Making Roads In The Networked Beat

Daniel Victor has a growing network on his hands. The Patriot-News Ning site "Hershey Home" went public two weeks ago and has grown at a steady rate of a few people each day. Now, at 30 members, the conversations are beginning to pick up.

One particularly interesting function of the network (and perhaps a result of being picked up by the local high school’s alumni network, is piecing together where old high school jocks are now, like this picture of the 1963 Hershey Cubs. It’s fascinating that people are trying to piece together the people in the photograph.

A more detailed update from Daniel:

I think things are going well. It needs to be considered that this is,
frankly, a bit of a slow news period in Hershey. Not much is going on
on the other forums, either. I’m just encouraged that new members are
continually signing up — I’ve even had to deny three memberships when
they’ve refused to sign up with their names. I e-mailed each of them
individually kindly explaining that it’s necessary, but they haven’t
been willing to do that, apparently.

The project has involved some interesting additions to the
reporter’s job description. One member e-mailed me to ask why he
couldn’t sign out, so I taught him how to delete his temporary Internet
files in IE (that fixed the problem). The president of the local AARP
called and asked how to join the network, and it’s been difficult
explaining to her how exactly it’s different than just e-mailing her
thoughts to me.

Overall, the people I’ve talked to have said they’re very pleased
with it, and clearly some of them are really taking an initiative in
uploading photos and inviting others. The test I’m really waiting for
is when some kind of big breaking news story happens, or at least a
more substantive issue that attracts a lot of attention. We’ll see if
people immediately sign on then.