My Nairn: Too Hot for the Inverness Courier
Both the Inverness Courier and Highland News websites carry a page which features bloggers in the general local area – so in running this blog, I contacted the SPP Group to see if they would consider listing ‘My Nairn’ alongside the Gurn and others.
Sorry, no, I was told – My Nairn looks too much like a rival, so they wouldn’t list the site among the blogs.
Okay, I thought – perhaps it’s because I’d be covering a few articles from the Courier and P&J so I left it a couple of months, kept focused on local stories only, and then sent an email again politely asking for consideration in being listed on the bloggers pages.
The reply? No, uh-huh – you look too much like a rival, and therefore cannot be listed.
On the one hand I find it funny – that the SPP Group with it’s multitude of titles, dominance of publishing in the Highlands, and award winning journalists, should consider this tiny little local blog about Nairn a threat to the SPP Group’s business model.
On the other hand, it’s just plain sad that when a newspaper offers to list local bloggers blogging about local issues, that they will refuse to do so – because the blogger is blogging local issues. You do what you say, or you don’t say it.
Still, it’s their decision and I can respect that – but I’m becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of information about the Highlands online, especially the current work of local councillors and lobby groups.
It seems the only groups to embrace the internet so far tend to be private companies with clear commercial interests, usually in tourism, local councils who seem to begrudgingly use the internet, and a few interested individuals who dare to carry their passions online to small personal sites. What information on local events, what’s going on, and similar? Tough.
We’ve seen attitude raised in comments on the Gurn, where one person claimed that local matters didn’t need to go online – because they were local.
However, the internet is the world’s biggest and most powerful communications platform – it is another development in the evolutionary line from the printing press, the telephone, and TV.
You can either accept that or reject it, but it won’t diminish the far reaching importance of the internet and how it is increasingly impacting every detail of our lives – from making information available, to making products and services available, to raising a voice for the individual.
I’ll tell you something else as well – don’t ever think that the internet will be nothing more than a collection of websites, because what the internet is actually doing is allowing websites to turn into full blown media channels as internet and TV technologies and uses become merged as one. The internet is becoming TV 2.0.
I blogged about this eventuality a few years back, and since then momentum has continued to develop – the internet is developing into a major production platform for independent companies. Don’t believe me? Then check out an example of what independent film makers were doing online in 2006 here.
So where is my rant taking me? My company covers internet marketing and publishing interests, and my frustrations with the Highland approach to the internet just makes me want to fill the vacuum. So now I’ll look seriously at developing a publishing presence here, centred in Nairn and the “Inner Moray Firth” region.
I’ve already bought highlandsonline.co.uk from a domainer and will look to get this site developed with a range of multimedia and community forums, blogs, and news. If the SPP Group think I’m a rival, I’ll be happy to live up to that. After all, if no one else will…
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9 Responses to “My Nairn: Too Hot for the Inverness Courier”
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I think this is a brilliant idea.
When you are ready to go if you want to sell shares or want partners let me know.
Especially with the attitudes of the local press round here.
There is so much goes on in the highlands that never gets aired.
There are also many people who work abroad who look to sites like MyNairn to find out what is going on.
There are local drama clubs local bands, singers, dancers produce the list goes on.
The gurn is good but sorry guys but it is a bit times or observer for me, that is not to say it is not entertaining and very well presented but not my cup of tea.
So here is to you and your rivalry
Interesting comment Allen. The thing is there is no monopoly now. We the punters are the media too, if you think something is missing the opportunity to publish it yourself is just a couple of clicks away.
Yes must agree on your comments the gurn is getting all serious on us , its harder getting a post on there now and if you do its edited to shreds, still i still think its a great wee site and very topical on Nairn issues !
Sorry Mr Gurnmister I just do not have time to make my own site some of us have to work for a living.
As for the Gurn I think it is a brilliant site I just wish they would go back to plain English.
It is becoming a competition to see who can use the most colourful writing techniques
As far as I know Allen the Gurnmeister works, seems to attend many if not all community council meetings, and writes stuff (Which I like) for the Gurn
Mostly quality stuff with some humour thrown in and all for free, likewise as far as i know Brian of Mynairn also works and writes for this site in his spare time
What is it you do?
I reckon we could do with about 25 blogs in Nairn, the more the merrier. Blogs aren’t like papers, you don’t read one instead of the others. With blogs you are more likely to go round the whole lot that have content that intersts you.
yea bring on more blogs see what other folk are doind good for sharing ideas on hobbys etc allotments garden clubs.
Bob
Sorry been in remote places where there is no internet.
As for the Gurnmister I know what he does and I consider him a friend.
But he gets home every night and does not have 4 children, he will also know Im just having a little fun and giving him a little dig.
Before the gurn (of which I read every article) I used to enjoy his earlier stuff so I am not having a bad dig.
I am in total agreement the more blogs the better as it really breaks up the time when Im away from home for months on end, that’s why I throw little snips in here and there to get people writing.
I like to throw in a bit of controversy here and there just to get a reaction and it normally works.
And as you asked I am a QHSE manager for a major Oil and Gas company who spends long stretches away from home and looks forward to all the blogs from Nairn that I read.
I also know there many people like me that work abroad for long stretches, who see the local Blogs as a great way to feel not so far away.
Best Regards
Allen
No bother boss, the Gurn team can hack criticism. 4 kids good point:-)
Yeah we could rightly be accused of being ‘old’ new media but we cling to the hope that we are hanging on to our core values:
‘Blogging from Nairn: sometimes satirical, sometimes silly, sometimes serious but hopefully giving a flavour of life in our community’
Feck it, let’s live/blog Nairn. It’s good, it’s our community, it’s special and it’s Disneyland compared to some places.
Cheers Al
more later