Category Archives: Citizen Journalism
Vermont journalists turn to neighbors for story leads
Vermonters use their local Front Porch Forum to connect with neighbors, to engage local public officials, to see current offerings from local businesses, to hear of services from area nonprofits, and more.
Vermont journalists use FPF too. See some interesting news stories that started from or were informed by local FPF postings…
What’s Happening to Northfield’s Tabby Cats?
The Northfield News
Seen A Mysterious Helicopter Lately? Relax, It Was Seeding Cover Crop
Vermont Public Radio
Firewood scarce; events last winter affected the supply
Stowe Reporter
Heard on the Street: Route 12 to Get a Facelift
The Bridge (Montpelier)
Why It’s Hard to Find Firewood This Year
Seven Days
Surveying neighbors made easy
A growing number of Vermonters are using their local Front Porch Forum to survey their neighbors about a wide variety of issues. From the Burlington Free Press this week…
Westford selectboard member Alex Weinhagen knows a thing or two about rural Vermont towns, but when he sent out a survey through Front Porch Forum to his Westford neighbors he got schooled.
This survey asked if potholes should be used as a speed deterrent. Seventy percent of respondents shot down the idea.
The online survey received 80 responses in less than 48 hours. Ninety-eight people responded total…
Remarkable demonstration of open-mindedness in Hinesburg
Paul posted on the Hinesburg Front Porch Forum the other day that opinions should be kept out of FPF postings, asking neighbors to “keep things kind and helpful.”
A neighbor Frank replied…
There are few forums for expressing opinions, besides at coffee shops, hair salons/barber shops and… on our front porches. I say, keep ’em coming [on our Front Porch Forum]. It’s part of what makes us a community. Indeed, as I am writing this on the 4th of July, I dare say the freedom to express ourselves is uniquely American.
Followed by another perspective from Craig…
I cannot disagree enough that we should not express our opinions or share news & information that affects us as community members on Front Porch Forum. The word “forum” itself expresses the goal of open discussion on matters that affect us on a broad level. It’s disappointing to see people suggesting that one of the only forum left to us to discuss community issues be limited to the innocuous and unimportant.
It sure would be sad if we had to rely only on government official announcements and the so-called “news” for information impacting us as citizens. Most of the important issues don’t get aired through those one-sided and for-profit venues. Democracy and freedom need a channel unfettered by government and corporate interests, like Front Porch Forum.
I find some of the most cogent and important information tome as a Hinesburgian on this site…
In days of yore, it was the public space — the Common or the Green — that was the place we gathered and expressed (and heard) uncomfortable opinions. In Providence, you can still see the speaker’s pulpit (the soapbox). In Boston, 200 acres were set aside for the purpose. And, yes, some of those viewpoints are potentialy offfensive to some, even repugnant. In the vaccuum of true journalism in mass media today, we need an electronic version of the public forum, and I am thankful a channel like Front Porch Forum exists to provide it.
I give money regularly to FPF to keep alive a public forum. I would not provide financial support to a non-forum where no ideas or opinions are shared.
Like all other media… if you don’t like it, don’t consume it. If you don’t like what the guy on the soapbox is saying, take another path, or block your ears. Hide your kids’ eyes. But don’t inhibit his freedom.
Then Jane posted…
I agree with [Craig] about Front Porch Forum being a valuable venue to express our opinions and ideas and I thank him for taking the time to express his feelings.
And it ended with a remarkable follow-up posting by Paul… a rare act of open-mindedness in this era of partisanship….
Sigh, still growing and learning. As I read posts and REALLY thought about it, I realized this IS a forum for ideas and opinions. Thanks for making me think again. It just caught me on a day when I was really tired, had read too many negative things in different forums, and I let those feelings spill out before thoroughly considering. Unfortunately, I wrote before fully thinking it through and realize that is exactly the kind of thing I was hoping others would not do. Hmmm, still growing and learning. Thanks, everyone.
Critical mass and communication in Waterbury
Posted by Debra on the Waterbury FPF today about the actions of the local long-term community recovery director (Tropical Storm Irene disaster coupled with closing of major employer)…
I want to publicly commend Barbara for her postings on the Waterbury Front Porch Forum.
I admire the way she gets the information out about what projects are happening around town and their status. Her updates to the proposed MC, and times of meetings that are being held, have always been non-opinionated and informative. Also, the inclusion of the various other things going on within our town (e.g., the demolition & reconstruction tours being done at the State complex and even info. about our town’s annual Green-Up Day), are all to the point and give good information for those with a possible interest.
