The city of Hillsdale has a new publication in town: Hillsdale News Now, launched by Josh Colletta last month to provide more comprehensive coverage of local news. The site only generates about six articles each month, which includes four editorials and two articles covering city council meetings, but Colletta, who also started the Facebook page Hillsdale’s Hot Debates, said he ultimately wants to add video, audio, and live broadcasts.
“There’s really a lack of local news online,” Colletta said. “The Hillsdale Daily News has limited space and limited resources, and WCSR really doesn’t do anything online.”
Colletta said he also hopes to fill the void created by the Hillsdale Collegian during college breaks.
“We are a small community, we don’t have a lot of media coverage,” Hillsdale resident Jeff King said. “We’ve got a radio station and a corporate owned newspaper that don’t necessarily dig as deep as they should sometimes. Colletta’s trying to fill a void. He’s not going to duplicate what the station or the newspaper or the Collegian is doing.”
Although King is not involved with Hillsdale News Now, Colletta considers him a mentor who assists with prompts, suggests unique angles, and encourages him to narrow his focus. Colletta’s main intention is to increase online news options.
Though Colletta only launched just last month, he’s been planning the site for three years. As the sole writer for Hillsdale News Now, he is tasked with running the entire site by himself.
“There have been some issues that I’ve run into here and there and I have to push my launch date back. I don’t have tech support on the other line to help me with this,” Colletta said.
Colletta received positive feedback from city council members on his work with Hillsdale News Now, and receives about 100 online hits per piece. Hillsdale resident Sally Bildner Wood also praised his work, calling it a “more accurate and timely way to get news.”
“I think Colletta does a great job of presenting various viewpoints to consider,” Wood told the Collegian. “He also gives a forum to discuss issues and hear other ideas and opinions.”
