Comments on: 18th Monthly Milestone

By: Dave Askins

Dave Askins — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:12:10 +0000

Re: [11]: “If a reader chooses to “subscribe”, does that monthly payment continue indefinitely, or does it end after a predetermined period (ie, a year)?”

It continues indefinitely until you make it stop.

By: Jack Eaton

Jack Eaton — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:43:14 +0000

Congratulations on your 18th month of publishing. I don’t read every article on your site, but I do find that the ones that interest me are well reported. I cannot think of another news source that so regularly provides such complete coverage of public meetings. Please keep up the great work.

I have a simple question. If a reader chooses to “subscribe”, does that monthly payment continue indefinitely, or does it end after a predetermined period (ie, a year)?

By: Clarence Cromwell

Clarence Cromwell — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:53:21 +0000

Excuse me for butting in, but the marginal cost of adding a new online advertisement is also close to zero, and advertisers are apparently much more willing and able to pay than are readers. (They always have been.)

So there are questions not addressed by Mr. Hamilton, which I will leave up to your imagination.

I have to agree that the Ann Arbor Chronicle is doing a great job and it has created a niche that it now owns.

By: Rici

Rici — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:29:30 +0000

I think that *because* you are verbose (and not breaking-news-this-minute fast), you don’t have to invest as mich effort into managing and moderating comments. Those who want to rant and blast are over at more traditional news outlets…

By: Steve Bean

Steve Bean — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:48:17 +0000

Thoughtful upon thoughtful. Bravo, Dave. I’m in the spring camp, though (minus the training, that is.)

The ‘secret’ value of Chronicle articles for citizens is that it’s not necessary for any individual to read the comprehensive meeting coverage, because our representatives in local government need to assume that every citizen has all the information — including quotes — presented here, as long as at least one reader comments and demonstrates that *someone* read it. (Maybe that’s reason enough to value them.) That combined contribution of writers and readers is valuable to our community beyond the information presented and read.

By: David

David — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:00:44 +0000

I really think you do an excellent reporting on local politics and government. I read every day as my way to keep up with the state of the city. I used to watch city meetings on TV but that has decreased since the Chronicle came on-line.

I have paid in the past but for future contributions…you know it is the economy thing, hard to justify a subscription when the only current income is an unemployment check. Maybe in the future (if the economy allows me to stay in Michigan)…..

By: John Floyd

John Floyd — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:54:27 +0000

Now that I’ve re-upped my subscription, I feel better about commenting – even if you don’t really care…

Great job defining/distinguishing between public & private goods. Often a hard idea to make clear, easily.

I’m a 4th-D-er: I rely on the Chron to keep me posted on meetings I cannot attend. When, per chance, I do attend a meeting, I always check your coverage to see if it agrees with what I saw, since reporters so often get it either wrong, or only approximately right. The Chron consistently captures both the content and the feel of the meetings I attend, so I trust it to give me the straight dope on meetings I cannot attend. I have never seen this done so well, anywhere. After my experience of meetings covered by the Ann Arbor News, this is a refreshing change. You must be giving Judy more freedom than she had at the News.

By: Kathryn Houser

Kathryn Houser — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:09:24 +0000

I only recently discovered the Ann Arbor Chronicle and cannot tell you how delighted I was. As a solid citizen of the “fourth D,” I like knowing something of what’s going on in town, but found it difficult to keep up. I really appreciate being able to read detailed reports of city meetings that I am unable to attend. Keep up the good work.

By: Barbara Annis

Barbara Annis — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:03:09 +0000

I once again find myself seconding Vivienne. If someone doesn’t want all the details, they simply don’t have to read them. I trust you to present things in a more through way than is common to the “sound bit” philosophy of news reporting. Thank you for doing so.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:26:45 +0000

(a) Please stay verbose. Your unique contribution is your thoroughness.

(b) Let’s not plan for your (personal) demise yet. Just getting through a year at a time is pretty good these days, unless you are trying to fund an endowment.