Pittsblog readers, I need your help. Who are you? Who reads Pittsblog today? I'm trying to figure out who we're reaching, and where, and when.
Keep your anonymous and pseudonymous hats on, if you like, but in the Comments, please pitch in: Are you a resident of Pittsburgh or of the SW PA region? Did you live here once but move away? Temporarily? Permanently? Do you have a professional interest in art, tech, and/or economic development? Are you a journalist? Critic? Researcher? Politician? Just someone who is curious or cares or both? Do you surf by when the spirit or Google moves you? Do you read regularly? Once in a while? When you follow a link?
Little narratives are welcome, but if you prefer some structure, try this series of questions:
1 -- Occupation, profession, or life status
2 -- Gender
3 -- Age (over 40 or under)
4 -- city [including municipality, borough, or even neighborhood] or region of principal residence
5 -- city (etc. as above) where you base your occupation, profession, or life status, if different from (4)
6 -- Are you a Pittsburgh native? If you're an in-migrant living in Pittsburgh, how long have you been in the region? If you're an expat, where are you now? If you're a returning diasporan, where else did you live, and for how long?
7 -- how often you read Pittsblog, how you get here, and why
8 -- what would you like to see more of on the blog, and what would you like to see less (not that I'm making any promises about change!)
Thanks - thanks - thanks - thanks.
48 comments:
1. Student, Musician
2. Female
3. 18-24 demographic
4. Carrick (29th ward, i believe)
5. Same as #4
6. Pgh native
7. Read via Google reader, almost every post
8. Keep up the good work! You keep me in touch with my city when my head is otherwise in the clouds!
1. DayJob: Federal Govt.
2. Gender: Male
3. Age: 50+
4. Home: Beaver County
5. Work: PIT Airport
6. Inmigrant since 1985
7. Freq: Quasi-Daily. How: It's on my BlogRoll. Why: interesting posts, interesting comments and discourse, no/low fool factor.
8. Love it as found. (sorry)
1 -- laid off in april, returning to school soon
2 -- male
3 -- 25-30
4 -- Pittsburgh, Greenfield
6 -- WV native, have lived in Pittsburgh for four years
7 -- read all posts via rss
1. Engineer
2. Male
3. 27
4. Mt Lebanon
5. Downtown
6. Went away for school but came back.
7. Google reader like everything else
8. I like any critical opinion about the region. As any pittsburgher knows, there are many challenges facing the area but 10 times as many possible solutions. Good honest dialougue is the only way to move forward.
1 -- librarian
2 -- female
3 -- over 40 (Baby Boomer, late 50s)
4,5 -- currently live and work in Weirton, WV
6 -- Born in Columbia Hospital, Wilkinsburg (the week before the Big Snow of 1950; Mom and I were snowed in the hospital!), grew up in North Huntingdon (Norwin Class of 1968), have BA and MLS from Pitt (1972 and '74 respectively). Moved to Weirton -- *so* far, NOT; it's all of 5 miles from my house to the state line and 35 to the Point, according to my car's odometer! -- because that's where the first job offer I got was.
But being out-of-state, in some ways I'm a diasporan, I guess. The Post-Gazette certainly seems to think so, since they've discontinued delivery to our area. I can't get it at my local store except on Sunday, and even the library can no longer get it delivered! The nearest store that I can count on having it is a 20 mile round trip, too far for me on most days and at current gas prices.
Of my five siblings, two still live in the Pittsburgh area (one in Bethel Park, one in Washington County), one lives elsewhere in Pa. (Potter County), one is in Kansas, and one in Texas.
7 -- I have an RSS feed for you on my My Yahoo page and in my LiveJournal "friends" pages, both of which I use largely as RSS readers, so I don't miss an issue.
8 -- I think it's up to any blogger what they want to post about. I do like your posts on the diaspora and potential "what can be done about it" ideas about bringing jobs and people back into the area. And anything about what makes the Pittsburgh area special or different --maybe not better (Steelers excepted, of course), just special.
1. Researcher
2. Male
3. 25-30 demographic
4. Tel Aviv, Israel
5. Same
6. Pittsburgh native (Squirrel Hill), now living in Israel
7. Also via Google Reader -- so at least skim every post
8. I'm quite happy with your content -- keeps me up to date on the city I miss from afar.
1. Software Engineer/Business Consultant
2. Male
3. mid-30s
4. Wilkinsburg (Blackridge)
5. Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, UK (about 25mi from London and a few miles north of Windsor)
6. Born in Johnstown, 'burger since '91, married to life long Pittsburgh resident. In year 3 of an expat gig for a 'burgh HQ'd technology company.
