By Michael V. Hannigan
January 1 is usually thought of as a beginning, but here at Henderson County Now it is actually an ending.
Friday, Jan. 1, 2016 will mark the conclusion of HCN’s third year.
The little experiment in journalism and public relations Jeff Weinstein and I began on Jan. 2, 2013 has grown beyond our wildest projections.
“I’m proud to be part of something so special,” Jeff said. “I’m especially thankful that my partner in crime, Michael Hannigan, loves Henderson County as much as I do. We’re starting our fourth year and I’m more excited now than ever before about the possibilities of expanding the scope of the dialogue and participation of the community with Henderson County Now.”
How big has HCN grown? Here are some stats:
- We have posted more than 17,000 Facebook updates to an audience that has at times reached double the population of the county.
- We have published more than 3,600 stories on our website, which has produced almost 950,000 page views.
- We brought local podcasting to Henderson County, recording 120 shows and generating more than 26,000 listens.
- This past year we started the Daily Email, a local news update sent to 2,200 email subscribers every Monday through Friday morning about 5 a.m.
Thousands of people trust us to bring them local information on a daily basis. We believe that is because we offer a cross between cheerleader and ombudsman that helps serve our community. From on-the-spot weather updates, to revealing stories about city water tanks, to uniting lost pets with their owners, we try to be where you need us most.
That won’t change in 2016 as we break the 1 million mark on our website. … Sure, we’ll continue to experiment with social media techniques like podcasting, Twitter, Instagram and mini-videos to find better ways to bring you information. But the core mission will be the same: serve the community.
So Happy New Year to all of you and thank you very much for following. Your readership is a gift we take very seriously.
Times flies….unbelievable 3 now starting 4!!! Thank you ALL for your contribution to our community…really rely in your services…THANKS AGAIN!!!