Building a community brings to mind a frontier mentality. Few couragous people setting up a homestead. Soon other will see the beauty of their work and decide to move there.
Not only is this idealistic but it is also inaccuarate. We live in the midst of humanity. People surround us at any given moment. We are far from alone. Yet we do not have a community to speak of.
We are supersaturated with people. So my metaphor borrows from science of crystal formation. This project aims to be the seed crystal. Community Crystalizing.
I believe public schools to be the natural place for this form to take place. A place where there are thousands of students, teachers and parents. A place where the potential for real community has already gathered but has no solid form as of yet.
The seed crystal is what it will take for for the larger crystal to form around. If this project can develop a single molecular structure perhaps that will be enough to create a gem of a community.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Domain Name Bought
I bought the domain name "localeducationnews.com"
Sadly, "ourschools.com" was already taken. Just thought that had more zing and marketability. Yet, I don't despair. The other name is much more serious and accurate, right?
This one step further makes me realize the emormity of the project. The role I truly want is a editor/moderator/writer role in this project. I want content that informs and enlightens people on educational issues.
Now I feel like a founder of company worried about marketing, logos, web design and hosting, non-profit or for-profit status and worst of all money. It's a business whether it's a non-profit business or not. All I see right now is the huge cost this project could entail.
Many people might think how this project of getting ordinary citizens to write for free and posting it on the web could cost a lot of money. Sure that part is relatively cheap. But If any one is going to read it then that might cost a few hundred thousand. And it's not about advertising.
Just to get some understanding of the cost. I have spent over $5,000 on classes for teachers just to understand their perspective and insight. Really, I have no intention of becoming a teacher. This is part of my Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication degree.
To host a website and design one that will actually have quality information this project will need a database manager to aggregate test score, census information, government documents, and etc.
The web design and hosting can be expensive as well. There are a lot of bells and whistles to make this project truely work. For example running a chat room will use up much more broadband than simple posting text. Not to mention possible podcasting and video.
Now I see why "Youtube" sold for a billion. It wasn't just the name.
There is much I think I can bring to the table as far as journalistic principles and democratic philosophy. However, all of this money stuff will take more time to process. I still will attempt to work on it.
Sadly, "ourschools.com" was already taken. Just thought that had more zing and marketability. Yet, I don't despair. The other name is much more serious and accurate, right?
This one step further makes me realize the emormity of the project. The role I truly want is a editor/moderator/writer role in this project. I want content that informs and enlightens people on educational issues.
Now I feel like a founder of company worried about marketing, logos, web design and hosting, non-profit or for-profit status and worst of all money. It's a business whether it's a non-profit business or not. All I see right now is the huge cost this project could entail.
Many people might think how this project of getting ordinary citizens to write for free and posting it on the web could cost a lot of money. Sure that part is relatively cheap. But If any one is going to read it then that might cost a few hundred thousand. And it's not about advertising.
Just to get some understanding of the cost. I have spent over $5,000 on classes for teachers just to understand their perspective and insight. Really, I have no intention of becoming a teacher. This is part of my Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication degree.
To host a website and design one that will actually have quality information this project will need a database manager to aggregate test score, census information, government documents, and etc.
The web design and hosting can be expensive as well. There are a lot of bells and whistles to make this project truely work. For example running a chat room will use up much more broadband than simple posting text. Not to mention possible podcasting and video.
Now I see why "Youtube" sold for a billion. It wasn't just the name.
There is much I think I can bring to the table as far as journalistic principles and democratic philosophy. However, all of this money stuff will take more time to process. I still will attempt to work on it.
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