7. As often as you post, via RSS, via Google Reader. Economics is my hobby and I have a particular interest in Pittsburgh. With a reading comprehension level above that of a 6th grader, I need to look outside the MSM to find anything that satisfies my intellectual curiosity.
8. Continue the quality posting...
1. Market Researcher
2. Male
3. mid-30s
4. Greene County (near Waynesburg)
5. Cranberry
6. Not a current Pgh native, I was in the region from 2000-2007 and lived in Oakland, Mt. Lebanon, and Troy Hill. I am now in Greene County.
7. I read every Pittsblog post, and I read it via Bloglines (RSS feeder).
8. I like reading statistics and numbers-based analyses about the Pittsburgh region, particularly about the economic and cultural aspects of Pgh. Thanks for your writings...
1. Musician, Freelance Writer
2. Male
3. Under 40
4. Southside, Pittsburgh
6. Just moved to Pittsburgh from Brooklyn, I have been living here since December.
7. I read Pittsblog when it is updated, as I have it in my Google RSS reader.
8. Events, neighborhood showcasing, history...
1. clergy
2. male
3. 50+
4. Lower Burrell
5. same
6. in-migrant since 2002
7. read all posts by RSS
8. I like the mix you have now.
1 - Workforce Development Professional, soon to be grad student
2 - M
3 - 27
4 - Pittsburgh (Greenfield)
5 - Pittsburgh (Downtown)
6 - Pittsburgh native. Lived several years in DC, wanted to move back to live in a place I cared about.
7 - Read via Google Reader--every post
8 - I'm not a fan of blogspot, especially how comments are submitted. There've been several times when I submitted long comments and pressed submit forgetting to put the word verification in...comment is gone!
I'm a fan, and I'm glad you decided to come back to blogging. One thing I'd like to see more if in the Pittsburgh blogging scene is activism. Get bloggers together to do good things/make a difference instead of just observing.
1 -- Information Technology Advisor
2 -- Male
3 -- Under 40
4 -- Hollidaysburg, PA
5 -- Loretto, PA
6 -- Born & raised in West Central PA, lived in Pittsburgh for about 2 years right out of college.
7 -- I've subscribed to feed via Bloglines. Check bloglines at least once a day and read this site whenever there is an update.
8 -- Happy with the content, enjoy reading the statistics of how the MSA is performing in comparison to others. Wouldn't mind hearing more news about tech companies in the area. Would like to see a "search" form on the homepage.
1 -- Grad Student (Sust.MBA at Duquesne - starting in fall 09)
2 -- male
3 -- 27
4 -- Pittsburgh, Regent Sq
5 -- Pittsburgh
6 -- moved from boston in march 2008, but originally from Portland, ME
7 -- im reading through google reader. trying to learn about Pittsburgh. keep up on the news and interested in sustainable economic development and making this city more urban and livable.
8 -- more on sustainability news, city planning and development
I'm not a Pittsburgh native (Erie is my hometown) and I currently live in Longmont, CO. In the mid-1990s, I lived in Pittsburgh for about 6 months, chasing a girl I met at university in Vermont. I eventually married this true Pittsburgher, but she's not the reason I champion economic redevelopment in SW PA (and the entire Rust Belt).
Steelers Nation is the source of my inspiration for networking Pittsburgh's diaspora. I noticed the social capital built up between fans at various websites that celebrate the Steelers. I also had a sense that much of Western PA human capital had moved away from home, leaving the region bereft of energy and new ideas. The initial premise for my own blog, that Pittsburgh had a brain drain problem, turned out to be incorrect.
Pittsblog and Null Space introduced me to the Pittsburgh social media community. I still read both blogs daily. Also, Pittsblog serves as a model for my blogging aspirations and I greatly value our ongoing dialog.
1. HR pro, ex-att'y.
2. male
3. > 40
4. Bethel Park
5. dahntahn
6. born & raised in PGH; ret'd 3 yrs ago for family reasons, after c. 10 yrs in Balto, DC, Ann Arbor, another 10 yrs in Hawaii and New Zealand
7. as updated, via Bloglines
8. just fine as is
1 -- Non-profit IT
2 -- male
3 -- 36
4 -- Pittsburgh, Greenfield
5 -- Pittsburgh (Downtown)
6 -- Restless Native
7 -- I pretty much click here every day. I like the blog roll, very useful. Pittsblog was my gateway to the Pittsburgh blogosphere.
