Origin of The Batavian

Katie, thanks for your interest. If you go back to some of our early posts in under <a href="http://thebatavian.com/tags/thebatavian?page=1">The Batavian tag</a>, you can find some of this information.

The Batavian was launched on May 1 by my employer, GateHouse Media, based in Fairport, because we wanted to develop a local online news source that could succeed without relying on a print newspaper. Newspapers have been struggling for 10 years to make the transition to web publishing. We decided our best opportunity was to try it with being tied to a newspaper.

We picked Batavia in part because I had visited the town two years ago and really liked it, and we wanted our first such site to be close to our office so I could be closely involved with it.

Our goal is to develop an online news site that is web centric in its approach -- a new kind of journalism, with a strong focus in giving all residents a chance to have a voice in their communities.

I'm glad you like the site. We're very excited by how things are going so far. Please tell your friends about The Batavian.

Off-topic, is the website still hosted out of Fairport or is it managed closer to Batavia/Genesee County?

Chris: I work entirely out of Genesee County. Our office is located at 200 E. Main St. in Batavia.

How about a show of hands ? Who lives in Genesee County that works for and on the batavian website ?

Dave: There are really only three of us. Myself, Howard and Brian Hillabush. Brian is the only one of us who lives in Genesee County. In fact, he has lived here his whole life.

I do not. But that gives me a great opportunity to mention that I'm actually here to find my replacement within Genesee County. I'm here to get the ball rolling for The Batavian, but we really want a talented writer/reporter/ editor/videographer from within the county to take over my position and run the news side of things. Do you know anyone?

This is also a great opportunity for me to note something else. There are only three of us who work "officially" for The Batavian. But there are... hold on... right now more than 550 people registered with the site, and I imagine most of them are from Genesee County. Many of them, including yourself, "work on" this site every day by making it the community forum that we hope it will remain for a long time to come.

From the first day we launched, we've said our goal is to get a business started and then hire local people to run it. If you find the earliest posts tagged "thebatavian" you will find these statements.

If we're successful, we'll replace Philip with somebody with roots in the community.

My future role will be determined by events. I hope it never changes. I enjoy this and think I might like to live in Genesee County some day.

We're a good many months off, though, from making any more hires.

I wish I had the talent of MR ANSELMO coz i would not want to replace him but take over if he leaves. I have questioned, challenged, and been allowed to dis agree with everone including staff. I think it is important to let everyone know who, what, where, and why. I will be first to complain but I will also be first to stick up for.
I was once confused but asked the right questions and got the right answers. I of course was obligated to divulge my real name and in a downward spiral any idiot could put all my posts together to include name,address, phone number.
I am now proud of this because when I post people can know who and where I am coming from. We also like to know the same information from you.
I love the website and I think the few people that run it do a great job.
I just think it is important to be honest and maybe have a front page type of thing with names of the editor and contributors like a paper would have posted PROUDLY !
I think this website has something to be proud of dont you ?
Getting close to six hundred members WOW!
My sincerest respect,
Gabor D Deutsch

Gabor, we did add the "about" link at the top of the page that tells more about us.

Howard I see in the statement above you might HIRE someone someday to help run this site !?! Piece of cake compared to running my forum and thats a good thing and you mean hire do you mean payed hire or hire as in volunteer if you know what I mean?

Let me know I might be interested!

I was born and raised in East Pembroke for 25 years and have lived in Batavia for about 17 years now.

Tom

Thanks Howard I never saw that tiny little word in the left hand corner.
I hope you understand how valuable this website is to all of us that post. (at least me).
I will check it out.

I want to be hired as the food critic.

What's it pay, Phil?