More hits

I have a good eye at at spotting what's going to be a top-read Web story. At least I think I do.

With the Dec. 12, 2009 story on the birth of ex-Playboy star Kendra Wilkinson, archived here I had three of the top 10 most-read stories during the 30-day window.

Bad call and bodyguard bump

The day after a stunning decision by Patriots coach Bill Belichick helped Indy to a 35-34 win over New England, I turned a standard "fan" practice of Googling into a story. Here it is.


Bodyguard bump

The NFL began to looking into a postgame incident where Bill Belichick’s security guy and a cameraman came into contact with an NBC cameraman. I wrote NFL probes cameraman's fall, as well as folo-ups along with Web colleague Scott Thien, and got thousands of page views over several days.

Weekly Web Work, October

My story on Peeps made USA Today. Click here to read the link.

My tagline appeared in a USA Today story about H1N1 flu. That same story was in the Indy Star.

Stories this week
Emmis takes $135M loss in 2Q, Tyson to move poultry work to Corydon, hire 78, Peeps maker sues greeting card firm, More join Bank on Indy program for 'unbanked', Shark-attack survivor, animal advocates vie for Indianapolis Prize, Ryan Homes to build on defunct CP Morgan lots, Ex-Frontier CEO named exec with Republic, USS Indianapolis memorial advocate dies, Marion County students heat up 'homework hotline', Health workers receive first H1N1 vaccine, Logistics firm to put corporate HQ in Johnson Co., Indianapolis developer: N.C. high-rise project bankrupt.

Newsletters for the week: 10-9, 10-8, 10-7, 10-6 and 10-5.

Weekly Web Work, September

An example of business page offerings on IndyStar.com


The highlight this month was simply a change in leadership that brought a familiar face to the business newsletters, and one of our first goals was to post more content to the Star business page to link back to the newsletters. On example was a national wire story about CVS offering a free flu shot to the unemployed. We hunted down the news release and wrote up our own original story that featured Indiana highlights. We also tried to localize "in-the-paper" stories to freshen them for the online audience, such as Lilly's layoff news, and created Web-only stories such as remembering the anniversary of the all-time record-high gas price, $4.17, set Sept. 16, 2008. We also were first with the big 9-14 Lilly job cut news and localized other pieces, such as Abdul's fifth anniversary on the radio.


Newsletters:
Fresh Start
8-31 Analyst: Republic will move planes from Hawaii
9-1 Airport raises to rise $1 to $2
9-2 Record $2.3B Pfizer settlement unveiled
9-3 Off-target in '08, United Way to renew fundraising
9-4 Burberry's move to Indy part of trend
9-7 none (Labor Day)
9-8 Abdul talk show marks 5 years on Indy radio
9-9 Purdue blunts tuition increases with more aid
9-10 Indy high-tech battery maker names president
9-11 Indy Museum of Art hires Met vet as COO
9-14 Lilly plans $1B in cuts by 2011
9-15 Panel to review $4B Ky-Indiana bridge plan
9-16 Pump prices stunned Hoosiers 1 year ago today
9-17 FedEx 1Q earnings fall 53%
9-18 Indiana set to release new jobless numbers
9-21 Low Emmis stock price causes NASDAQ alert

Mid-Day Update
8-31 Daniels releases itinerary for China, Japan trip
9-1 IU tuition compromise: Grade credits
9-2 Indy tourism board books engineer event for 2013
9-3 United Way modestly raises goal to $39M
9-4 Ind. officials renew Chrysler bankruptcy fight
9-7 none (Labor Day)
9-8 N.Y. businesswoman's trial date up in air
9-9 Indiana 4th in bankruptcies in August
9-10 Purdue $105M grant is largest ever
9-11 Two firms from China may scout Ind. for sites
9-14 Lilly CEO: New leaders, same HQ
9-15 Homebuilding permits fall in metro area
9-16 (guest star, I was ill) Mel Simon dies at 82
9-17 Burton speaks out for Sallie Mae employees
9-18 Indiana jobless rate drops below 10 percent
9-21 Honda begins overseas exports of Civics

Weekly Web Work, 8-4/8-28

Newsletters for the week:
Star Business Fresh Start
8-24 Brightpoint volunteers to spruce up Indianapolis park
8-25 Health care claim costs expected to rise 10.5%
8-26 Danville firm bids lowest on landmark demolition project
8-27 Despite recession, Gen Con Indy drew 27,900
8-28 Purdue dean exiting

