P.O. Box 651
Mount Savage, MD 21545
Phone: 301-264-3147
Email: [email protected]
The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
Dispatch suspends news reporting, video operations
* A statement of thanks to readers, supporters
By Kevin Spradlin
PhDispatch.com
MOUNT SAVAGE, May 24 -- From the outset, The Potomac Highlands Dispatch sought to provide the best area high school sports coverage, help hold local elected officials accountable and report on community events that other media outlets didn't seem to touch.
In some respects, at least, the Dispatch was successful on all three counts. However, due to a variety of factors - many beyond the control of this online newspaper - the Dispatch has suspended news reporting and information-gathering operations, effective immediately.
There are a variety of factors considered in the decision-making process. Among them include a difficult economy - especially this Potomac Highlands area - and a lack of pre-set infrastructure for the venture. In addition, some in this community are resistant to change - regardless of how beneficial the outcome might be folks they know, or even themselves.
For the immediate future, the website will remain operational and all published content, including videos, will remain available at no cost to the reader.
Long-term, it's possible the Dispatch returns. But that's getting ahead of today's news.
There is no way the Dispatch would have been possible without the steadfast readership, encouragement and, yes, financial contributions from readers and advertisers. To get a community to buy into a new venture was, in and of itself, exciting. The fact that many seemed to enjoy PhDispatch.com coverage of news and sports - well, that made the effort all the more sweeter.
Just 10 days into existence, the Dispatch had cause to file a complaint with the Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board. In the newly elected Allegany County commissioners' first public meeting, they made an announcement about a closed-door session to be held the following day with Sheriff Craig Robertson. To the Dispatch, it seemed as if the reasons given by the commissioners - and supported by veteran staff members - failed to be in compliance with the state Open Meetings Act. It turns out the commissioners were wrong after all. The fact that the Dispatch was the only media outlet to report on the issue highlighted the area's need for a new, independent news outlet that had more at interest than serving as a money-maker for retired teachers in Alabama.
The Dispatch provided unparalleled local high school sports coverage during the winter season. With boys' and girls' basketball and area wrestling, no single media outlet came close to covering the Appalachian Mountain Athletic Conference as thoroughly as the Dispatch. The Dispatch stayed for and watched all 18 (boys and girls) basketball teams well over 100 times. We traveled to playoff contests and provided in-depth game coverage, video highlights and video interviews.. The Cumberland Times-News, with a staff 4.5 times larger, might have been around 25 times.
The Dispatch followed the local sports teams as far as they could go - and did everything to provide as deep of coverage as this area has seen in recent years by a local media outlet. In a single day, PhDispatch.com watched Northern Garrett beat Smithsburg in the girls' Class 1A West Region championship, the Southern Garrett boys lose to Williamsport in the same venue and, down the road in College Park, videotaped four local wrestlers earn state championships and provided post-match interviews.
And during the Huskies' run to the Class 1A state title game, the Dispatch provided video and photo coverage - with assistance from key contributors - along with game-day stories and dozens of live updates on Facebook during games. It was as sports journalism is meant to be today - and something not offered anywhere else in our area.
The future is uncertain for the Dispatch. For now, operations are suspended. No new releases will be posted or articles pursued until the effort can once again be a full-time venture.
If that doesn't happen - well, thank you for reading this and the many other articles. Emails, phone calls and passers-by combined have let me know this has been a worthwhile venture.
Thank you for your support. It's been a lot of fun and many - you know who you are, I hope - have helped form many new, wonderful memories and friendships.