NEWS

HOW ORTING VIEWED 2009

By: Rich Carr December 30, 2009

Data Has No Agenda. About a decade ago I started using that term to synopcize the words that were sure to follow, and most likely the recipient was either torn by those words or elated. It all depends on the data.

With a new year upon us, many of us are looking to see what's ahead for a small corner of east Pierce County. The answer is what the future brings us and I'm not about to make predictions. However, looking back, the dynamic nature of small town living and its effects on our personal lives parallel the stories you viewed the most: Politics, Crime, Scandal, and More Crime. That's Orting 2009 when you look at the stories you read, forwarded, re-read, and commented about. Even though about a year ago we were experiencing some of the worst flooding in decades, a flood story didn't reach our top ten in stories for the year, but did occupy the busiest days of the newspaper delivered online.

In 2009 Orting News enjoyed visits by more than 16,745 unique individuals across this globe, with up to 600 per day reading local news and information and spending an average of three minutes on every visit, consuming more than 171,000 page views, and recieving regualr visits by loved ones and service people overseas in 47 different countries lead by the USA, Canada, Kuwait, Iraq, Kazakhstan and India.

What you read, and what they read, were all compiled onto the Top Stories by virtue of how many different people viewed the story as reported by Google Analytics.

TOP STORY: It should come as no surprise to anybody that the most viewed story of the year comes in the form of "Who Will Be Orting's Next Mayor?" (http://www.ortingnews.com/mayor09). The story not only took an online poll of votes for incumbwent Cheryl Temple or challenger Kim Farnes. Although the pages were viewed by thousands, 274 residents voted and yielded a 61% vote for Kim Farnes and 34% for Mayor Temple. Days before the election, Orting News posted an additional story in which we asked the candidates three simple questions (http://www.ortingnews.com/mayor-questions/). It was the results of those questions, I'm told, that changed the vote of 2009.

SHOP ORTING: (http://www.ortingnews.com/article/meetings-and-events/552/) About the first week of March 2009 it was obvious that this economy was not going to be kind to any of us. We posted a "Shop Orting" story that was second only to the Mayor's race. Citing the Top Ten Reasons to Shop Orting, it's worth another look as we begin a New year full of promise...we just have to keep that promise.

WHO WILL BE ORTING'S NEXT MAYOR: (http://www.ortingnews.com/article/news/1062/) It was a big story. Our Top Story, and our Third most read story, are the same subject, but different articles. It was, however, the unveiling of a new Community Tool that at least two of three adults by population read within City Limits. We are graced with the fact that our two candidates did not succumb to a mud-slinging blood bath of cliche political job-jab. We received a handful of communication promises from the victor and we're awaiting their debut in Orting News.

MAYOR TEMPLE'S LEAD GROWS: (http://www.ortingnews.com/article/news/1089/) It stands to reason that two of the biggest stories and their build-ups would spawn an equally as large story about the results of that race. As we reported updates throughout the days of the race that started with only a 26 vote difference between the two, you checked the results online with us.

ORTING BAKERY NOW OPEN!: (http://www.ortingnews.com/article/news/1020/) Apparently you like your hometown donuts! Orting was delviered a class act thanks to Lisa & Dave Goff when, on October 2nd (their Anniversary) they opened a business we could all agree on, Orting Bakery. Orting's Police Chief, William Drake, was the first official customer. A chocolate donut. It was the 'feel good' story of the year and walking in the door gives us all hope that we can dream, and realize those dreams.