NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- There has been some confusion in the last couple of weeks as to who we are, but I can tell you this: The pelican is back. We started out four years ago as NSBNews.net and that hasn't changed. What has is that we have an umbrella trademarked name in "Headline Surfer" that gives us definition legally, financially and electronically as we continue what we started four years ago.
We thought taking the NSBNews.net logo with the pelican off the masthead would make things less confusing. Instead, it had the opposite effect.
So we've restored NSBNews.net (and VolusiaNews.net) with our "umbrella" brand, "Headline Surfer, Florida's 24/7 Internet newspaper," as our main and official name. And that means you can access our news and advertising
through HeadlineSurfer.com, NSBNews.net or VolusiaNews.net. That hasn't changed and won't anytime soon.
As many of you know, this is a very small operation: One hard-charging metro-trained journalist and a talented spouse to help with uploading of content, and video/photo production and some 30 community bloggers give or take.
The reality is that when you have a good thing going, you are bound to have some looking to cash in on your success, however one measures that. Regardless, it was important for us to have our own "unique" trademarked name.
And with the advantage of having our content accessed and displayed with Google News Directories, we needed to have an identity beyond reproach.
We've learned a lot about the technology and the legal entanglements with publishing. In addition to having the trademarked brand, Headline Surfer, you'll find legal links on the bottom of the home page regarding legal issues.
To our loyal readers with NSBNews.net, we are first and foremost dedicated to what is happening here in New Smyrna Beach, where we live and work, and the close-knit communities of Edgewater and Oak Hill.
The reality is that when it comes to strictly online news reporting and advertising, there are no borders. We have seen that with increased interest from Internet news followers in Port Orange, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, DeLand, Deltona and the smaller cities in between. Then there are the interested readers in Palm Coast, Titusville, Lake Mary, and especially greater Orlando.
We are not the Orlando Sentinel or the Daytona Beach News-Journal. But we provide that something extra people are looking for, whether it's a certain breaking news story, an investigative project or community happenings.
We've maintained from day 1 that we don't need to beat the print newspapers or TV stations on news. They need to make sure they beat us. After all, they have the financial resources, name recognition, and yes, political connections. The good thing is thanks to the power of the Internet and Google News Directories, our content is out there right along with the major players.
But when it comes to covering news that is relevant, we've built a reputation for reporting breaking news as we did with New Smyrna Beach's planning fiasco or investigative reports that led to the closing of the scandal-ridden Oak Hill police force and more recently, our face to face video interview with Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, the grief stricken parents of Trayvon Martin. We weren't afraid to go get the news either, driving all the way down to Miami.
It hasn't been easy covering the news here in New Smyrna Beach, a small seaside community where saving the charm means politicians and community insiders using their influence with public monies to sway news coverage their way or in the case where real news is reported to try and hurt us financially with the advertising we've generated or are trying to generate.
It's not easy wearing two hats -- reporter/editor and publisher, but it's the only way I know to stay here and continue the love of my chosen journalism career and to provide for my family.
Countless people in greater New Smyrna Beach see my wife, Sera, and I at countless events, public meetings and where breaking news is happening. Deep down inside, the power brokers in this city know that we are simply reporting the news.
We understand that these same people don't want the news out there because they want to continue their cozy arrangements.
If we were to sell out on our mission for the sake of a few ads or a slice of the public money doled out, we'd be no better off than the print media outlets that have either left town or folded altogether.
At the end of the day, the news we publish speaks for itself.
Take comfort in knowing you can access us at HeadlineSurfer.Com, NSBNews.net and VolusiaNews.net. All three will bring you essentially the same overall content.