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WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Happy birthday to me

We're having fun, so it doesn't seem so long. This edition marks the anniversary of our very first here at The West Virginia Record.

Yes-- The Record is now one year old. To our readers, advertisers, friends and enemies -- a hearty "thanks."

It isn't easy being "media" these days. Public opinion polls rank the journalism profession up their with car salesmen and ... er ... lawyers. But for our editorial product and its broader mission -- making the public business of West Virginia's civil courts your business -- you've welcomed us with open arms.

More than 25,000 West Virginians surf our Web site each week, and another 10,000+ get a look at The Record's print edition. So love us or hate us, people are reading and -- even when they disagree with our point-of-view -- showing appreciation for the substance and sincerity of our work.

And count it a Year One surprise, but The Record's most fervent readership ranks include more than defense counselors and executives from Darrell McGraw's targets-du-jour. Some of our biggest fans -- we have the emails to prove it -- are plaintiff's lawyers, embarrassed by the bad apples among them who are doing the embarrassing.

Still, we're aware that a percentage of our readers consume us with a scowl. They read The Record not because they want to but because they have to. They'd prefer if we'd just go away, leaving West Virginia back where it used to be -- devoid of substantive reporting on some of its most important public institutions, state courts and judges.

To be sure, it's far easier to manipulate a civil justice system when it operates in the shadows.

Rest assured, the lights are staying on here in Charleston as well as the other outposts we've established in Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Wheeling, Martinsburg and everywhere else over the past 12 months. In 2007, we'll be expanding our capabilities even further, all in response to the demands of the readers we endeavor to serve -- all of them voters, taxpayers, and West Virginians.

Thanks again for your patronage and support. We couldn't do it without you.

Onward.

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