8 -- Content is great. I'd like to learn more about the nuts and bolts of venture capital in the area. Particularly, what is working well, what the region lacks, and so on.
1. Urban Planner / Economic Development
2. Male
3. Under 40
4. City of Pittsburgh - Bloomfield
5. City of Pittsburgh
6. In-migrant living in Pittsburgh for 2 1/2 years.
7. Check several times a week for musings on regional economy.
8. Less soccer.
1. IT/Business Consultant
2. Male
3. 26
4/5. I have a home in the south side flats and one in Charlotte (where my job is), unfortunately more time in Charlotte these days then the burgh. I still vote in the 17th ward, 3rd district.
6. Moved to Pittsburgh when I was 3, but I claim I am native.
7. I read it every few days as time permits through google reader, to keep up.
8. I think you do a great job with the in depth pieces. I think as a prominent academic who has made a few public appearances on the Burgh's behalf, you might be able to talk some of your colleagues and other noteworthy people in to offering their opinions in guest blogs.
1 -- Computer programmer
2 -- Male
3 -- 34
4 -- Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville)
5 -- Pittsburgh (Squirrel Hill)
6 -- Pittsburgh native. I was born and raised here (less than a mile from where I live now, in true yinzer fashion), moved away at age 20, and moved back at age 28. Lived in New York (upstate), Boston, and Connecticut.
7 -- Check it every day, more or less. Lately I've been reading through RSSOwl rather than a web browser, but that's slightly less convenient for commenting so I may go back to Firefox.
8 -- Can't suggest any changes, honestly. There are so many Burgh blogs that I can't think of any niche that is not well-filled already.
1 -- University Staff
2 -- Male
3 -- under 40
4 -- Squirrel Hill
5 -- Oakland
6 -- Lived in Pittsburgh 6 years or so.
7 -- Depends, From Null Space, because I'm trying to learn about the city
8 -- Videos of explosions
1 -- Travel Agent - have had many incarnations but that is best description
2 -- Female
3 -- 40
4 -- reside -Pittsburgh - Brighton Heights
5 -- work - Bellevue, WA, near Seattle, via internet - work from wherever I am!
6 -- I lived elsewhere until about age 12, but I went to high school in Pgh, and parents were born and raised here so consider myself a native. Moved to the Northwest US (Spokane, Seattle, and various surroundings) 13 years ago. Very recently moved back with fiance (Ohio native) for the lower cost housing and to be near family. We both work from home so can live wherever we choose. We are unique in that we chose Pittsburgh without consideration to our current employment, but thought it would be a viable place if we have to consider employment in the future.
7 -- I read several times a week, it is on my list of favorites. I found it by searching for Pgh blogs about 6 months ago. Read just for curiosity and was reading as a diasporan you could say, but now as a returning diasporan.
8 -- already a good mix of subjects
1 -- Law Student
2 -- Male
3 -- 27
4/5 -- Pittsburgh, Garfield Neighborhood
6 -- Pgh native
7 -- when a post comes up on google reader
8 -- more about economic development, have seen some comments about some of the bigwig organizations, and would like to see more detailed critiques (e.g. ACCD)
1- internet advertising professional
2- Male
3- under 40
4,5 - San Francisco, CA
6 - native, left after college; lived in Boston, SF;
7 - via browser; bookmarked; check it a few times a week;
8 - interested in more tech/entrepreneurship related stuff.
1 -- contract attorney
2 -- male
3 -- 29
4 -- pgh, shadyside
5 -- ditto
6 -- pgh native, returning diasporan, lived in DC for a few years
7 -- google reader
8 -- it's all good.
1. homemaker
2. female
3. over 40
4. mt. lebanon
5. ditto
6. here since 1981 - born in Phila.
7. read it couple times a month - also a blog-lebo reader
8. like comparisons to other cities
1. Gerontologist
2. Male
3. under 40 (barely)
4. North Boroughs
5. work statewide
6. Pittsburgh native (suburbs, Bethel Park). Lived in Oregon (2 yrs), Los Angeles (4 yrs) and Providence (5 yrs), with stints in State College on both ends of the 15 yr journey. Been back here about 4 years now.