Star Business Mid-Day
8-24 Eli Lilly spent $3.6M lobbying government in 2Q
8-25 Cummins idles 400 in Iowa
8-26 Indy to host 2011 world series for 'beep' baseball
8-27 JW Marriott art plaza features waterwall
8-28 Whirlpool closing Evansville plant

Weekly Web Work, 8-10/8-15, 8-17/8-21

I got to try my hand as the main Web guy on a Friday. Here was the result:




This was an item in Ted Evanoff's A1 story about Indy-based Republic choosing to stick around Indy and not move. "After The Indianapolis Star posted an article on its Web site Friday [8-15-09] about the possible relocation of the head office, Bedford weighed in, saying the headquarters of Republic Airways, Frontier and Midwest would remain in their current cities." I found that story just doing a basic "Indianapolis" search as I randomly do through Google.


We were able to get the scoop on the city in writing about the exterior work of One Indiana Square being completed.

Newsletters for the two weeks
Fresh Start
8-21 Indiana homes sales dip 6.3%
8-20 State vies for Harley-Davidson site
8-19 Co-founder of Indy-based think tank dies
8-18 Dental firm puts roots in Noblesville
8-17 Renamed Indy college gets 1st provost
8-14 Republic flies high with winning bid for Frontier
8-13 Carbon Motors files for $310M federal loan
8-12 Beverage maker eyes Columbus for plant
8-11 One Indiana Square exterior facelift almost done
8-10 Striking workers at Bemis return to work today

Mid-Day
8-21 Indiana's July jobless rate 10.6%, down slightly
8-20 IT firm Apparatus to buy old WFYI building
8-19 Internet specialist to link Rushville with 100 jobs
8-18 Jobs announcements set for Rushville, Decatur
8-17 WellPoint, healthcare stocks avoid market freefall
8-14 Republic shares take off after Southwest victory
8-13 Southwest bid for Frontier may be delayed
8-12 Carmel names director for arts center
8-11 Surgeons use 'breakthrough' Cook implant
8-10 Bayh expects 1,200 at job fair

Weekly Web Work, 8-3 through 8-7

Tuesday was perhaps my busiest ever in the morning. I posted seven bylined stories between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. as I did double duty, as business reporter and on the online desk. At one point my name or work was part of 7 of the 11 stories on the IndyStar.com home page. Stories I was part of were: Hard-hit RV region gets pick-me-up (350 jobs), Marsh sorry for Facebook flap, Red Gold looks to take advantage of ripe opportunity, Simon earnings dip on retail, investment loss, Duke Energy's 2Q profit hurt as demand ebbs and Ohio college hires dean for Indy expansion. Whew!



Oh, and the biggest story of the day was a 4.5' deluge in Indianapolis, which I kick started during the morning shift. Rain traveled sideways, and pushed its way through the closed windows in the office. Amazing!






Newsletters:

8-3 Fresh Start: Toyota readies for Indiana milestone

8-4 Fresh Start: Obama to announce grant in Elkhart County
8-5 Fresh Start: Obama to announce car grants today
8-6 Fresh Start: Senate to consider clunkers program

8-3 Mid-Day: Factory work, construction on the rise in July
8-4 Mid-Day: Eli Lilly to slash sales force with buyouts
8-5 Mid-Day: 7 Ind. firms get cut of electric car stimulus funds
8-6 Mid-Day: Simon opens outlet center in Cincinnati

Included are 8-7MD and FS although I was in negotiations and not involved with the production of the newsletter on that day.

Ripe opportunity

Ripe opportunity
Orestes' own Red Gold is taking its tasty message to Hoosiers as State Fair's chief sponsor

ELWOOD, Ind. -- Take a look around, and the Red Gold label is everywhere. The company's tomato products likely are among the condiments at your favorite restaurant and may even be in your own kitchen.

Now, the Orestes-based company -- the largest tomato processor in the Midwest -- will raise its profile even further by being the chief sponsor of the Indiana State Fair, beginning Friday.

