Have you noticed something about DailyKos?
I don't mean the DK4, or the cool verticals, or the growing community, or the...or the...or the...
I'm pointing to content. Right...the stuff we actually read. And, yes, there are the usual great diaries on the Recommended list, the high quality of the Recent Diary list and the newly added Community Spotlight...yes, there is all that, but that's not what I'm pointing out, specifically.
Want to know more? Follow me over the frilly frill.
I'm talking about how the front page of DailyKos is organized and the consistent schedule of features and the fresh content that is appearing like clockwork. THAT has been a great change to the site, IMHO, and I know there must have been lots of meetings and such to make it all work...
But there is one person who has the title of Managing Editor who is in charge of herding all our talented cats (Markos among them) and that is Susan Gardner...the artist previously known as SusanG.
Now, I worked with Susan long ago and far away when the Jeff Gannon story was breaking on this site, and we collaborated with hundreds of others to form ePluribusMedia...so I know about her ability to inspire folks to do their best (she inspired/edited me to do what I consider to be my best writing on the web) and on a deadline, but the great organizational changes here have been under her watch and she deserves a ton of Kudos.
Where else can you read all the breaking news pieces and community diaries, while still enjoying all the regular features we see and now take for granted? Envisioning how all that will work...on a new tech platform...and then making it happen takes a deft (and sometimes stern) hand, an editor's eye and a truckload of patience.
When we praise how much we value this site and its incredible growth, a good deal of that praise should be directed at Susan.
Which brings me to another point. Subscriptions.
A while ago, Markos made the decision to take some of the cash the site was generating and hire on a staff. Susan was among those he initially hired to do the organizing so he could spend more time on books, TV and other ventures that brought attention to DailyKos. If he didn't have that cash, no Susan. God knows where the site would be without his investment.
Now he wants to grow the venture even more and bring on extra staff to expand DailyKos' offerings. That takes some infusion of capital. That's where subscriptions come in.
I have been on this site since the earth's crust cooled, and I was never a subscriber...until last week. I have to tell you, just getting rid of the ads was worth it for me. Can't wait for the book downloads and I'll certainly use the photo feature as well...but I'm glad I supported Kos' drive to expand, and I hope you will to.
Either purchase one for yourself (Merry Christmas to me) or show your generosity by gifting a subscription to someone who can really use/appreciate it.
So, let me add my name to the list of folks who are nagging you to get on it and subscribe to this publication. And let me say that a good reason to do it is to praise the work of Susan Gardner.
When people like her are working here, it's a win-win-win situation.