February 14, 2005

Pub Pops Todd's Blog

Todd Anderson, who designed HobbsOnline, gets a lot of ink or pixels in today's Nashville City Paper for his NashvilleZine.com website, a "collaborative blog where local rock musicians and fans post information about shows and comment on happenings around town." Started in March 2004, it has since become "the city’s most comprehensive listing source for local rock," writes the City Paper's Will Ayers.

Many of Nashville’s young audiophiles stop by the site during their daily online routine - a habit that closely mirrors their parents’ fondness for checking 24-hour news sites at work. Indeed, the difference is not so great, said Vanderbilt communications professor John Sloop.

"This looks as good as CNN or MSNBC with the graphics and the font," he said. "It legitimizes something that might have not had that to begin with."

But unlike major news sites, Nashvillezine fosters a sense of identity among its users. Frequent visitors get to know each other in a sense, and for good or bad, the conversations often devolve into good-humored ribbings.

By the way, readers, Todd also designed Blake Wylie's NashvilleFiles.com blog. If you want to pay Todd money to design a website or blog for you, I'd suggest doing so fast ... before his newfound fame leads to higher rates. Click here.