Journalism, A Casual Conversation?

I’m back at college way up here on the North Shore now and I’ve been trying to keep up with what’s going on back at home by checking out the local papers’ websites, like Cape Cod Times and Cape Cod Today. But it’s tough when I’m not actually there because the big stories like Glen Marshall and the whole casino deal overshadow almost everything else, and then I miss all that little stuff.

So here’s the solution to all that…

Google has just obtained a revolutionary website called GrandCentral.com (http://www.grandcentral.com/). Here’s how it works: Anyone can create an account and then reserve a FREE phone number with the area code of anywhere in the U.S. you would like your number to be from. If you have a blog, like me, you can post your new phone number and have readers call in with story ideas, tell their own personal story, or maybe just to be interviewed for a story you’ve already written or would like to write.

You can set up your new GrandCentral number so that it will ring on your cell phone, office phone, or home phone—or all of them! The number that shows up on the caller ID is the GrandCentral number. If you know you’re expecting a call from someone to interview, you can answer. If you would rather the caller leave a message, you just let it go to the voicemail box of your GrandCentral account.

Just by hitting the number four on your phone, you start recording your conversation with the caller (if they have agreed to be recorded for an interview of course). If you decide not to answer, the caller can leave a message for you, which is also recorded. And now for the best part… After an interview is recorded or a voicemail is left, the recording is emailed to you in mp3 format instantaneously for your listening and easy-editing pleasure. Amazing.

Now I have my new GrandCentral number (508-444-8643), after Craig Walker the Founder and CEO read my blog post about his site and emailed me to tell me good job, and I’m just waiting to hear from my fellow Cape Codders about interesting stories and things that are going on back at home. I will leave prompts here and there and hope that readers also call in to give their thoughts and ideas on the subject. Keep an eye out for my GrandCentral number and go get your own! Hurry, the numbers can’t possibly be free for long.