Opinion250 Hits a Million Milestone!:One Man's Opinion

By Ben Meisner

Thank you, thank you, thank you…..

We at Opinion250 proudly announce that in June, we hit 1 million… page views. The actual number was 1,190,739.

That is an accomplishment that most people in the media would be happy to achieve.

The number 13 must be lucky in the Opinion 250 world because that is the day we initially launched, and the number of months that this internet paper has been in operation.

Now you will ask, what made it a success?

Well first and foremost the credit must go to our Publisher Elaine MacDonald (Meisner) who writes under her maiden name Macdonald. Her late father would be happy to see this achievement given the fact that when she attended Niagara College to study Radio and TV Arts a way back when, her father, who has helping with the tuition actually thought she was learning how to repair radio’s and TV’s and when she came home from a break at class, asked if she could repair the TV that wasn’t working.

"MacDonald" as I affectionately call her, broke ground for women in the industry back in the mid 70’s. It was during the time that the radio and TV industry was for men only. She started here in Prince at CKPG, then went off to CHED in Edmonton and from there to CHML in Hamilton where the owner of the station called her into his office when he heard that a women would be going on the air and said “Missy I just want you to know that I don’t want women on the air at this station “. I think she told him to stuff it, well not quite in those terms, and headed off to CHUM in Toronto where she enjoyed many years as an on air personality.

She is a gifted writer and has a nose for news, as they say in the business.

But now onto you.  Thanks for all those comments.  Your comments are the reason we are called "Opinion 250", Meisner’s comments are just a few of the offerings.  The 782  registered contributors are the real editorialists. Oh to be sure we have had a few Glitches, there have been a few contributors who believe their rights overshadow the basic rule of law in Canada, but believe me they have been few. I only wish I could shake the hand of each and every one of you.

Internet newspapers are the coming thing.  In many countries they have eclipsed the traditional type of news paper and TV. I’m sure you will see the day when you will watch your TV news at your leisure, not when it is being offered. It is the coming trend not only in Europe but also in the USA.

For a guy that is computer illiterate (I still type with two fingers after 50 years at the key board) this has been a real eye opener.

I also would like to thank “The Wolf’s" Hartley Miller.  He has been with us from the beginning and never misses a beat.  He is Mr. PG sports. Jos Van Hage, of Art Knapps , and a little gal who has filled in on weekends on many occasions (she is such a sweet heart) Michelle Cyr Whiting, again of the Wolf. Then there is Peter Ewart of CNC who always seems to find time to dig just a little deeper, Kathi Travers who has helped us in so many ways and Jack deWit with his rapier like tongue. What a great group of guys and gals, I am so lucky to work with them.

We have some newcomers who are helping us grow, Anne Blanchard, Jan Baker, both working hard to bring  us stories  from around the region, Glen Mikkelsen who is sharing pages from his angling diary, and Linda Kolisnek who is looking after our clients.

Wow,  it’s just buzzing!

When I said nice things about George Paul someone remarked that my nose was getting brown,k so  I know I’ll take flack for this one but I have to say it, Pat Bell really has gone out of his way to tell everyone that we are doing the job. There Pat, that will get you a lot less press in PG. But then let’s see, wasn’t it that same media who wouldn’t take our advertisements when we started up (freedom of the press ?)  And wasn’t it that same media that said we wouldn’t be around in a year?

All I can say is, to hell with retirement, Cache Creek will have to wait, I’m having way too much fun!

I’m Meisner and that is one man’s opinion.

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us