NewsPortRichey was launched in April of this year. It’s taken a bit to get it started, and there have been plenty of technical difficulties along the way. At its base, NewsPortRichey is designed as a “clone” of Reddit. It functions in the same way. The difference is that it’s local and provides only New Port Richey news, none other.

You may notice that to the top left of this post, and to the left of all of the posts on the homepage, are arrows pointing up and down. This is the basis of Reddit’s system. You can “upvote” (the up arrow), or “downvote” (the down arrow), depending on whether you like the post or not. If a post is something you enjoy and think it’s important, you should upvote it. If you think it’s not relevant or something you didn’t enjoy, you should downvote it.

Posts with more upvotes will stay on the top of the main page longer, and posts with more upvotes will disappear more quickly. This is an important way for you, as a user, to give us and others feedback on what you want posted on your news website. So be sure you’re using those functions to affect what you see.

Another standard of Reddit is the ability to submit your own news and posts. NewsPortRichey has this functionality too. If you register on the website (and you should!) on the right hand side of the homepage you can click on “Submit a new text post” and “Submit a new link”. These have been there for a while and still aren’t working great, but they do work. So if you have some news or images you want to get on the homepage, you’re welcome to submit using those functions.

If that’s not working for you–or isn’t easy enough yet–you’re always welcome to send me an email at jrtietz[at]gmail.com and I will help you post your story.  Please! Give me stories! This website is for you to post, not me! Please always try to include pictures, flyers, and other media associated with your event or story, but I can often help if you can’t find any. I do edit content that goes out on NewsPortRichey’s wire and have final say on what runs on the site, but for the most part it’s anything goes. The one thing I do ask is that you confine posts to stories about and around New Port Richey, and no other areas in Pasco like Hudson, Trinity, or Holiday. Maybe one day we’ll expand but my focus has and will continue to be on our immediate area. That’s what makes us awesome!

Stories that are great for NewsPortRichey:

• News about City Council’s moves and community events
• Letters about things you’re upset about in New Port Richey and would like to see changed
• Businesses you like in the area, or businesses you own and would like to feature
• Events you’re hosting or would like others to attend
• Announcements and other newsworthy stories (You decide!)

Lastly, what you do to help NewsPortRichey News to grow and better serve the community is to spread the word. There are a number of things I’m looking for:

• Sign up for our newsletter – This goes out daily (when there are new stories only)
• Register on the website so that you can post (and comment!)
• Spread the word! Tell your neighbors, friends, and family to sign up
• Post your stories! Give me everything you have
• If you have a business, send me your information, menu, price list, pictures and description – I’ll be compiling a business directory for New Port Richey with more information for local businesses. Can’t hurt, right?
• Link to NewsPortRichey news from your website! Why not?

As always, thanks for all of your support and look for me around town!

By Jon Tietz