UPDATE:
THE WEBSITE THAT I REVIEWED NO LONGER EXISTS. IT WAS SHUT DOWN IN NOVEMBER OF 2011 AND TURNED INTO ONE OF THE MOST PROLIFIC CYBER ABUSE BLOGS THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN.
THERE ARE RUMORS THAT IT CHANGED OWNERS. I DO NOT KNOW THE TRUTH OF THESE RUMORS. I ONLY KNOW THAT THE BLOG I REVIEWED HERE IS GONE AND I DO NOT LIKE NOR WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS SITE.
I have chosen Radionewz as our first stop because I consider this a "must stop" on any journey to the true crime area of the internet.
I must begin my article by saying that I consider Radionewz the finest example of an internet operation that I have ever come across. Other blog/forum/chat owners would learn a great deal when visiting Radionewz as to how to operate what has to be the best example of an excellently designed, well maintained and most fairly moderated and rich featured websites in the true crime arena today.
If there was a rating system, I would give Radionewz an excellent and outstanding rating.
I first came across Radionewz through her twitter account:
http://twitter.com/RadioNewzRADIO, as the owner is known has mastered the use of Twitter to post links to different locations that have the content that true crime followers may be interested in viewing.
This is the most effective use of Twitter by a Blog/forum owner that I have ever seen. It is also a use that goes against the grain of most fourm/chat/blog owners. She directs her followers to OTHER websites rather than always to her OWN blog and forum.
As a result of her generosity and lack of selfishness the followers and visitors to her Twitter site are treated to a wide variety of information and news sources regarding the current true crime cases that people are following.
The next stop is to the Radionewz forum:
http://forums.radionewz.net/index.php?board=7.0
The first thing the visitor will notice is how much content there is on Radionewz's forum. This is a heavily used forum with many active and well informed members.
The one major strength or weakness of a forum is in the moderation of the site.
The one unique policy of Radionewz is the LACK of a strict policy of not allowing members to visit other "competing" forum sites such as Websleuths. She has a vary tolerant viewpoint when it comes to members going to and from other sites and being members of those sites as well.
Radio has a lack of ego and the strength and insight to understand that other websites will have unique resources that will allow for an even fuller and more enjoyable experience of her members and visitors.
Forums with strict topic restrictions and ban criteria suffer from member disdain as they have to battle constantly with administrators or moderator over whatever guidelines the forum owner and staff has put in place.
A forum with little or no moderation can turn into chaos and anarchy if it becomes large enough to allow members to cause the forum to go into disarray.
Moderation is the strong point of Radionewz. Radio and her excellent staff has perfected this extremely difficult chore. Radio allows a wide range of opinions and goes the extra mile to keep any banning to an absolute minimum.
I have found Radio and her administrators to be the best around and her members are fortunate to be able to enjoy the fruits of the creation of Radionewz.
As with any forum of any size, there will be the occasion where a number of members have "issues" with each other that has a history on another forum, blog or chat site.
I learned through personal experience that Radio is so respected by her followers, that all she has to do is to gently suggest that feuding members need to take their differences to "the cage" so as not to disrupt the the topic being discussed and the feuding members stop in their tracks without protest.
This deep love and abiding respect of Radio by her members is the core strength that makes Radionewz such a pleasure to visit.
Most forums have a "duke it out" room where the feuding members can go and verbally "duke it out" in a no holds barred ( a few minor rules, however) private room. At Radionewz it is called "the cage."
Since the members are well matched on Radionewz, The Cage is tame compared to most. There are lively arguments there, but the members usually come back out as friends and continue on in the main forums with virtually no indication of the discourse between them.
In future posts, I am going to comment on the key members of Radionewz and the rich and unique flavor they bring to this excellent forum.
In closing, I again reiterate that you must go and visit ALL of what Radionewz has to offer. I assure you that you will not be disappointed.
MURT
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MURT