7. Read Pittsblog fairly regularly. Happy to report that my high school friend (now living in Ohio) connected with a few folks on here who helped him launch his Spanish language newspaper locally. So this thing works.
8. Like the current mix for the most part -- anything on the diaspora is good stuff. And how our aging population can be viewed as an asset rather than a liability.
1-- law student
2--female
3-- under 30, over 20.
4--East Liberty, near the Seminary
5-- Pittsburgh, generally
6-- in-migrant, been here since mid-August 2008 and I like it.
7--a few times a week
8--I like the mixture of content, esp. articles on how the city could improve certain policies, etc.
1. Asst. Portfolio Manager
2. M
3. 25
4. Friendship
5. Downtown
6. Grew up in Mt. Lebanon, went to college in Ithaca, NY and came back after graduation
7. Check the site every day or so, bookmarked
8. The economic development posts are what initially drew me in and I like those a lot, but I also thoroughly enjoy the posts that revolve around assessing Pittsburgh's strengths and weaknesses from an outsider's perspective
1. Finance/Accounting
2. M
3. 40
4. Upper St. Clair
5. Pittsburgh
6. Grew up in the Mon Valley. After undergrad, moved to Chicago, Kansas City, Wash DC and now living in Pittsburgh again (moved back approx. 9 months ago)
7. daily
8. like the format, especially tech angle. I spent the past few years working with VC backed software companies in the northern VA tech network and I think that Pittsburgh could learn a lot from understanding what makes that region so unique and successful. Also enjoy the posts that relate to outsiders perspectives.
1. Grad student about to move to Pittsburgh.
2. Male
3. 25
4. Currently live in Vermont -- moving to Shadyside in July.
5. PhD at CMU
6. I will be moving to Pittsburgh in July so I am definitely a new in-migrant.
7. I read this site once every 2-3 days. I found this site through the NY Times article regarding the Mayor. I see it as a resource that will help me get a "lay of the land" politically, culturally, etc.
8. Wish there was more about the local concert/music scene.
Thanks!
1 -- Software Developer
2 -- Male
3 -- 27
4 -- Tarentum
5 -- Downtown
6 -- Born and raised in armstrong county, after graduation moved to central pa, then decided to move back about a year ago.
7 -- via RSS
1 -- Software Developer
2 -- F
3 -- 38
4 -- South Hills
5 -- South Hills
6 -- In-Migrant from Eastern PA/NJ area, 5 years.
7 -- Weekly, RSS via Google Reader.
8 -- Just started reading, enjoying it as is...
1 Corporate IT. Chemicals, Healthcare, Chem/Pharm AG, Outsourcer, Defiler of skylines, Financial services
2 -- dude
3 -- mid-early-forties
4 -- suburb 'way up 28' according to my So.Hills native friends, or 'right across from the zoo' to non-natives.
6 -- Yes.
7 -- whenever there's something new. I think I got here through that pittsburg blogs link, or via blog-lebo.
8 -- like it as is, just please don't take it away again. With the burgh report and pittgirl gone I'd probably fall back into reading instapundit...
1. Non-practicing attorney pursuing a career in finance
2. Male
3. 33
4. Mt. Lebanon
5. Downtown Pittsburgh
6. No. I've lived in Pittsburgh for almost nine years (moved here for graduate school).
7. Pretty regularly. I pick it up using Google Reader.
8. As a non-native Pittsburgher it's refreshing for me to see the point of view of other non-native Pittsburghers about what is going on in this city, especially when you differentiate trends occurring within Pittsburgh to what the rest of the country is actually doing. (Some locals tend to think that there is only one way of doing things, not realizing that there are hundreds of ways of doing things and that some of those other methods are, in fact, superior to Pittsburgh's.)
1. Professional Engineer
2.Male
3. < 40
4. Pittsburgh
5. Tri-state Area
6. Rootless In-migrant; lived here 10 years.
7. monthly-ish
8. I'd rather not make suggestions, the subject matter seems to meander enough for one blog about somethings - not allthings - Pittsburgh and provide food for thought.
1 -- recent CMU master's grad; soon to be working in the federal govt
2 -- F
3 -- 25
4 -- Squirrel Hill
5 -- same
6 -- moved here in fall 07 to attend CMU
7 -- new reader
8 -- I guess I need to read a bit more here before I make suggestions.
