The Essential Equation

Hi Mr. Buttry,

Developing an engaging community Web site is not an easy task. That's why the contribution of a compelling candidate who has experience in community news Web site simulation, and has also taken part in the success of a new, popular community site, will be a great asset to your team.

AnnAbor.com replaced the former Ann Arbor News, when it closed its print version in 2009. As a neighborhood beat contributor at the site, I have seen, first hand, the kind of content that stimulates community involvement and enables reporter transparency. Here is an example of one small story for which I produced a video and text article package. While focusing on hyper local content like this, AnnArbor.com gets 40,000 hits per day, and continues to gain community accolades.

As you may have already noticed, I attached a PowerPoint to my email that is a mock up of a Web site I designed with a team of other creative students. This site, The Mobius Strip as we called it, incorporated almost all essential elements for a successful community news Web site. It focuses on interactivity, personal focus, and complete coverage. I strongly encourage you to look trough the PowerPoint as it offers a fusion between old media successes and new media innovations. These idea can greatly contribute to the success of your new venture.

Also, please note that I am proficient in the following new media software: Final Cut Pro, iMovie, SoundSlides, Windows Movie Maker, CoolEdit, DreamWeaver, Google Sites, WordPress, MovableTyple, and am currently learning Photoshop. I am also proficient in HTML coding.

Please check out my Twitter feed here.

It is essential for community members to feel as though they are important, and that commitment should remain at the heart of this mission. The ability to facilitate hyper local discourse will enable success, and the use of new media technologies will serve as the essential bridge between content producers and community members. Social media is the first step to bridging this gap, but it is one that can no longer be filled by simply micro blogging on Twitter and fan page creation on Facebook. As you have seen in the PowerPoint mock up, social media must fulfill these requirements, but then go beyond these models and instead incorporate the sharing of content within the virtual walls of the site itself.

Please consider the innovative content of the PowerPoint as it fuses with my experience in this field. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,
Allison Goldstein