The Observation Deck

The Lakewood Observer Board is please to announce that our sister media project "The Heights Observer" is now up and running at 100%.

http://heightsobserver.org

Future Heights has now gone live with their front page and printed newspaper will soon follow.

To kick off the project, they will be having Advisory Board Member Lauren Rich Fine speak at their April meeting about hyper-local media, and its importance.

Here is the announcement from FutureHeights Founder and Board Member Sarah Wean.

http://heightsobserver.org/read/1/1/hei ... org-debuts

I would like to thank all that have taken part on this project the Lakewood Observer for helping us develop a theory on "civic journalism" and now helping other cities get similar projects up and running.

My thanks to all members of the boards.
Especially Heidi, DL, Dan what can I say?

We plan to have another announcement this week, about the next Observer project. Hint - it is not in the County!

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That is fantastic news! Congrats to everyone involved.

Twin Observers.....Cool.

Is one twin always required to be evil, or is that just a TV thing?

Mike

Not so much twins as cousins.....I'm sure that Heights will have their own unique personality.

Jeff

Having lived in the Heights for several years, yes, they will DEFINITELY have their own personality!

Heights is definitely a great place for the Observer model. I'm sure this venture will flourish.

Congratulations to all involved!

Jim,

when is the LO vs. HO bowling match? Ivor and I need time to practice.

and is it true that they're offering a sports writer AND multiple Journalism School draft picks for Chef Geoff? I heard that they wanted Gary Rice, but that he has a "no trade" clause.

Also, anyone know what the Vegas line is on how long it will take the Sun Papers on the east side to start complaining?

Mike Deneen wrote:Twin Observers.....Cool.

Is one twin always required to be evil, or is that just a TV thing?

If the HO has a goatee, we know the truth of this.

Our thanks to the folks at Future Heights who are working so diligently to bring their Observer project to life.

While the Heights Observer may be a kind of fraternal twin, it will be what it will be. Their new eyes already see things differently.

I can't wait to see their first edition.

Congratulations all!!! How awesome that is!!!! Proud parents you must be!!!

I can't wait to read the blogs to see how similar or not they are!

AGS/Observer Board Member Lauren Rich Fine, speaks at the Future Heights Annual Meeting about the emergence of the Hyper Local Paper, and it's place in history.


I want to thank everyone connected with the Observer Project. From the original group that sat around the office for meeting after public meeting, to the core group of Advisors, Editors, Writers, Members and lurkers that followed. Special Thanks to Ken Warren, Steve Davis, DL Meckes, Heidi Hilty, Dan Ott, Jeff Endress for always being there during every step, seeing the goal and working towards it. New Board of Director members Lauren Rich Fine, Steven Ott, Dan Slife, thanks for stepping up. Tim Curtiss welcome aboard. Everyone at Future Heights, for believing and proving us right, and adopting Lakewood as your sister city. Sarah, Greg, Mark, Deanna, Jane you are gold.

Tonight I was so proud of every one of you who has taken the time to take part, on any and every level.


Heights Observer Volume 1, Issue 1, "Proud Member Of The Observer Media Family"

Lakewood, and members of the Lakewood Observer we are making a difference and now we are making history.

Thank you.


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YAY!

Congratulations to everyone!

David Lay wrote:Congratulations to everyone!

I hope everyone understands that it is everyone.

I have mentioned many times that the Lakewood Observer is playing to a much larger crowd than Lakewood, and this is but the beginning of taking the "Lakewood Observer Project" to a much larger crowd.

What I always get a kick out of is how it is described and by who. News paper software, internet software, management software, recently many have been able to understand and are framing it as "community building software." "Social networking tools with a soul."

A way to bring communities together, spur economic development, help existing businesses, fund and start community projects, and stop the bleeding that is happening around the world in other communities, that range from art, to religion, to corporations.

What makes me smile even more is that Lakewood, the community will always be tied to this as the first.

Last night was a very good night for AGS Software Development, The Observer, The Lakewood Observer and members and I hope for Lakewood.

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Congratulations Jim and all involved.

It amazes me how much time and energy all of you have given this project. The Lakewood Observer in itself is an interesting story.

Hearing Mrs. Fine speak and her analysis of how hyper local news will affect the media was very interesting.

The Heights Observer project seems to have an anxious group of people behind it. I hope they realize the same success the Lakewood Observer has.