Want more Boonsboro news? Come to town library Saturday

May 12, 2008

If you live in Boonsboro, or grew up there and are still interested in what goes on in town, you should attend a Saturday morning meeting at the town library.

From 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 3, Liz Thompson, digital director of The Herald-Mail Co., will talk about plans to expand coverage of Boonsboro on the paper's Web site.

Thompson is coming to listen as well. Those who attend will be encouraged to make suggestions regarding The Herald-Mail Web site, and how to improve news coverage on that platform. No advance registration is needed.

Last year, after she was named digital director, Thompson wrote a column about how the Web has changed journalism.

From its beginnings as a fairly static site, she wrote, The Herald-Mail's site has now grown to the point where it offers video, audio, slide shows and up-to-the-minute breaking news.

And, she said, "We also can give you a place to express yourself and to participate in a little citizen journalism. In the coming months, we will offer our Web users more and more."

That's already happening, as part of a Web site The Herald-Mail developed called

washingtoncountyliving.com.

If you go to the site and register for a free online account, you'll be able to share photos and videos, post on a message board, meet local people and even post your own "blog."

That word is shorthand for Weblog, which is an online journal that can be about anything you want - cats, NASCAR racing or even town politics.

There are already a few blogs posted, including one by "Sage," who hopes to post all sorts of artwork.

Are there Boonsboro-area stories The Herald-Mail should cover? Are there better ways to use the Web to improve the community? Thompson wants to hear from you.

If you can't attend, you may e-mail her at lizt@herald-mail.com.

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