Coming Soon: A New Look For WKTN.

You know that feeling you get when you finally complete a major project? One of elation, satisfaction or just plain relief. Most of us have had this experience when working on projects that take several weeks or even months to complete. I however and proud to say that I am close to completing a project that has been five plus years in the making.

I am proud to say that soon (very soon) there will be some changes to Kenton Today.com, the website that is connected to WKTN Radio. And I hope that many of the changes will be well received by the people who happen to use the site.

I can’t say when the genesis of this project began, but I know that it’s been over five years in the making. On the surface that wouldn’t seem much, but when you’re hoping to put out a product that is intended to meet the needs of the majority of those who happen to use the site, you want to make sure that it’s done right. 

Looking back, it amazes me what all has happened in the last five years since I began working on this upgrade. For one, many of the people I know and consider to be good friends I didn’t even know existed then, and in that time I went to college and completed by undergraduate degree. All while in the process of working on this one project. You could say, save for some other major projects, it’s been my life for the past few years. And now, it’s complete.

When I began this project, I had no idea how much I didn’t know about content management, analytics, web design and formatting, as well as designing an appropriate site that can be easily managed. Consulting with industry insiders, but also with many of the people I’ve met through the University of Findlay, I was able to hone, trim, and otherwise tailor our ideas to better suit the needs of our audience. Without their contribution, this project couldn’t be where it is today.

Last year, the station did some research into our audience, and we found (no surprise) that local was the main focus. People who go to our site want local. Local news, obits, sports, weather, community events, and so on. So to that end, we’ve tailored it to fit that audience, and hopefully they will respond.

So what does it look like? Well, below is the current site.

And here is what it will look like once it is launched.

This is only a picture of course. There are some minor things to deal with between now and the launch, and until we correct them, we can’t say for certain when we’ll switch. But rest assured, change is coming, and hopefully it will be for the better.

To say that I’m elated that we’re finally at this point would be an understatement. It has been a labor of love, hate, and frustration, and it will continue to be as we work through it. But I couldn’t be more pleased with the final result. We have a site that I think the whole community can be proud of and utilize. 

I couldn’t ask for more than that.

Fair Tour 2013: One for the books!

Having time off is necessary from time to time if one is to keep their sanity. Some people find some exotic locale and decompress, while others spend their time in other pursuits. The idea of course is to spend your days doing something that you want to do, rather than something that you have to do. What determines this can depend on any number of factors (time, money, resources,) but hopefully it’s all in good fun and worthwhile. Over the last week, I spent some time doing just that.

Given my current financial situation, I decided to spend vacation doing something I’ve wanted to do for a while, which is to go on a fair and festival tour. Many people don’t really understand this, and I suppose I can see their point, but for me there’s something intangible to be found in how a community chooses to gather together and celebrate itself. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always been drawn to fairs and festivals. Perhaps it’s where the soul of a community truly lies.

At any rate, given the time of the vacation, this tour took me to the Auglaize County Fair, Greene County Fair, Preble County Fair, Ohio State Fair, Wood County Fair, the Dublin Irish Festival, and the Indiana State Fair. To say that my feet were killing me at the end would be an understatement, but I can say that I had more fun on this vacation than I believe I’ve had in some time.

When you’re at these places, you get a feel for the community. It’s values, goals, and ideals, and in addition to that, you can see what the community puts up as an example of what it can do. Additionally, many of us here in Hardin County get a somewhat jaded view of this sort of thing because we have a couple of really good fairs and festivals, namely the Hardin County Fair, which is awesome, but it helps to see what happens elsewhere. Perhaps it might even inspire an idea to try in your local community.

But the biggest thing I’ve enjoyed is watching the people. I find human nature and interaction interesting and watching how people interact with one another in a large festival is amusing, interesting and gratifying. Whether it be young girls trying to act older than they are, older people still going, or young guys with no clue as to what lies in store for them walking around with an inflated sense of confidence.

Some examples: sometime watch how people walk on pathways. You’ll notice that people tend to walk as they drive, which means that in this country you walk on the left side of the path at all times. While in Dublin, there was a line down the middle of the roadway which was being used as a pathway, and it was amusing to see the vast amount of people walking on their designated side as if they were driving on the road.

Children are especially amusing. When we were walking into the Indiana State Fair, I noticed a father and his young daughter walking out to their car. They were holding hands but the girl (who was four or five) kept staring wide eyed at the inflatable dolphin that the father had won for her at a carnival game. The look on her face, which was one of wide eyed amazement and anticipation of getting a new toy, was really great.

When we’re out and about, sometimes we miss those moments, ones that we remember, or that hit us at just the right moments. And sometimes we’re so caught up in our own agendas that we miss all that is going on around us. It helps from time to time to be reminded of that, and to take the time to get out in the world and explore if for no other reason, than our own sanity. This was a gratifying vacation, and I hope to continue it sometime in the future.

Personal Bucket List: Take a trip to Texas

I know its been awhile and I haven't written in some time, but I want to finish my series of postings started earlier this year on my personal bucket list. I've got two to go.

