The Power Of Pet Projects
December 23rd, 2007 — admin
We all have a pet project or two rattling around in the back of our minds. That idea that you’d really like to tackle, but haven’t had the time or the ability to get it off the ground.
My favorite pet project is one that I suspect you could launch in just about any community. But as far as I know, it’s hasn’t been attempted anywhere.
Roadside memorials to loved ones seem to be nearly universal across the U.S. They dot major intersections and lonely stretches of highway. Typically, they mark the scene of some fatal vehicle accident, and the markers range from simple crosses to elaborate floral arrangements and written prayers.
All of these markers have a story, and they seem to be the perfect fit for an online project mashing Google Maps with photos, rememberances and links to news stories.
My pet project would create a map of every roadside marker that can be found in a local community. Track the locations with Google Maps, include a photo of the marker, and try and match at least some of the markers to news stories. Invite readers to add information, share their remembrances of the people highlighted, even create an online version of the marker.
It’s a way for people to remember their loved ones, and it connects you with your local audience in an entirely new fashion. It’s something that can be promoted every time a new accident prompts another roadside display, and you could even pull some of the stories that come out of the section for special “look back” features on a slow news day.
I’ve always thought it was an idea that would work. But I’ve never been able to get the idea up and running.
So do you have a pet project or two sitting around? Tell me about it in the comments.
December 26th, 2007 at 9:58 am
What a tremendous idea. If you’ve ever had the (dis)pleasure of driving from Bozeman to West Yellowstone through the treacherous Gallatin Canyon you’d know why. The absolute beauty of the 30-plus mile drive is marred by the startling number or roadside memorials (more than 1 per mile at present count). Perhaps having a site to go to which could help put all of these fatalities (and people) in perspective would make the drive less macabre?
December 26th, 2007 at 11:07 am
As it turns out, I have driven that strip of road, and I do remember seeing a large number of those markers. I’ve tried to research the history of these markers a bit, but from what I can tell, no one seems to know just how the practice started.
This is one of those ideas that could work as a national stand-alone site as well, but one that linked you to from a group of sites. Say you’re a group owner with a dozen different print or TV sites scattered across the U.S. You can launch the national site, use your local sites to drive traffic to it, and also link back to the local sites from the national hub.
But I can also see it working locally at an individual site, as well. Perhaps someone will take this project on in 2008.
December 26th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Great idea.