Branching out

Buffalo.com photo by Don Nieman.

Right now, we are recruiting college students to serve as campus interns - on-the-scene reporters and photographers who will essentially cover the doings at their schools. We want to attract a college-aged audience, and figure this is one way to get them - by offering something that they aren't necessarily getting anywhere else.

We also are not actively recruiting new community contributors. We want to retain and continue working with the people who are in the program, but we're not advertising for new people at the moment. We are pleased with you - the current group - and want to keep you all active, motivated, and involved in the MyBuffalo experience.

You have probably noticed that we're doing more stuff like video and podcasts. I want you to know that you - our talented contributors - are absolutely welcome to get involved in the action. If you have an idea for a podcast, or a video series, or anything along those lines, just talk to me or Deanna - we would love to take a good idea and turn it into a series at the MyBuffalo site. If you have a particular interest, or have always felt like you could host your own show, or simply want to try something new, we are here to help make that a reality.

Writers, you can try your hand at photography.

Photographers, you can try writing stories (as Darleen successfully did yesterday - nice job, Dar).

Anyone can record and post their own podcast. Anyone can pitch an idea for a video series. We will help with the technical end if we think it's feasible.

This is my invitation to you to consider branching out. We have this neat little toy called MyBuffalo...feel free to use it to it's full capacity.

Bulk uploader is almost done...

...I just finished writing some instructional text for the bulk uploader...it's thisclose to being finished. Keep your fingers crossed, maybe it will even be done today...

Hey, by the way, thanks to everyone who has been posting at the site. My challenge to you - get active! Friend each other, post to the discussion forums, comment on other people's stuff. It's like a snowball...the more we do it, the more other people will, too.

And remember - tomorrow night - we will be out at Thursday at the Square taking photos and giving out free Joan Osborne concert tickets and concession tickets...so even if you aren't volunteering to write or take photos, track one of us down and we'll hook you up!

New photos, old galleries

Buffalo.com photo by Marc Wierzbowski.

Here's a tip for our photographers: when you add new photos to an old gallery, your gallery will appear as "new" in the "newest gallery" section at Spotted.

However, since most Spotted events are timely - in other words, it wouldn't make sense to add photos to, say, your gallery for the Queen City Roller Girls from December 2007 - this usually isn't an issue.

If there is a situation where you need to add new photos to an old We Spotted gallery, let me know...that way, I can check them out, and use them in our featured photo module on Buffalo.com, which will push more traffic into your gallery.

Make sure you're posting to the right place

Buffalo.com photo by Dan Ruggiero.

Spotted photographers: make sure you're posting your photos to We Spotted when you go to events...it makes it easier to find. We had a couple very nice event galleries posted to You Spotted this weekend, which is too bad, because the traffic would be a lot stronger if they are in the more-accessible We Spotted section. We want your work to be seen!

Just something to look out for. If you can't find your event, odds are good that it's an error on my end - just give me a call on my cell (390 2715) and I can usually fix it for you in about five minutes.