One Year Later

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost one year since we launched the Out Front Blog. In that time our team has learned a great deal about digital communications and about each other as well as the world around us. To celebrate our first anniversary in the blogosphere and mark the occasion appropriately, we’ve decided to share a bit more of ourselves. Over the next week (beginning today, and running through next Friday), we will share our thoughts and perspectives on what we’ve learned/realized/experienced in the last 365 days of working on this blog.

I’ve really enjoyed working on the Out Front Blog over the past year. The primary thing I’ve learned is that I still have a lot to learn about the blogosphere. For each new aspect I’ve grown to understand, I have realized that there are several other aspects of our work online that I’m just beginning to grasp. It’s a constant learning experience. That said, here are a few of the things I have figured out so far:

• People like being asked to share their insights: I have really enjoyed conducting Q&As with people like Billie Jean King, Neil Giuliano, Eric Marcus, Joy Silver, Jody Huckaby and many others. We will have several more interesting additions to this list later this year with representatives of national organizations and media outlets on tap for this fall and winter.
• The blogosphere can be pretty welcoming if you make an effort to reach out to blogger colleagues: I’ve been impressed (and kind of flattered) by the kindness, interest and engagement we’ve had from bloggers and Web experts like Nina Smith of Queercents, Dana Rudolph of Mombian, Sean Bugg, and Joe LaMuraglia of Gaywheels.com. 
• A diversity of voices leads to a diversity of opinions and a much richer communications experience: We launched the site with a great line-up of gay male voices; one of the things I’ve been most excited about in the development of this blog over the past year has been the addition of our lesbian colleagues Patricia Archambault and Ivette Lopez as contributors to the Out Front Blog, bringing with them a Canadian and a Hispanic perspective, respectively. I look forward to much more insight from both of them – and from the entire team – as we continue this journey together. 

Next week, Jon, Eddy, Steve and Peter will share their views and we will feature a special guest blogger as well. Stay tuned. In the meantime, let us know what you’ve learned in the past year from reading our blog and interacting with all of us. We look forward to your comments.   

Comments

[Joe LaMuraglia]

Congratulations Out Front Blog! We are big fans here at Gaywheels.com and have been honored to be mentioned in your posts. We look forward to contributing more in the future and wish you the best of luck in the coming years!