Focused on the process

McCOOK Neb. - I often find myself questioning the direction of my local independent news website. While I’m unsure of what the ultimate outcome will be, my goal is clear: I want to make important information from public meetings easily accessible to my neighbors in McCook—especially those who may not engage with traditional media. This means sharing that information online, where they already are, particularly on social media.

Additionally, I aim to enhance the digital presence of our community. My hope is that when teams are considering McCook for tournaments and they Google our city, they’ll discover the vibrant community we have to offer.

Currently, I am undergoing cancer treatment, which means I’m moving at my own pace. This might lead to some inconsistencies over the next few months as I navigate both my treatment and this project.

Sometimes, I feel embarrassed about drawing attention to myself, especially when things don’t always go as planned and I’m not completely satisfied with how I look, speak, write, or present myself. But I remind myself that we all experience insecurities and doubts. It’s important for me to push through those feelings and continue sharing.

I just checked the website analytics and noticed that I had 1,454 unique visitors in the last seven days—all from organically posting my stories. Considering our city has a population of less than 8,000 that audience feels significant. I’m incredibly proud of this achievement!

Thank you for being a part of this journey with me!