our community in ways it hasn’t been covered since the demise of the former Fulton Daily Leader years ago. And more often than not we are covering this area as it has never been covered before. With the ability to post breaking news on the site as it happens, as well as video and audio we have broken the boundaries of regular news coverage.
The Web allows us to deliver the news instantly if needed, and in whatever medium makes the most sense. Is it information-intensive, best told in text and charts? Is it visual, best told as a picture story? Or is it worthy of audio or video? For the first time in history, residents of this area are able to listen to the entire regular meetings of the Fulton City Commission at their convenience. We are working on even more methods of transmitting the news to you as it happens.
Our community deserves a professional daily (web) news report. It turns out, amazingly, that there is more going on here than one person can get to in a 7 day work week. I am encouraged that Fulton Kentucky News has become the number one local news source for this area. We have religious news columns from First Baptist Church, Thought for the Week, Everyday Psychology and Wellness, and much more. We welcome all church and civic news as well as news from the public.
News does not wait, which is why we strive to cover major events, fires, arrests and more. We also need a common place to celebrate one another’s triumphs and defeats, and to get timely, accurate information about pressing issues. We need a place to learn about newcomers and new businesses, and to note births and deaths of our neighbors and friends.
What we are doing here is both important and different from the days when weekly or even daily newspapers held sway. When we do our job well, we’re giving you the information you need when you need it.
Now the time has come to request your assistance. During the next few weeks, we will be contacting local businesses seeking their support for this site. Whether it is a small business card size ad or a large ad that links to a businesses website, we are able to accommodate businesses of all sizes.
We have been very encouraged by the feedback we have received from our readers. We are grateful for the small number of advertisers who realize the benefit of 24/7 advertising at rates much lower than the local papers. With daily visitors now averaging over 1,500, we have as many readers in one day as the local paper may have in a week.
Since the Fulton Daily Leader decided to go weekly as the Fulton Leader, local citizens were left without a reliable daily local news source to turn to. Our local radio station provides news that contains very little local coverage. It is understandable that the local television stations are not able to cover everything that occurs locally, such as city commission meetings, school board meetings, and local police reporting.
Fulton Kentucky News is not trying to replace any of these news services, we are replacing them! We are the only local daily news source providing up to date news coverage of events that involve you. As a public service we provide free classified ads and yard sale ads to our readers.
We are able to update the website as news happens, and provide breaking e-mail news alerts to those who have registered. One of the advantages of the Web is our ability to deliver breaking news as its happening. On several occasions, we have been able to have the camera rolling before a fire truck arrives on structure fires. We have covered drug busts, and reported on events that affect citizens in this entire region.
Unfortunately the revenue received from our advertisers does not justify the approximate 12-14 hours per day devoted to keeping this site updated. While this site will continue to remain free of charge to everyone, we are making a request for voluntary donations to help offset the expenses that are incurred. Join us. You’ll see the result of your investment every time you log on.
We will also be contacting various businesses in the upcoming week for page sponsorships. It is still hard for some business owners to realize the impact of website advertising. Fortunately, numbers do not lie and it is a well known fact that local newspaper circulation has declined over the years while website readership has dramatically increased. It only makes sense to spend your advertising dollars where you will get the most exposure. Think about your business and think about the community. Think Fulton Kentucky News.
If you enjoy reading Fulton Kentucky News’s daily updates and in-depth coverage of local events, we are requesting your assistance in our efforts. Do you see the value in our daily news and the constant updates on police, fire and local news? If so, please consider becoming a charter sponsor of our news website. For all donations of $25 to $100 or more, your name will be listed on a new page as a charter sponsor of Fulton Kentucky News if you wish. Donations are not tax deductible, but they help keep this site operating. Donations less than $25 are welcome and very much appreciated. It could be $2.00 per month if that is what you feel you can afford,.
You can pay by check by mailing your donation to Fulton Kentucky News, P.O. Box 1241, Fulton, KY 42041. Or you can click on the Pay Pal button below.
Thank you,
Mike Farmer
Fulton Kentucky News
www.fultonkynews.com
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