Weekly Web Work, 7-27 through 7-31

Newsletters for the week


7-27 Fresh Start: St. Francis Hospital to absorb cardiac practice
7-28 Fresh Start: Delphi plan OK may lead to Kokomo plant sale
7-29 Fresh Start: Profit dips, but WellPoint's 2Q meets forecasts
7-30 Fresh Start: Cabela's to abandon Greenwood project
7-31 Fresh Start: Eli Lilly starts online registry on physician payments

7-27 Mid-Day: Old National shares rise on profit numbers
7-28 Mid-Day: Eli Lilly stock sinks on pipeline setback
7-29 Mid-Day: Connersville successfully woos police-car maker
7-30 Mid-Day: Cummins' shares jump as profits beat forecast
7-31 Mid-Day: Covance targets Greenfield labs for 315 new jobs

Weekly Web Work, 7-20 through 7-24

A particularly strong breaking news week, and it offered the kind of variety that makes a reporter enjoy the job. Besides the newsletters, I posted an average of five stories a day. As usual this selection was comprised of news releases, localizing national news or highlighting Indiana's outcome as part of a broader national trend, and original item-gathering.

The week's online headlines included: Finish Line co-founder to retire, Twitter trim cuts spam for Indy-area tweeters, Indy picks firm to find revenue in city assets

I titled this story on Peyton Manning getting another commercial endorsement, this time with Wheaties, Cereal thriller: Manning, other stars tout Wheaties.

We had a good scoop in mid-week related to an aircraft firm hiring 500 in Indianapolis.

On Tuesday I rustled up a pretty good story off a tip about Rolls-Royce having a low-key cake ceremony to bring together employees who had worked on the Apollo missions from 1968 to 1972 that led the U.S. to get a man on the moon. This is how the story looked online.






Newsletters for the week


7-20 Fresh Start: Rolls Royce to celebrate Apollo 11 mission
7-21 Fresh Start: Wind-farming forum kicks off today
7-22 Fresh Start: Eli Lilly profit rises 21% in 2nd quarter
7-23 Fresh Start: Aviation firm to expand, hire 480"
7-24 Fresh Start: Ballard outlines agenda for Brazil trip

7-20 Mid-Day: $336M casino boat opens in Southern Indiana
7-21 Mid-Day: Franklin vs. Franklin copycat suit appears settled
7-22 Mid-Day: Eli Lilly stock dips despite upbeat earnings
7-23 Mid-Day: Dow tops 9,000 on home sale gains
7-24 Mid-Day: Eli Lilly, WellPoint among largest global firms

Weekly Web Work, 7-13 through 7-17

7-17 Fresh Start, Kite offers to buy ATA's HQ
7-16 Fresh Start, Indiana 13th in foreclosures for 1st half
7-15 Fresh Start, Noblesville loosens sign code to help Realtors
7-14 Fresh Start, State names 50 companies to watch
7-13 Fresh Start, Board to discuss 'dumped data' settlements

7-17 Mid-Day, Ind. jobless rate up slightly to 10.7 percent
7-16 Mid-Day, Noblesville brewer expanding to Broad Ripple
7-15 Mid-Day, 700 Hoosiers per week added to uninsured
7-14 Mid-Day, Interactive Intelligence's shares rise on outlook
7-13 Mid-Day, Settlements OK'd with drugstore chains

Weekly Web Work, 7-7 thru 7-10

To say I was distracted during the week was a bit of an understatement, as we experienced layoffs at the Indy Star (I was actually quoted in an IBJ article about the layoffs wearing my other hat, as Indy News Guild president) that affected operations. (We also got coverage via a rejected vote in the IBJ and via Editor & Publisher.

I did start the week with a feature story on the founder of a Twitter app called TweetPhoto. Here's the story as it appeared online in the Indy Star. Here is the Indy.com version.





I also wrote stories that moved on a national basis which I localized, include the bankruptcy of seafood chain Oceanaire as well as stories that arose from analyzing fresh earnings reports such as Steak n Shake earningsSteak n Shake, and hhgregg store expansion plans that I was able to post before the competition!

Here were the week's newsletters in reverse order

7-10 Fresh Start: AP Source: GM emerges from bankruptcy.
7-9 Fresh Start: Natural gas incentives may help Honda.
7-8 Fresh Start: AirTran adding nonstops to Milwaukee, D.C.
7-7 Fresh Start: Obama eyes Hoosier for commerce post.
7-6 Fresh Start: Emmis Indy radio exec dies after cancer fight.

7-10 Mid-Day Update: Avon-to-Downtown bus gains added support.
7-9 Mid-Day Update: Indiana sues 2 out-of-state robo-callers.
7-8 Mid-Day Update: Indy retailer hhgregg to boost store openings.
7-7 Mid-Day Update: Oceanaire bankrupt, but Downtown site to stay.
7-6 Mid-Day Update: Downtown Marriott nearly halfway done.

Weekly Web Work, 6-29 thru 7-4

Nothing to report! I was on vacation!

