Harrisonburg Blue (Drinking Liberally)

Drinking Liberally is an informal, inclusive progressive social group. We have a monthly social every 2nd Thursday at 6pm. This month we mee May 13th at 6pm till 9pm. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don’t need to be a policy expert and this isn’t a book club – just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it’s not taboo to talk
politics.

Bars are democratic spaces – you talk to strangers, you share booths, you feel the bond of common ground. Bring democratic discourse to your local democratic space – build democracy one drink at a time.

While drinking liberally, always remember to drink responsibly, and make liberal use of designated drivers. Drinking and driving is reckless and irresponsible, like a neocon war or corporatist tax cut. Liberals, don’t
do it.

Drinking Liberally is not exclusive to people over the age of 21. Feel free to come by and have some food and soda and talk politics. Hope everyone can make it out.

This content was submitted by the author, and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Harrisonburg Times.

Share with Others:
  • Print
  • PDF
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Twitter
  • del.icio.us
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS

This post was submitted by Dan Chavez.

Wanted: 300 Members to Support Local News Writers

The Harrisonburg Times is an effort to provide a sustainable alternative news and information source for the central Shenandoah Valley.  Voluntary written contributions will be vital to the site’s success, especially for opinion pieces, advice columns, arts and living content, and event information.

However, news content takes particular professional talent and significant time, and if the Harrisonburg Times intends to be a credible and consistent news source, a paid news core must be created and maintained.  It is only fair to provide a mechanism to pay news writers a competitive rate.

That mechanism is a membership program.  Members commit $10 per month to a fund to pay news writers.  In exchange, members receive the satisfaction of supporting local, community-driven news writers.  Also, a benefits program is currently being developed that will give members exclusive discounts to local businesses and restaurants.  The benefits will include discounts on purchases, meals, and more.  Benefits will be announced at the Launch Party and will be listed on the Membership page.

Businesses May Add Benefits

Businesses wishing to explore offering a benefit to Harrisonburg Times members are encouraged to contact Ashley@HarrisonburgTimes.com.

300 Members Needed to Sustain News Writers’ Fund

The Harrisonburg Times seeks a minimum of 300 members to have adequate funds in a writers fund.  While verbal and written support of the Times is appreciated, it is simply not enough to create or maintain a viable operation.  Please subscribe today!

Share with Others:
  • Print
  • PDF
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Twitter
  • del.icio.us
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS

Launch Party April 16!

The Harrisonburg Times is launching community-driven content beginning April 15 – and that’s reason for celebration! Come to the Harrisonburg Times Launch Party Friday, April 16, 2010 at Clementine.

Join the early contributors and readers to see the Harrisonburg Times launch content, and for a night to discuss local news, learn about the Harrisonburg Times, meet the writers, and meet new friends.

Register for Harrisonburg Times LAUNCH PARTY! in Harrisonburg, VA  on Eventbrite

Limited space available!

LIVE Music by Caleb Einwechter
Cash bar
Food and Snacks
Great Company!

7:30 Arrival & Reception – including LIVE Music and finger foods
8:15 Launch Presentation
8:45-10:00 Socializing

Suggested Door Contribution Goes Towards the Harrisonburg Times: $10

ALL SUBSCRIBING MEMBERS GET FREE ENTRY!

Share with Others:
  • Print
  • PDF
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Twitter
  • del.icio.us
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS

Coming Soon: The Harrisonburg Times

The Harrisonburg Times is a new media source for the Harrisonburg-Rockingham metropolitan area.

Context

Our local media outlets are a vital part of information exchange in the Harrisonburg-Rockingham metropolitan area.  The Daily News Record, WSVA, WHSV TV3, and others create a wealth of content on a daily basis, and thereby contribute to the public good in many ways.  These organizations also make tremendous in-kind and financial contributions to support and highlight worthy nonprofit causes related to education, arts, youth, and more.

The Problem

That said, there are current barriers to information exchange from our biggest media outlets, the Daily News-Record and WHSV TV3:

  • The Daily News-Record is now pay-only for online content.  This may not be a problem for local people with subscriptions, but it is a problem for local people who want others to know about the information printed in the newspaper – especially our local business, technology, university, sustainability and economic development communities.
  • There is a break in trust between the current newspaper of record and its market.  The editorial stance of the Daily News-Record diverges more and more from the values and opinions of the bulk of Harrisonburg-Rockingham residents.  For all the good the DNR does to inform the public on local issues, its ultraconservative stance is offending and alienating a growing population of people – some who even make it a personal policy to “Do Not Read” the DNR.
  • WHSV TV3, while having online content, is necessarily limited by their medium to have short news stories that cannot provide a depth of analysis that takes more than a few minutes to convey.  They also undertandably favor stories with a visual appeal, which leaves out many stories better written about
  • The online forums of both of the DNR and WHSV are largely unmoderated and have become havens for reactionary, unthoughtful, and ignorant commentary from a relatively few people that incites useless argument.
  • “What bleeds, leads!” is an unfortunate daily reality for the local main stream media because what bleeds sells.  The result is a constant barrage of content that is sensational and focuses more on conflict than substance.If nothing changes, nothing changes.

Solution

The Harrisonburg-Rockingham community is in need of a new and different opportunity to be informed about local issues that impact lives, families, businesses, and politics.  There is also a growing local blogosphere, anchored and made credible by Hburgnews.com.  That single blog is in many ways the only community-driven check and balance to information in the local news, and many times is the only venue for certain dialogue and stories.  The writers, especially Brent Finnegan, should be commended and urged to continue.  Brent’s most recent post indicates a new look is pending.

The Harrisonburg Times aims to become a relevant and valuable contributor of local news and information. The Times will feature political, cultural, business, and educational news, opinion, and features.

There is a growing team of writers who are commited to voluntarily contributing content in many categories.  There is a growing list of advisors who are commited to champion and strengthen this efforts.  And, soon, there will be a growing list of readers.

Coming by April 15

By April 15, 2010, the Harrisonburg Times will have new content on a regular basis.  Until then, there may be some preview stories published.

Get Involved

Writers – We are currently accepting applications!  Click here.
Advisors – To learn more about being an advisor, email editor [at] harrisonburgtimes.com
Advertisers – Your business can advertise here!  Email sales [at] harrisonburgtimes.com for information.

Contribute Financially

The Harrisonburg Times business model will depend on individuals and businesseswho understand the need to financially support an operation.  All early contributions will go towards expenses for developing and advertising Harrisonburg Times.

If you believe we need a new news source, please consider commiting $10 per month via credit card or a one-time donation. Continue reading “Coming Soon: The Harrisonburg Times” »

Share with Others:
  • Print
  • PDF
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Twitter
  • del.icio.us
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS

Switch to our mobile site