Longtime readers of Restaurant Widow will remember that I have occasionally been known to take the Columbus Dispatch to task for neglecting their young, internet- and tech-savy readership (or would-be readership, as the case may be). You might also remember that much of my time recently has been taken up with a long-term project
I've even gone so far as suggesting that the Dispatch would be wise to purchase some of the city's most widely-read blogs and retaining the bloggers as full-time editors.
Imagine my surprise when they actually took my suggestions.
The Columbus Dispatch will be launching a new online-only newspaper called Dispatch Direct, featuring primarily lifestyle stories, blogs, and news for those who prefer to get their news and information online.
Here's where yours truly comes in. The Dispatch has purchased Restaurant Widow and has hired me to become managing editor of Dispatch Direct.
I will have a few primary roles in my new position at Dispatch Direct. Serving as editor, I will be recruiting the best independent writers in Columbus - indeed, I have already been reaching out to some of the best bloggers in our fair city. Managing this group of writers, I will work with my team to create cutting edge online content to attract readers who don't subscribe to the print edition of the Dispatch. Dispatch Direct will feature primarily lifestyle news and reviews. While the Dispatch has done a great job covering sports and politics, their coverage of lifestyle news has been a little lackluster in recent years (especially since they laid off many features writers in the past few years).
In addition to editing Dispatch Direct, I will be working with the current Dispatch reporters and editors to train them on various aspects of social media. I will help educate them on numerous social media tools and help them discover the joys of interacting with the readership on all levels.
So, how will this effect Restaurant Widow? I think it will be better than ever. I will be able to devote many hours a week to writing, and will finally have the freedom to write the reviews I've always wanted because I won't have to pay for the dining out of my own pocket! While Jon Christensen will continue writing restaurant reviews for the print edition, I will extend the online Wine & Dine sections for Dispatch Direct.
One of the best things about this new online part of the newspaper is that all of the comments will be moderated by real live contributors! We will strive to make Dispatch Direct a forum for intelligent conversation for all types of people in the city. By making each participant register will a valid email address and sign into the site to make comments, we will hopefully weed out some of the less-than-pleasant commentary we've seen on the primary Dispatch site.
This is a huge step forward for Columbus. I truly believe that we can lead the way into the future for newspapers. It has been rough for print media in the past decade, and it is our hope at the Dispatch that we will be able to create meaningful online content so that we can reach as many people in Central Ohio and beyond as possible.
Wish me luck in my new endeavor!! Here's to great things!
Did I get ya?! did I? did I?
Probably not. You know me better than that.
XOXOxoxoxoxoxo,
Lisa the Waitress
Here's to another year of eating, drinking, dining, and cooking!
**Just in case, this entire post is a complete and utter fabrications. All details herein are made up and are in no way based in reality and should not be taken other than the April Fool's joke they are.**
