Rick Burnes' Blog

9Neighbors Data on Independent Local Content

When we started working on 9Neighbors a few months ago, we were a little concerned that we wouldn't be able to find enough independent content to highlight on the site.

There was no need to worry. Check out the data below, a report on the distribution of the types of items indexed on 9Neighbors in January.

Of the more than 25,000 local news items we indexed, over 70% of them were independently produced. That's over 18,000 photos, videos, stories and other missives about our communities produced by individuals for their own reasons. All of that competes with traditional media for the community's attention.

Whatever you think of their quality and relevance, these videos, photos and blog posts represent the things people are talking about in communities around Boston.

       

The Derrick Ashong Videos

If you haven't watched these, you should.

 

PostSecret Valentine

(via Lindsay Campbell)

Happy Election Day

Happy election-day, everybody.

I'm voting for Barack today. But more than any single candidate, I've been excited about this election process.

It's different than it used to be. We have more information -- about the candidates, about the process, and about the thoughts of the people we respect.  Stuff like this and this and this is everywhere, and wonderful. It humanizes the discussion, adds nuance, encourages authenticity, and leaves us far, far better off.

Barack Makes Me Proud

For weeks, I've been meaning to explain all the reasons I'm voting for Barack on Tuesday.

In the end, there's only one thing to say: He makes me proud.
Proud to live in a country where the people can change things,
where anybody can be president,
where success is based on merit,
where people who are honest and transparent do well,
where there is hope, and optimism.

A lot of this is not true yet, but Barack gives me hope that it all can be.

Here are a few other thoughts on Barack from people I respect (Larry Lessig, Fred Wilson, Antonio Rodridquez, & Baratunde Thurston), and some of my favorite YouBama videos.