I really don’t know when it happened. It could have been when I was a young kid and watched old westerns with my Grandpa but as far back as I can remember, I’ve wanted to travel to, and throughout the State of Texas. I was a fan of Davy Crockett stories as a kid, and was fascinated with his life and how it ended at the Alamo, but also over the years I’ve found much of my interests can be tied into what can be found in that one state.

Texas is unique. Founded as an independent nation prior to becoming a state, it is the largest state in the US, save for Alaska. Ohio could fit into Texas several times over, so it would take some time to really explore all that the state has to offer.

Being a history researcher, much of what I’d like to see pertains to that. I want to travel to most of the major cities. Dallas, to see Dealey Plaza where President Kennedy was assassinated, as well as the home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library. I’ve also discovered that Dallas has one of the prettiest skylines found in the United States.

I'd go to Houston, to see the Johnson Space Center and tour the Mission Control Buildings. It was here, back in the 1960’s where man was first able to see one of our own set foot on the moon. The men who worked at Mission Control, worked at the space center, and I’ve always wanted to see it.

San Antonio, where the aforementioned Alamo is located and I can walk across the grounds and see where men such as Crockett, Bowie, and Travis had their final stands. To tour the battlefields in Harris County where the Battle of San Jacinto was fought. It was here where General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was soundly defeated by the Texians and Texas became an independent nation.

I want to visit the grave of Sam Houston. Houston is the central figure in the founding of Texas. Was the commander at the Battle of Jacinto and went on to serve as President of the Republic of Texas prior to its becoming a state. Later he served as its Governor several times. I’ve admired Houston for many years, and I’d like to visit his final resting place in Huntsville.

But Texas is so much more than history. From what I’ve read, and in speaking with many who have been, it would be worth a trip. To see the beaches at Galveston, or drive through Texarkana. To visit Waco, and Fort Worth, or to simply take a drive over the vast landscape that exists throughout the state. It’s a world onto itself. A mash of different cultures, creeds, and views, as well as great people.

A trip to Texas would be costly, at least how I would travel, so that’s been a hindrance till now, but one day, perhaps next year, I’ll make the trip. I’ve wanted to for a long time, and it’s time to make it happen.

Personal Bucket List: Visit All US Presidential Libraries.

I’ve made some progress on this one, but naturally, I’d like to make more. I am a student of history, if that wasn’t painfully obvious before, and ever since I was very young I’ve had an interest in Presidential history. I don’t really know why, except that, as the leader of a country the cultural landscape, vision, scope, and identity of that country can be wrapped up in the embodiment of one individual. That is why Presidential terms are given titles such as “Age of Lincoln” or “The Kennedy Years” “Reagonomics” and “Obamacare”. 

Really any of these terms apply for more than the actions of one individual, but still much of what we consider to be culturally relevant can be found in the person who is the President of the United States.

In the last several years, I have visited the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids (his library is located at his alma mater, that place in Ann Arbor) and The Abraham Lincoln Library in Illinois. It’s kind of pathetic, but I’ve never been to the Harding Museum, even though it’s the closest in Marion, nor have I been to any in the state of Ohio (Hays, McKinley). That’s an issue to be sure.

Having said that, there are only a handful of Presidential Libraries which are considered significant enough to be national landmarks. A listing of these can be found here. At any rate, I would like to see what can be found at each of these locations. To tour the museums, see the exhibits, and study the archives would allow me to have a greater understanding of what made these men tick, and why they did what they did. I don’t know if I’ll ever use that knowledge, but for me, it will be a satisfying journey.

Thoughts on Father's Day

So it’s Father’s Day. In our home it wasn’t always a big thing as Dad was never really into celebrating for the sake of doing it. However, I know he still enjoys it.

Gary Flinn has always been a bit of an inspiration to me, though there are times when I think we are not exactly on the same page. He and my brother Will are more alike and as a result tend to be closer. But Dad has been a constant guiding force in my life. He taught me several things in life, primarily to have faith in others, to be honest, willing to do what it takes, and to always offer a helping hand or a kind word if it was needed.

His mechanical abilities didn’t get passed to me as they did to my brother, but what I did “inherit” I suppose is a willingness to get involved, mix it up a bit, and try to make things better, in spite of overwhelming odds. 

I’ll never forget when Dad used to MC the Hardin County Sheep Improvement Banquets. He would go out of his way to find humor, tell jokes and be a constant entertaining force that would make the banquets so much more memorable. Admittedly, there are days that I miss that.

When we talk, I try to keep Dad updated on what’s going on out in the county and world, but I always find that to be somewhat futile. In his job, he travels around the county on a daily basis and frankly, whatever is happening, he’ll know before I do. When you walk around the fair with Dad he’ll have to stop and talk with everyone, or everyone will stop him and say “Hey Gary! What’s happening with you?” This will then turn into a ten or fifteen minute conversation. We give him grief for that, but the truth is that it makes me proud to have a father who is respected enough in the community for this to happen.

