It is announced, with regret, this publication will cease operation as of today.
Although the laptop has been fixed, the past week spent offline during its repair was a last-ditch attempt to find avenues to make the blog pay. I've been trying to do so in the past six months, to no avail. Unfortunately, there is no business model yet in place to take this publication where I would like it to go. I wanted it to be more than just a blog, and although things improved as time went on, it has begun to eat up too much of my time without adequate financial compensation for my work.
Through this publication, I have learned much about running my own online site; the technology and design; and what the template allowed me to do each time it was updated. I found I'm smarter at computers than what I thought I was because I could experiment with the medium without having to worry it was someone else's property. It was mine.
I also learned much about journalism in New Brunswick, the good people that practice it, and the future of reporting here. With time, online media will have its regular place in this province, providing the consumer another choice of where they get their information, with or without a paywall. The competition is sorely needed here because more and more, people under 50 are demanding quality work that takes into consideration issues they're dealing with. Right now, the older demographics seem to be dictating what is covered. Or they're at least satisfied with what they're fed. But that won't last forever. Corporate dominance of the news needs to change. And it will. The blogosphere may not be strong in Canada right now like it is in the United States, but it's coming. Everything always drifts north eventually.
This publication has been my saving grace. It allowed me to hold my head
up where once I didn't feel worthy of doing so. It got me back in the
reporting game that I enjoy and, by succeeding in having online news
publications accepted into the Legislative Press Gallery of New Brunswick,
I feel like I perhaps gave something back to the profession, leaving it better than when I started three years ago. Maybe that will have to be enough for now. It's up to someone else to come along to make use of it. The door is open.
I would like to thank all the kind, generous and supportive people I've met on this journey. So many great people who trusted me with their information, invited me to their homes, sent me tips, gave me a drive or helped with gas money. To the reporters of this province who let me stand alongside them, I thank you. Your dedication to your work was inspiring.
As a civilian, I plan to be a part of some of the causes I have covered. Who knows, maybe I'll start an informal online publication with my opinions about issues of the day in this province. The writing will likely continue in some form or other. But for now it's finding a full-time job and moving on to the next chapter of my life to accomplish a few more things I dream about.
Best to all.
Cheryl Norrad
Creator, Publisher, Editor, Reporter
The Purple Violet Press - A Citizen Publication
