What sort of note can I post?

We invite any note the describes some aspect of the economy as you personally witness it.

On the personal level, you could write about how you're doing.  Has the economy changed how you live?  Has anyone in your family lost a job or found a better job? Are you trying to sell your home; are you trying to buy a home?  What about bills, credit cards, retirement funds?

For businesses, you can tell us what changes, positive or negative have been taking place.  Is business getting better?  What's going on with your customers, your suppliers?  What's been shaping your revenues and expenses?  Has the stimulus package made a difference for you? 

You can write about people you know or meet in the course of your daily life.  With full respect for their privacy, of course.

We’re looking for only a few sentences from each of you.  You can write more if you'd like.  Post as often as you like too!  The important thing is, each little bit helps shape the big picture. 

Can I remain anonymous?

Yes.  If you don't type your name into your note, the public will never see your name.  NHPR will not share any personal information with anyone.

Why do you ask for contact information?

Notes on Working It Out will help shape NHPR's coverage of the economy. Sometimes we will want to get in touch with you to learn more about your story. If you don't want to talk to us, that's OK.

How long should a note be?

It should be just long enough to make your point. In general, something short and full of unique details will be more powerful than a collection of general statements. Here's a useful hint: Write about one specific thing and don't try to cover a huge range of topics. There's no limit on the length of any note however.

If other news organizations use this site, will they see my contact information?

No. Only two people at NHPR have access to that information. If a newspaper reporter reads your note and wants to follow up, they will tell us and we will send you an email explaining their interest. You can choose to respond to them or not.

What happens to the notes that I post to the site?

They are merged into a clickable map of the NHPR listening area.  Visitors to this site can search and sort all the notes that have been submitted.

When will my note appear on the web site?

Currently, this site is fully moderated. Your note will appear as quickly as we can approve it.  If you post during the day, the turn around will be a couple of hours or less.  If you post at night, your note will appear the next morning.

Can I edit my note later?

Not directly, but if you contact us (send us an email jgreenberg @ nhpr.org) and tell us the changes, we'll take care of it as quickly as we can.

Can I look for notes about a certain town or city?

Yes.  You can select the location on the map and see all notes about that place or just the ones that relate to Business, Government, Non-profit, Personal/Household, Seen Around Town, or Helping Hand.

What's the purpose of the key word field and how should I fill it in?

The key word field lets you help other users find material of interest to them.  If you are an accountant and your post has to do with that, you would type "accounting".  Other accountants could then find what you've written. 

Type the words that fill in the details about the subject of your post such as the type of business (real estate, electronics, manufacturing, etc), housing, health care, food bills, truck repair, and so on.  If you start typing and see a word appear in the drop-down list and it fits what you want, click on it. You can add phrases, like health care, and you can add as many key words as you like.  Separate each word or phrase by commas.
 
Can I look for notes that relate just to business or another type of note?

Yes. On the main search page, you pick the type and you can see all the matching posts. 

Do all notes show up on the web site?

Essentially yes, but the site is fully moderated and we reserve the right to reject notes that are off topic, inappropriate, or offensive.