Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Time for a Break

Plainfield Plaintalker began in June 2005, out of my desire to inform city residents and Barbara Todd Kerr's willingness to devise a way. Few people knew what a blog was then. Initially, I didn't either. Barbara set the whole thing up, with a "soft launch." As people became aware of an online source for news about Plainfield, readership picked up. One early reader told me he read the "blob" every day.

I had been a reporter, retiring in 2003, around the time that the newspaper industry began major shifts in focus. One editor decided coverage should be based on the mantra, "eat, shop, work, play." I felt there were things readers needed to know beyond that, such as how their tax money was being spent and how well their public servants were serving. This meant going to public meetings, researching documents, explaining what the City Council was voting on. My hope was to engage citizens in local decision-making.

Barbara was in charge of production and I provided most of the content. Initially, we both had free time to work on the blog, but Barbara later had demands on her time that led to my learning how to wrangle the posting. In January 2007, it became a solo operation. I gathered content, took photos and put up the posts myself. Once Plainfield Plaintalker became large and unwieldy, I created Plaintalker II. Readers can search either blog by putting a keyword in the box at upper left.

When Barbara was in charge, we did not take comments. In March 2008, I decided to allow comments. Initially, readers stuck to the issues, but especially in political season, some comments got out of bounds. As moderator, I decide what gets posted. Last month, I made a mistake. I apologized. For some, it was not enough.

Anyway, I moved on. This month marks nine years of blogging, with more than 500 posts per year. Please be advised that I will be taking a break and will resume as soon as possible. Thanks for all your support and encouragement over the years.

--Bernice

26 comments:

  1. hmmmmmmmmmmm...for those who it was not enough, how nice it must be to look down from on high at us little ants running about...
    To you.. Kudos Bernice... enjoy your break.. you've more than earned it and your hard work is in fact appreciated..
    Rob

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  2. Bernice enjoy your break.1 Well earned.

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  3. I hope that you enjoy the break--thank you for the public service--that's what the blog is for me.

    Best,

    Rebecca

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  4. What am I going to read with my morning coffee????? No matter where I was, California or Georgia, I knew I could count on you to keep me abreast of what was happening on the home front. Enjoy you well earned and deserved break.

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  5. Bernice,

    Thank you for all you have done to keep people apprised of the happenings in Plainfield. You have done so with a reporter's eye, and I, for one, am grateful.

    While you will be sorely missed (for not long I hope), your break is well deserved, and I hope that you enjoy it to the fullest.

    Thank you again for giving of your time to this city.

    And my response to the reader who felt your apology was not enough, I say..... well, you can't print it.

    Thank you again, Bernice.

    Jeanette

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  6. For you, a break is well-deserved! You have done a wonderful job in keeping us informed, and I look forward to your return.

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  7. I look forward to you daily updates in town, with a busy schedule its hard to attend city meeting etc so thank you for keeping us working folks in the loop. We all need a break now and then so enjoy, its well deserved. Just curious do you have data on viewership for your blog?

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  8. You have the best, most precise and politics-free blog of anyone writing in Plainfield. Please rest up and come back soon.

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  9. Understandable for you, unfortunate for us. Awesome body of work!

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  10. Thanks for the memories. Have fun. Enjoy.

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  11. Everyone need a summer vacation. I hope you a good time

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  12. Bernice, thank you for your exceptional coverage of Plainfield. You are indispensable, and I hope that you will carry on after your break. Mary Burgwinkle

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  13. Dear Bernice,

    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

    The contribution you have made to all the people of Plainfield is extraordinary. As a community we are much better off because you have taken the time and effort the gather the issues and then applied your journalistic skills to present them in as unbiased a way possible.

    Enjoy you much deserved break. I will miss reading your blog.

    All The Best,

    Tom Kaercher

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  14. I am sure the Republicans are to blame for this loss.

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  15. Hi Bernice, I so much enjoy reading your blog and feel grateful to have such insightful and unbiased reporting of what’s going on in Plainfield. You deserve a break. You will be missed and I hope you hurry back. Especially before November.

    Robin B

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  16. Plainfield benefits from your voice.

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  17. Pat Turner KavanaughJune 19, 2014 at 2:03 PM

    Bernice: Plainfield needs its blogs, and yours was indispensable. professional, fair, even-handed. Don't tell us you're Seattle-bound?.

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  18. Bernice, thank you for your dedicated service of providing Plainfield with day-to-day coverage on political issues, meetings, events, nature, etc.

    Take your well deserved break and have fun doing it. We look forward to your return whenever you decide to
    do so.

    Happy travels to you until we meet again!!!

    Dee Dameron

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  19. Enjoy your break. You are the BEST.

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  20. I,too, thank you for helping to keep me abreast of what is happening in Plainfield and surrounding areas.It was always enlightening to read your commentary for it gave me another point of view.Enjoy your respite and hurry back to all of us. Margaret A. Lewis

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  21. Thank YOU for keeping us informed for so many years. I seldom read the local papers - the local bloggers are such a valuable resource! Enjoy your time away!

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  22. I echo the sentiments expressed above. I have always found your blog informative, timely, fair and unbiased. You have done us all a great service, one I hope you will return to soon. Recharge those batteries and enjoy your break!

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  23. Say it ain't so Bernice, though I'll keep the faith that you'll renew this uniquely wonderful source of local news, and events. Maybe equal parts of fatigue, and mild dismay are fueling this hiatus. You are the best voice the people have!

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  24. Sorry to hear this, but we all get burned out sometimes. I hope you return, but I'll understand if you don't. In the meantime, have a great summer.

    Tim Kirby

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  25. You are the reason we know what is going on in town. Enjoy your break, but please do come back soon. We will miss you and await "hint hint" your return.

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