Each week, a Rapidian staffer will publish a piece related to goings-on at The Rapidian, developments in the world of citizen journalism and tips for making the most of the site.Click here for past editorials.
Success of the first Picturesque has resulted in sponsorship of new editions.
Since the early months of the Rapidian, the question has been asked:
"How can the local business community can be involved with the Rapidian?"
Now that traffic has increased and participants multiplied, the near whisper has turned into more of a persistent prompt. In response, we have approached planning for sustainability with this question:
“How do we best serve the needs of business to connect with the highly engaged Rapidian audience, generate ongoing support for Rapidian activities, and still maintain the local integrity and visual appeal of the of the site?"
The results of these deliberations will become increasingly apparent over the coming weeks as a combination of specialized underwriting, innovation reporting and interactive advertising opportunities are launched.
The first project underwritten by a local business will be revealed next week as we launch the newest edition of Picturesque, our thematic photo project fueled by community contributions. This time the theme is “In Plain Sight:” the discovery and capture of scenes present in our community but too often overlooked. We are delighted to have secured the underwriting support necessary to fund the project and help nurture an appreciation for photography on the Rapidian.
Next will be a long-awaited and ambitious Local Marketplace section where visitors to the Rapidian will be able to connect with and receive offers from “locally owned and privately held” businesses that value the Rapidian. Participating businesses will have access to a dynamic advertising structure unique to (and fitting for) the Rapidian. The centerpiece of this new section will be regular stories of local innovators and entrepreneurs. This, as well, could not be possible if a local company had not stepped up to help make it happen.
These new supporters, whom you will meet over the coming weeks, understand the benefit, value and reach of the Rapidian. We are excited to bring local businesses into the fold and help them connect with people who value their contributions to the local economy.
As these new features launch and businesses join the Rapidian, please help us welcome and thank them for supporting community driven news and information.
The Rapidian, a program of the 501(c)3 nonprofit Community Media Center, relies on the community’s support to help cover the cost of training reporters and publishing content.
We need your help.
If each of our readers and content creators who values this community platform help support its creation and maintenance, The Rapidian can continue to educate and facilitate a conversation around issues for years to come.
Please support The Rapidian and make a contribution today.
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