NSBNews.net is upgrading some of its pages and developing new content to reflect the tremendous growth in public interest in our delivery of Internet-based news and our growing social media network on Facebook.
Some of those changes will begin appearing in the next 72 hours as we begin to focus on election season, probably the most intense since the Iranian hostage situation and the powerful emergence of Ronald Reagan. Florida's presidential primary is Jan. 31.
NSBNews.net will hold a series of public debates with candidates from some of the key races throughout Volusia County,
led by the most anticipated showdown between term-limited Volusia County Council Chairman Frank Bruno and term-limited State Rep. Dorothy Hukill for term-limited State Sen. Evelyn Lynn's seat. And of course, we'll have debates here in New Smyrna Beach municipal elections just like we did in 2009.
NSBnews.net will also be endorsing candidates, both in the primaries and the run-off or general elections across Volusia County as well as state and national elections.
With that in mind, NSBNews.net is developing its election page. And like Jim Hathaway, the vice mayor of New Smyrna Beach, Frank Bruno has agreed to write a weekly column exclusively for NSBNews.net related to county issues and not the office he is seeking. Dorothy Hukill already writes a column exclusively for NSBNews.net called "Hukill's House."
In addition to all of that political muscle, NSBNews.net is starting an online weekly news and public affairs show before year's end called "The Roundtable" where we will interview newsmakers and discuss the issues.
We're also adding a dining columnist in Elizabeth Sullivan. We're giving greater coverage to NASCAR and "The Chase" and we're expanding our crime coverage to include more legal news and analysis.
NSBNews.net is fighting for a share of the advertising in the m,marketplace and we're experiencing roadblocks that come with reporting news that some in power don't want to see the light of day. But that is why we are becoming a stronger alternative voice in Volusia County, and certainly in New Smyrna Beach where there has been a lot of angst in the last few weeks, primarily over CRA advertising.
NSBNews.net is covering the news other local media don't dare touch because they are plugged into CRA funding and fed a steady diet of CRA press releases. While these other "outside" media outlets are receiving tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money from the CRA through private community groups, NSBNews.net has not received a cent.
We are challenging New Smyrna Beach City Hall on the fairness of that, especially since we actually cover the CRA-sponsored events that they ignore after they've done their promotional hype. Our proof is in Google News searches and in our Google Analytics. Not only that, every one of NSBNews.net's news items is picked by Google News instantly. We don't have to waste money on ad ware. We reach a worldwide audience in cyberspace instantly.
When we started NSBNews.net from scratch with our April 7, 2008, launch, we were laughed at, especially by established media. They're not laughing any more. We have grown to 30,000 strong unique visitors a month with more than 9,200 contacts on Facebook, the largest private or public network in Volusia County.
We're also proud to announce a two-year marketing agreement with the Flagler Avenue Gallery Group led by Jenny Norado to highlight the arts and wine walks involving four beautiful gallerias.
NSBNews.net's strength is the journalism. While others go to meetings and regurgitate agenda reporting, NSBNews.net does the public records requests, asks the tough questions and reports the news, both good and bad.
If there is one blessing we have on our side, we are not beholden to government. We have an abiding faith that the private marketplace will support us, even as those in the position to support and help grow New Smyrna Beach's lone daily newspaper, a 21st-century digital medium turn their backs on us.
NSBNews.net is here in New Smyrna Beach because the metro daily closed its Canal Street bureau in 2008, and left town. The nearly 100-year-old weekly folded a couple months after we launched, reopened on Canal later in the year then retreated to a shared office on Flagler in the heart of the CRA. Last spring, its operatives retreated to their home in Edgewater and identify themselves with a New Smyrna Beach post office box.
The public isn't fooled. They know NSBNews.net will report the news first and foremost. The revenue may take longer, especially with the politics at play, but it is inevitably that the public will demand accountability and transparency in government.