tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84048119172625881352011-07-29T04:10:00.257+10:00This ia a blog for the readers of the Melbourne Observer newspaper. The Melbourne Observer is a popular weekly newspaper, and is linked with the Overnighters program on the top-rating 3AW 693 radio station. You can read the Melbourne Observer each week at www.melbourneobserver.com.auAsh Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02575832473699422844noreply@blogger.comBlogger41100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404811917262588135.post-66789854503365149002008-10-06T21:53:00.002+11:002008-10-06T21:57:31.596+11:00Anonymous asked if we will cover the Victorian local elections to be held in November 2008.<br />We surrender! We are going to admit that we are not up to the task!<br />There are more than 70 municipalities in Victoria, and even the several hundred local newspapers acrosss the state are having difficulty fully covering their own patches on this one.<br />As Editor, I reckon we would be foolish to try to stretch ourselves beyond our capacity. That's not to say we won't do broad brush commentary, but the honest answer is that we don't have the pedal power to do the local elections job the resources that it would need.<br />Frankly, the major papers are in the same boat!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8404811917262588135-6678985450336514900?l=melbourneobserver.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ash Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02575832473699422844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404811917262588135.post-8630993431164193682008-08-10T03:36:00.005+10:002008-08-10T03:55:52.170+10:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RtgK74xyxyo/SJ3aFbMdYtI/AAAAAAAAABU/tMGThoUieQA/s1600-h/noylar2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RtgK74xyxyo/SJ3aFbMdYtI/AAAAAAAAABU/tMGThoUieQA/s320/noylar2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232578128808600274" /></a><br />3.45am. Sunday, August 10, 2008<br /><br />Larry Noye, our 80-year-young community reporter, has been skittled by an out-of-control wheelchair ... and now finds himself as a patient at the Western Hospital.<br /><br />Larry has a busted knee after a man lost control of his machine, while Larry was a spectator at the AFL football. Larry is now suffering through a long recovery period, and is dearly missing his typewriter.<br /><br />We wish you a speedy recovery, Larry!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8404811917262588135-863099343116419368?l=melbourneobserver.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ash Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02575832473699422844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404811917262588135.post-25574842347131447342008-08-10T03:14:00.002+10:002008-08-10T03:20:25.599+10:003.15am. Sunday, August 10, 2008<br /><br />What do you like best about the Melbourne Observer?<br />And what annoys you most?<br /><br />Our weekly columnists include Yvonne Lawrence (life and style), David Ellis and John Crook (travel and wine), Kevin Trask (entertainment), John Pasquarelli (politics), Cheryl Threadgold (community theatre), Jim Sherlock and Aaron Rourke (movies and DVDs), Len Baker (harness racing), Harry Beitzel (football), Larry Noye (community), Keith McGowan (Melbourne), Matt Bissett-Johnson (cartoons),<br /><br />Some of our long-standing features include Max (news behind the news), Forgotten Fortunes, Victoria Pictorial, Observer Overnighters, Veritas, Media Flash, Victorian Rural News, Footy Week, and the free readers' ads.<br /><br />Please give us your opinion.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8404811917262588135-2557484234713144734?l=melbourneobserver.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ash Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02575832473699422844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404811917262588135.post-34652368354060031062008-08-10T02:30:00.000+10:002008-08-10T02:36:37.176+10:002.30am Sunday, August 10, 2008.<br /><br />Welcome to the Melbourne Observer blog - the latest extension of Victoria's independent weekly newspaper.<br />Our newspaper started 39 years ago ... when the communication standard was telephone and teletype/cables. Not even faxes then.<br /><br />The Melbourne Observer was one of the first with web offset printing. We have seen cut-and-paste replaced with desktop publishing. Faxes, e-mails and websites have entered our professional lives. And now we expand with further advances into citizen journalism.<br /><br />Where will this take us? Much closer to our readers, I suspect. Wider readership, increased participation, and better service.<br /><br />'All aboard!'<br />Ash Long, Editor, Melbourne Observer<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8404811917262588135-3465236835406003106?l=melbourneobserver.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ash Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02575832473699422844noreply@blogger.com3