Weekly Web Work, 6-22 through 6-26

The King of Pop:

In '03 Indy visit, fans went wild for MJ. A day after Jackson, 50, died, I put together this retrospective of his visit to Indianapolis in May-June 2003. I had covered one of his two visits and not only chronicled the reaction by mall shoppers, but took his picture.




One of the great perks of my job is that I can see a story and go "get it" with a lot of freedom. On Wednesday, I spotted a Tweeted story from the Merrillville, Ind. Post-Tribune and decided to call the owner of a vandalized fireworks store, producing this story. I also wrote another Biz Buzz recap focusing on the 2012 Super Bowl.




At 5:30 a.m. Tuesday I received an e-mail from an Indy resident who flies a lot. That led me to be one of the first reporters nationally to discover that Clear, the security bypass operator, had shut down. I wrote: "With just a few hours' notice, the company that managed the Clear Pass system at major U.S. airports, including Indianapolis International, has shuttered the program. Travelers got word late Monday through e-mails -- and in a statement on the Web site FlyClear.com -- states: "Clear Lanes Are No Longer Available."

I posted three updates and three Twitters to my audience of 220.

I also wrote about grieving workers back at Ind. Convention Center site; "Fatality won't delay end-of-2010 $275M expansion project." The story.

I started off Monday with a story that carried the Web for most of the day, as Indianapolis-based Finish Line bucked a general downward trend on Wall Street after it announced it was shedding its Man Alive division.

6-26-09 Fresh Start and Mid-Day Update.
6-25-09 Fresh Start and Mid-Day Update.
6-24-09 Fresh Start and Mid-Day Update.
6-23-09 Fresh Start and Mid-Day Update.
6-22-09 FS and MD.

Twitters for the week:


RT @PostTrib: Mayor Rudy Clay wants Michael Jackson's funeral to take place in Gary. www.post-trib.com
on Twitter

http://bit.ly/rAAaY Last #MJ #MichaelJackson story I'm posting ... In '03 Indy visit, fans went wild for MJ
on Twitter

#MichaelJackson -- here's the pic I took http://www.twitpic.com/8f0jm
on Twitter

#MichaelJackson so close -- maybe 5 feet -- and there weren't any other press there; I felt like I could shake his hand, or snap his pic.
on Twitter

Got to be part of the #MichaelJackson hoopla 6/9/03, during stakeout in #indy. Circle Center mall shoppers swarmed him ...
on Twitter

http://tinyurl.com/kqp9d9 Newly updated: The Bob Rohrman lawsuit, now with picture of the couple. Top-viewed story on IndyStar.com today.
on Twitter

Lafayette car dealer Bob Rohrman is ROOOHHHRRRin today -- suing plastic surgeon he said stole his wife! http://bit.ly/195UNy
on Twitter

Not so great -- Bloomington company laying off 200 today ... http://tinyurl.com/nt5b2w
on Twitter

I've posted an uplifting scoop - the CEO of profitable Indy lab handed out $2M in bonuses to 300 workers today http://tinyurl.com/kmqojn
on Twitter

Morning Twitterers ... Cool study out today on Big pharma #Lilly impact on #Indy ... http://bit.ly/AeJtk

Hat tip to @PostTrib. Had to call fireworks owner myself about the loss of his fireworks mascot ... Headless in Hobart http://bit.ly/M8GfB
on Twitter

RT @mitchdf: #Indy e-mail firm #ExactTarget finalist for big Microsoft award- http://bit.ly/14R8AT
on Twitter

Biz Buzz is on the air now ... http://www.indystar.com/article/20090624/BUSINESS/306240002/
on Twitter

http://tinyurl.com/kvfdnw 9:45 AM on IndyStar.com/Business -- live Web Cast interview with Indy 2012 Super Bowl leader Mark Miles
on Twitter

Star Business Fresh Start: Best Marriott in the country? It's in #Indy & Indy hospitals trying out new CPR methods http://bit.ly/u4o6s
on Twitter

Star's @dleehoss has scoop on Silicon Valley firm moving HQ to Indy ... http://bit.ly/BE56N
on Twitter

RT @JohnKetz: Check out Smaller Indiana's Bigger Ideas conference today at the Athenaeum. http://bit.ly/14U0ml
on Twitter

Just spoke to Angel Hunt, lane attendant with CLEAR at Indy Airport. 20+ folks there out of a job, no severance
on Twitter

Grieving workers are back at Ind. Convention Center site; fatality won't delay end-of-2010 $275M expansion project http://bit.ly/BFRCY
on Twitter

http://bit.ly/HK6fo Star Biz Mid-Day report: 45 franchisees sought for #baskinrobbins franchises #Indy ... Zoo to close in E-Central Ind.

