The Times Union has never offered the insight I have benefited from these two awesome sites. I've been around for a month? Sadly, it won't change unless from the outside. TU is not useless, but too often seems to serve politcians or viewpoints that do not represent our best interests as a city.
What would it take to get just one page a week, SUNDAY, dedicated to MJ and JOL to present thier views and be heard by a larger audience, that might not be inclined to search out these sites?
What a great benefit for our city! It could be done without having to buy the page as advertising if the right campaign were presented to the TU.
We could ask our members to subscribe to the Sunday edition for a minimum of 1 year as a perk to the TU.
Readership could grow for them if differing viewpoints were presented. Tell them to be more like FOX! ;) Fair and Balanced! :o
Metro Jacksonville has been covered by the Times Union over the years, including being on the front page of the business section. We have also met with their editorial board on transit issues and they did start covering more of JTA's plans after meeting with us.
Unfortunately the Times Union's website seems to be infested with people that can not participate in an actual discussion. Look at the comments on today's article about San Jose Elementary school teaching Arabic. http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/schools/2009-09-19/story/duval_students_expanding_their_horizons_in_arabic
I agree with Lunican. MJ has been able to avoid the flame wars that ALWAYS erupt on the TU site. Even our most uncivil discussions here do not stoop to that level. The commonality here... despite differences... is our common goal of a better urban core and better city in general.
I still like the bumper sticker proposed by vicupstate... :)
Here are a few links pointing to Times Union coverage:
Orlando rail project derailed, but Jacksonville moves ahead (http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-05-17/story/orlando_rail_project_derailed_but_jacksonville_moves_ahead)
On the Road: The death of Sunrail, and what it means to Jacksonville (http://jacksonville.com/interact/blog/larry_hannan/2009-05-04/on_the_road_the_death_of_sunrail_and_what_it_means_to_jacksonv)
Web site pushes alternative to bus rapid transit (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/120907/met_223793685.shtml)
Traffic: There's too much of it, agreed? (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/120907/met_223793602.shtml)
The rail option (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/110107/opi_213836605.shtml)
Low-cost rail for Jacksonville is far more realistic than realized (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/092807/opl_203411891.shtml)
JTA study names potential sites for commuter rail (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/071408/met_303463419.shtml)
Freebird owner pledges to stay at Beaches even if club moves (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090906/neS_4897685.shtml)
DUVAL COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS: They want to count your vote (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/030407/met_8301205.shtml)
Consider our future core city (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/111406/bum_6209918.shtml)
Rumors swirl of a downtown Freebird (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090606/neS_4789466.shtml)
Taking it to the street (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/021907/bus_7953815.shtml)
Bloggers in Duval proclaim their role (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/062006/met_22151718.shtml)
Good move for Farmers Market, city (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/110906/bum_6073705.shtml)
But you are right Buckethead. We should probably do a weekly column for them.