It was a little over five years ago that I decided it was time to set up my own website where I could gather the various blog posts I was writing for many different sites online. With that, I started Orient Lodge, a blog to gather all my writings, whether they be about technology, politics, or simply personal items. Over the years I continued to write for many different sites, primarily with a proviso that I could cross post whatever I was writing to Orient Lodge. It has served me well, but it may be time for me to move beyond blogging.

Today, I received a request from a friend to post an article that she wanted to write about Woodbridge on Orient Lodge. My initial reaction was fairly negative. This is my place where I post my writing. True, I’ve been writing a lot more about media and about what is happening in Woodbridge, and even been encouraging people interested in only my Woodbridge writings to visit the Woodbridge section of my blog. Yet still, this is my personal space.

As I thought more about it, I think it may be time to move expand my Woodbridge coverage. So, I am thinking of setting up a local online news site for Woodbridge, CT. I will continue to write my stories about Woodbridge here, and would cross post them to the Woodbridge Online News site. With that, others from Woodbridge would also be welcome to post to the Woodbridge Online News site.

I’m still gathering my thoughts about this. Should it be a completely voluntary ad hoc site? Should it incorporate? For profit? Not for profit? If it is for profit, how would proceeds be distributed to various people that contribute to the site? One idea I’ve kicked around is modeling journalism after volunteer fire departments. The Woodbridge Volunteer Media Department? What do you think? Beyond that, what sort of relationship might it have to other online media sites, either for profit or not for profit sites?

What sort of editorial policy should such a site have? To me, I value a diversity of opinions, provided they are expressed civilly. I suspect a good way to do this is to require people to properly identify themselves as they do at public meetings. Likewise, there should be guidelines discouraging the use of profanity, etc. As a private organization, the issues of free speech become whatever the owners of the organization all on their space.

So, what do you think? Would you be interested in participating? What would you think such a site should look like? Contact me either through comments here, or directly and let’s see what we can put together.