New info in my piece about CLEAR shutdown; Fishers travelers want their fingerprints, retina scans back! http://bit.ly/10Nt1l
on Twitter

Breaking: http://tinyurl.com/kuxh7g May home sales dip nearly 20% in Indiana, double digit in central Indiana. Upside: more good deals
on Twitter

http://tinyurl.com/llfmet Breaking: CLEAR, the #TSA-bypass security program, shut down early this AM at #IND, other major U.S. airports
on Twitter

Good morning Twitterers. My Star colleague John Russell leads off with news of bigger MedCo expansion = more jobs! http://bit.ly/Ca7lu
on Twitter

I corrected my earlier Finish Line story -- FL is exiting Man Alive, but it is giving them the business, plus $7M.
on Twitter

#FinishLine will get $7M for the 75 stores -- they'll stay open; no job losses; FL operates 685 stores nationally ... http://bit.ly/jrvon
on Twitter

Breaking: indy-based Finish Line is going to exit its "Man Alive" retail business ... says 1Q same-store sales were down 39%
on Twitter

Good reads: Purdue a farm team for ag schools: http://twurl.nl/jt7f2r & 1/3 of signsups 4 Indy job fair are +45! http://tinyurl.com/muv83s
on Twitter

Weekly Web Work, 6-15 through 6-19

I wrote a late-breaking story about an Indianapolis company, Norwood, being acquired for $162M after a bidding war. This is one of those companies we don't normally cover, and fortunately I was there to pick it up and get it online and in print, even on a Friday afternoon. On the same day, we got wind from the state about unemployment stats and produced a quick story about the jobless rate rising to 10.6 percent. Definite highlight was I conducted a Q&A with the co-founder of Tweet Photo. I wrote a short preview story Twitter app founder has Hoosier ties in advance of the publication. And here was the Twitterific Q&A, which if anything shows folks how a behind-the-scenes interview works!

On Wednesday, June 17 (pictured is the business page from that day) I had another productive day, writing 5 stories and posting two of my colleagues' stories. I also Twittered items in my morning newsletter to my followers (I was up to 188 on that day!) One of the arguments I also make is that it is better for me -- and for the Star -- to stay nimble; if possible, instead of concentrating on a single story, try to keep an eye on multiple assignments, similar to a TV producer. This way I won't be too overloaded with breaking news. And it worked on this date, too. At 1:30 p.m., I got wind (through a news release) of an Indy company winning a bid to design a new landing pad and hangar for President Obama's Marine-1 copter. As I was posting this story, my coworker Jeff Swiatek was e-mailed about a decision involving a street closure of high importance to our readers because it involved Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I contacted a DWD spokesperson and also another reporter for the Star and wrote it up, quickly. Here is City panel OKs Grand Ave. closure.

Here are the newsletters for this week:
6-15 FS and MD.
6-16 FS and MD
6-17 FS and MD
6-18 FS and MD
6-19 FS and MD.

Weekly Web Work, 6-1 through 6-5

While putting together the news items for the 6-11 Fresh Start (FS) newsletter, we received a forwarded e-mail about the death of a prominent scientist in Indianapolis. I was able to make two phone calls, confirm the passing and lead the newsletter.

I also posted a story on his passing and update it with a coworker and later put out the 6-11 MD.
I also had a scoop about a counter-claim lawsuit filed by the ex-CEO of a longtime family-owned grocer that was bought out and revamped by a privately held Florida investment company.
Both stories I Twittered (along with my newsletter).






Lots of newsy 6-5 MD and FS newsletters, paced by big news involving ex-Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, who joined Eli Lilly as a corporate exec in what turned out to be a really surprising Friday morning announcement. Not only did I scoop everyone else on this breaking news story, I wrote a follow-up by mid-morning that included his comments via a joint phone interview that involved Peterson, John Russell and John Ketzenberger. I also live-tweeted bits for that interview (see picture) And I reported fresh stories on gas rising to $2.89 and a piece on Starbucks marketing to Indianapolis for its Iced coffee. (Whew!)



Here are the 6-4 FS and MD newsletters, on the heels of a busy news day that included another 5 posts; and the 6-3MD and FS newsletters. Busy news day again. I recapped the 4th Biz Buzz of my co-workers and wrote a fresh story on plans for the Market Square Arena site. On 6-4 I also wrote a PM scoop about Louisville's plans to steal Hoosier tourists.

