New Voice on the Air?

We received news late tonight that New Albany is going to be served by an online public affairs radio show called New Albany Now. Starting tonight (we don't know the regularity of their schedule), the online radio show begins its schedule of Webcasts.

It's apparently a call-in show instead of just a podcasted blog. If you're on the Web, you can click a button to join the conversation. If you're away from your computer, you can call a number (347) 539-5928. In a world of cell phones and cheap long distance, calling a national number shouldn't impose too much of a hardship. As a caller, you can listen to the show, too, so long as your connection is maintained.

We understand that if you miss the live broadcast, an archive will be available, so all the shows will be available for later reference. Here's a link:



This sounds like it could be a dramatic development in the coverage of public affairs. We got word about this from Randy Smith at Destinations Booksellers. He's going to be hosting the early shows, but he leaves open the possibility that other show hosts may soon join him. Destinations Booksellers is going to be underwriting some of the early costs of producing this show and receiving on-air mentions in exchange. Randy's other business, Flood Crest Press, will probably also be a sponsor. For now, we don't know of any other sponsors, but Randy says it will be a non-profit undertaking that actively seeks individual, organizational, and business sponsorships, all of whom would receive mention on the air.

Randy isn't able to tell us yet if there will be an ability to take the show out of the "studio," but it's hard not to be enthusiastic about the idea of live broadcasts of some local public meetings. Can you imagine if The New Albanian and Bluegill were able to supplement their blog by audio of the city council meetings?

Who will be listening? Who knows? We think it's a great idea, and we encourage our readers to take the time to call in to ask questions or express their opinions.

Congratulations, NA Confidential

Allow us to use this space to offer high praise and commendation to the staff of NA Confidential, New Albany's preeminent blog.

250,000 visitors is a major accomplishment for a blog so locally specific. Former and future residents from around the country read NA Confidential to keep up with the atmosphere. Some even use it to help them decide to come and join us in the struggle for progress.

Roger Baylor and Jeff Gillenwater provide a hybrid that New Albany cannot do without. With humor and intelligence, they steer the conversations around here and put the spotlight on issues of culture, government, and commerce.

In the best of all possible worlds, culture, government, and commerce would be one and the same thing, and outlets like NA Confidential are helping us move toward a day when our community, our businesses, and our neighborhoods become allies in a common objective.

Congratulations, guys. You deserve it. When that counter trips past the quarter-million mark later this month, we want to say we were the first to say "Well Done!"

A Nod to the Emperor of Cyberspace

In the unlikely event that you came here first, please mouse-click on the following link to the premier blog for news and commentary:

Where'd the Council Go?

Thanks to The New Albanian, who demurred on the fellowship following Thursday night's city council meeting in favor of doing his job. Seriously, we're grateful for the rapid response and we hope the publican rests easy overnight. Selfishly, we're counting on more insightful comment this weekend.

I can't disagree with much that was reported at http://cityofnewalbany.blogspot.com. Theirs is a pretty succinct and accurate report of the evening's events.