1 -- Software engineer and computer scientist
2 -- Male
3 -- Neither over nor under 40. ;-)
4 -- Bellevue, WA
5 -- Seattle, WA
6 -- 30 years in Pgh
8 years in Austin TX
2 years in Pgh again
1 year in Seattle
As you already know, I'm an two-time expat, and I think it's unlikely (though not out of the question) that I'll ever move back this time.
7 -- I don't read Pittsblog, or any blog, very often anymore. I check in when I open Google Reader. I can be days or weeks between visits.
8 -- I like it how it is.
1 - Exam Analyst, build state professional licensing exams, nearing retirement.
2 - Male
3 - Over 40, by 15
4 - Macon, GA
5 -
6 - Only existentially, born in WV, grew up in OH, went to grad school at IUP. Plans to return to the area in a few years.
7 - Weekly to monthly
8 - Some more of Sam Bennett's take, she provides some balance to the fun serious stuff.
1 -- Management Consultant
2 -- M
3 -- Early 30's
4 -- Raleigh-Durham (Chapel Hill)
5 -- Pittsburgh
6 -- No
Lived in Pittsburgh from 1996 until 2009
7 -- Whenever you guys post something new, have been reading Pittsburgh since 2004
8 -- More posts!
1) Lawyer
2) Male
3) Under 40
4) Pittsburgh
5) Pittsburgh
6) Returning Diasporan - New York City, 7 years
7) Weekly
8) Wouldn't change the blog; but would like to see a similar blog on regional transportation issues.
1. University Administrator
2. Male
3. 47
4. Pittsburgh
5. Pittsburgh
6. No. In Pgh since 1970
7. At least once a week. Don't remember how I got here, probably liked the name.
8. Maybe more local politics, perhaps.
1. Student, aspiring urban planner
2. Male
3. 19
4. Whitehall during the summers, school in DC during the year
5. City of Pittsburgh, Oakland & Downtown
6. Born in Columbus, but moved here at about 18 months of age. Family is dyed in the wool Mon-valley, so I consider myself a 3rd generation regional. A part-time expat on the East Coast now, but plan to move somewhere in the Rust Belt after graduation
7. Daily. You're on the blogroll of my blog, and I usually come over from that.
8. More nitty-gritty thinking to balance some of the larger visioning posts.
1 -- Management Consultant
2 -- Male
3 -- 27
4 -- Chicago
5 -- Chicago
6 -- Born in Pittsburgh, went to CMU, absolutely love the city, read as much as I can about it, want to return and make a difference
7 -- as often as you update (RSS Feed)
8 -- love economic development
1 -- Process Engineer
2 -- female
3 -- late 20's
4 -- South Side in Pgh
5 -- Shadyside, Pgh
6 -- Not a native, have lived in Pitt for 2 yrs now.
7 -- read this blog once in two wks, via google reader.
8 -- I would like to read more about activities around Pitt.
1. research scientist
2. male
3. over 40
4. Alexandria, VA
5. same as #4
6. raised in the Pittsburgh area
7. once a month
8. no recommendations
1. Software engineer.
2. Male.
3. 25.
4. Mt. Lebanon, Markham school district
5. Oakland, on Forbes near CMU
6. Moved to Pittsburgh after two years in the Bay Area, originally from New York.
7. Read fairly regularly via RSS.
8. Happy as it is—it’s your blog to write, not mine to consume.
I'm a little late to the party, but...
1 -- Software Engineer
2 -- Male
3 -- 28
4 -- Pittsburgh, PA (Squirrel Hill)
5 -- Cranberry, PA
6 -- Came to Pittsburgh for school (CMU), Stayed for work
7 -- Read when I get a chance (1/week?)
8 -- Hmmmm. It might be nice to see discussion of successful local businesses (profiles) or even local networking opportunities. A better question is "what audience should I target?" Then again, your posts will craft the audience, rather than crafting your posts for the audience. My advice: just write. ;-)
1 -- Business Analyst for DotCom
2 -- Guy
3 -- 32
4 -- San Francisco, CA (Hayes Valley)
5 -- San Francisco, CA (SoMa)
6 -- No, but my dad was; Not (yet) living in PGH, but planning to eventually; Second-generation expat, if such a thing exists; Plan to return to PGH after a generation removed (My dad left in 1951, I was born in 1977), hopefully in next year or so.
7 -- Weekly or so, using Google Reader; Trying to make better contacts and gain better knowledge of PGH before I land there permanently.
8 -- Need social networking outlets to help me make contacts, but that's not really a WebLog's job ;)
Post a Comment