Here are the 6-2 MD and FS newsletters.

Besides helping IndyStar.com coordinate the big GM bankruptcy and Chrysler news, I also posted a newsy 6-1 FS and MD report, highlighted by Chrysler. I also served as the Star's tweeter for the morning for the fifth straight workday!

Newsletters, May 2009

Here is the 5-29 FS and MD, 5-28 FS and MD, 5-27 FS and MD, and 5-26 FS and MD. Lots of stories I wrote this week, too: No. 1 was a story about the Ultimate Fighting Championship coming to Indy in 2010. This was the 5-29-09 online story and this was the 5-30 story in the paper.
I also am good at spotting other trends, such as this 5-26 piece on gas prices going to $2.65, the fourth straight week of Tuesday price increases.


(Image is from 5-27 Business portal and contains about a dozen posts -- four originally written stories, eight either found from AP on different web site or written by co-workers).



5-18 FS and MD. Stories included a new home for IU Journos Hall of Fame and Indianapolis Motor Speedway being dragged into a controversy over an issue that has nothing to do w/ its famous oval track. Twittered 7 stories.
5-15 FS and MD, 5-14 FS and MD, 5-13 FS and MD, 5-12 FS and MD, 5-11 FS and MD. The highlight of the week: I took notes while watching co-workers do a 12-minute biz Webcast, used my phone to capture an image and did a live Tweet, then wrote short story for the Web.




May 8 Fresh Start - that leads with EnerDel's breaking news green-battery announcement, and the Mid-Day Update. May 7 Fresh Start and the Mid-Day update.


Here is the May 6 Fresh Start and the Mid-Day Update.

Here is the May 5 Fresh Start and the Mid-Day Update.

Here is the May 4 Fresh Start and the Mid-Day Update.

Here is the May 1 Fresh Start and the Mid-Day Update. One of six stories I posted onto indystar.com/business concerned an interesting issue involving a BBC radio broadcast for Indy that was altered due to swine flu. Yes! I got to write about swine flu!

Newsletters, April

Here is the April 30 Fresh Start and the Mid-Day Update.

Here is the April 29 Fresh Start and the Mid-Day Update. I posted 7 stories on this day The Star's business portal. The big story was that while unemployment rates rose in all of the nation's largest metropolitan areas in March, Indiana's Elkhart-Goshen once again logging the biggest gain.

Here is the April 28 newsletter Fresh Start for 4-28-09.
Here is the newsletter Mid-Day Update.

Newsletters, story posts

I was first to report some breaking news on indystar.com with a major development on the economy - Indiana's unemployment rate hit 10 percent. Because I was at my desk I was able to immediately process a news release and get it posted.

On the job

I not only wrote a piece about what will be Indianapolis' tallest hotel (the JW Marriott) in March, I actually filmed a separate video story, using the Star's Sony HD and the editing equipment on Avid. Click here to see that story on indy.com. The story was also picked up on Hotel Online.

Matt Kryger took the pictures of me in action. Here is the lede of story I wrote for the Web:

Already five stories tall and 20 percent finished, the JW Marriott, which will be the state’s largest hotel when it opens in early 2011, is taking shape.

Additionally, here is the video I shot and edited:

Web work: The Watson's Girl

Another example of seeing something on TV, having the institutional memory to know that others were seeing it and would have the same curiosity, led to an interview with the Indianapolis-famous Watson's Girl, and then a post on this date. Name Change Aside She'll Always Be the Watson's Girl was the most clicked-on story on indystar.com.

Breaking news: Putting out fires

Cosmopolitan on the Canal was supposed to have opened in May, and the 218-unit building was to be a rarity, one of just a handful of major new rental developments in the Mile Square built since 2000. Then it caught fire way before dawn. Read the story, the second I had written during the early morning hours. We had updated this story from the get-go, with my first post just after 5 a.m. on IndyStar.com, written on a laptop from my house. Here is the running chronology of events. The aerial photo is from my buddy at the Star, Matt Kryger.

Web work: The King is gone

One of my specialties is the second-day power interview. My coworker, Erika Smith, had written about layoffs at a popular Indianapolis radio station. Layoffs included Dave "The King" Wilson, afternoon DJ. So the day the story appeared in the Star, I called Wilson and interviewed him and posted the story on the Web. This was the story kept in archives on indy.com.