FPF has proven to be a great media tool for passing information quickly, as often-times the date of a meeting or a special event cannot really be planned for because by the time we read about it in the Record, that day is almost upon us and it may be too late to do something.
More & more town citizens sign-up on FPF every day, and while not everyone in this community has a computer, or access to one, most do or they have a smart phone. I’m also guessing that not everyone takes time to log into Waterbury’s Town site. I know I don’t, as I often forget or cannot take time to go the extra step to do so.
But notifications for each FPF hit my personal email box on a daily basis and they are right in front of me. I have found, like I’m guessing others may have as well, that these postings are a a great way to stay in touch with what’s happening (be it projects, updates, for sale stuff, special events, etc.) within our community.
I hope Barbara, or someone else, will continue getting town information out on FPF – even when this current bond vote is resolved one way or the other – as I think it’s a great way to communicate to those who live here, and, for all of us to stay informed as a community. Thanks for doing these, Barb!
How do you know when your church bell is broken?
#VT – Hi Everyone, Sascha posted on the Williston Front Porch Forum that she missed hearing the Church bell ring on the hour. After investigating, I discover that the reach rod which controls the hammer that strikes the bell had broken. I guess it just got tired after a hundred and thirteen years of raising that hammer. I will have to have a new rod fabricated and should have the bell back in operation in about a week. Thank you Sascha.
Shared by Bill today on the Williston FPF.
Neighbor helping neighbor… but how about debate?
#VT – Most FPF postings are simple items among neighbors… lost dogs, babysitter tips, car break-in reports, free couches and the like. Many people find this very useful. Occasionally, neighbors will dive into a controversial local topic on their FPF and the tone will grow heated. Just as often, people will use their Front Porch Forum for wonderful ends, as demonstrated by this recent Underhill FPF posting from a couple whose house was demolished a few days ago by flash floods…
To all of our family, friends, neighbors, perfect strangers, and fellow community members: We want to take this opportunity to express our sincerest and most heartfelt thanks for the kindness, support, and pure generosity that you have expressed toward our family. From the tireless assistance of the Underhill/Jericho fire department, to the cupcakes, prayers, smiles, maple syrup, and donations provided by all of your caring hearts, we can honestly say that the past five days of picking through wreckage, shoveling muck, and breathing moldy air has been nothing short of amazing. Thanks to you all! May your generosity be returned ten-fold.
So, of those three classes of postings, most people appreciate the (1) neighborly exchange of announcements, tips, transactions, and stuff. And nearly everybody loves (2) a heart-warming tale of neighbor helping neighbor. But some folks are really turned off by (3) neighbors discussing or arguing about hot local topics. Lots of different perspectives out there!
How do Vermonters prepare for Town Meeting Day decisions?
#BTV #VT – Increasingly, the answer to this question includes Front Porch Forum. Ninety Vermont towns are served by FPF and public officials, advocacy groups and voters alike use their FPF to share information, state opinions and encourage participation in local democracy. Occasionally an FPF will get heated in the days approaching Town Meeting… but that’s how community works. Ideally neighbors pull together and move the community forward after Town Meeting Day, regardless of which candidates and ballot measures prevail.
FPF is popping up in traditional media this week. Two recent front pages (one and two) of the Burlington Free Press mentioned FPF’s role in Town Meeting issues. And Seven Days quoted former City Councilor Ed Adrian today…
In a February 28 posting on Front Porch Forum, Adrian lodged five points of criticism against Bushor, including: “To the best of my knowledge, Sharon has never posted on FPF. Anything.”
Ed will be glad to know that Sharon posted a campaign-related item to her FPF today!
“We don’t need another newspaper, we have Front Porch Forum”
#VT – How fortunate we are in Bristol to have Front Porch Forum at our disposal. I certainly hope that someone is recording all these postings using some media that is not ephemeral (imagine if the Constitution had been recorded on 8 track?) as future generations may be able to use current Front Porch Forum postings the way our generations use the old Bristol Heralds- a view into a time gone by.
I was talking with a good friend the other day who had been considering starting up another newspaper that would deal with only local issues, much like the last several efforts to do the same but which all met an early demise. We don’t need another newspaper- we have Front Porch Forum which meets all those needs.
I just hope that future generations can enjoy this as much as we do and that they will be able to look back to our time and try to understand the issues that confront us in the same way that we use old publications in our quest to understand the issues of earlier times, and as George Santayana observed, “Those who cannot learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.”
Shared by Ted with his Bristol, Vermont, neighbors on their FPF today.
About Blog
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more
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