So while we don’t always have the closest or best relationship in the world, the truth is that I am proud of my Dad and all that he’s been able to do in his life. He and my mother have been married for over thirty years, and have successfully raised three children. None of us are perfect, but I’d like to think that I’d look back on my own experiences thirty or forty years from now and consider myself to be as fortunate as he is.

Happy Father’s Day to my Dad, Gary Flinn, and to all the fathers out there! This one’s for you.

In reporting breaking news, sometimes it's darned if you do...

Sometimes seeing how people respond to news is just as interesting as the news itself (and yes, I’m using the word “interesting” in the context I usually do)

In my job, from time to time I have to cover a tragic news event. I’ve discussed this before, and it’s not something I like to do, but in the world of journalism there are times when it is necessary to report on events which are not happy or cheerful things. When people are seriously hurt, killed or a crime has occurred it is necessary for the media to report what happened, and that isn’t always an easy thing to do. Having said that, I am amazed at times what kind of a reaction a news story can provoke.

Compared to others, our community is rather small so perhaps I’m closer to this than some other places but every time there is an accident, fatal or otherwise, I go to the scene and get pictures. Sometimes I post them from the scene to let people know what happened and other times I wait till I get back to the station. The overall goal is to get the word out quickly, but also to let people know what’s happening. I mean, let’s say the crash happened on a busy street intersection or on a major road. If traffic is backed up, people will want to know why and plan to drive accordingly.

But every time this happens, we catch flak from people who think that we’re being insensitive, as we should wait till all family members are notified before we publish a picture.

First off, we have no way of knowing this, and waiting till law enforcement puts out a release can take a couple of days at times which means the news is old and people have moved on. News doesn't wait for anyone, but beyond that consider this. If you were listening to the initial report and wondered if you had a loved one involved, saw the picture and realized that they didn’t drive the car, wouldn’t you feel better about it?

And even if I did learn of a tragic event this way, I would be more concerned for the person involved. I could care less how I learned about it.

I mean, imagine if this man couldn't have reported on the Kennedy Assassination till all family members were contacted?

I mean, imagine if the media couldn’t report 9/11, or the Sandy Hook shooting till ALL family members were notified. It just doesn’t happen (One commenter today noted that she had 36 cousins that she would want to be notified before the media reported it. Imagine that.)

So what do you think? I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing, but I am curious as to how everyone feels about this sort of thing.

Personal Bucket List: A Trip to the UK/Europe

This is one which may require an assortment of trips to truly get the feel, and experience right. Ever since I was young, I have wanted to take a trip to the UK, and parts of Europe. To see the sights, and to experience the different cultures. I have a friend who has spent the better part of the last month there and I’ve been following her postings with both eagerness and a small, tiny hint of jealously.

My dad is a huge fan of PBS. When we were growing up, one of the shows that he watched all the time (and still does) is All Creatures Great & Small. I wrote about the show last Christmas. The show takes place in northern England in Yorkshire, and ever since I first saw it, I wanted to travel there and see the sights that I grew up watching. But beyond that, there is so much more to see. To visit Thirsk or Shrewsberry, or I could travel to London, and see ALL the historic sights, from the Tower of London, to the London Bridge, Baker St. and all the Sherlock Holmes sights (always a fan of course), as well as the royal palace and the O2, and of course, take a ride on the London Eye, as well as many other things that I can’t even think of.

I’d travel to Stonehenge and Highclere Castle (Which, in addition to housing the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in England is also the home to the popular show Downton Abby). I’d also want to see KnebworthHouse and Mentmore Towers.

In addition, I’d like to visit Ireland. Stop in a pub in Dublin and have a pint. Travel to the town of Avoca in County Wicklow, and hoist a few at Fitzgeralds. There are also a number of castles in Ireland. Last year, my cousin Matt and his wife traveled there and told me about a few they saw, and I’d like to see Slane Castle in Slane County. Many great concerts, from The Rolling Stones, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queen, David Bowie, Neil Young, Bryan Adams, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Guns N' Roses, Madonna, R.E.M., Foo Fighters, Celtic Woman and Oasis have held large outdoor concerts at Slane.

I’d travel to France, to see the fields of Normandy and Bastogne. To travel among the WWII cemeteries and pay respects. To Paris and see the Eiffel Tower, the great Arch, the Louvre and all its sights. The famous Palais Garnier as well as the palaces and gardens throughout the city. From there, I’d travel to Germany and see the sights in Berlin, (The remains of the wall, WWII landmarks etc.) Munich and all kinds of sights (My mother traveled there in HS, and as such I’ve heard some of her stories.)

I’d visit Poland, in order to see Krakow, and Auschwitz as well as the factories once owned by Oskar Schindler and the surrounding camps. I’d also travel a bit in Italy, not only to see Rome but also the Vatican and all that is there.

And this is just a fraction of what I'd have in mind. As you can imagine, this is a trip that would take a LARGE amount of time and money, and perhaps one day I’ll have both, but more likely I’ll find a way to split it up into smaller trips and enjoy it all the more.