By: Daiyu Tang
The Hathian Observer is something of an institution in the City, we’ve been here for far longer than I personally have and over 15 years or so staff and editors have been hard at work writing and photographing this city, trying to let you know what is going on and I hope, trying, to make it better (give or take the odd rogue journalist).
The Observer is also remarkably hard to put down and I mean that in a few ways…
Firstly, the fact we are so sparsely furnished and over one storey means when people… (Hello Piper) burn us out, we can rebuild quite quickly. Hard to put down. P–R–O–O–F–!
Secondly, despite what some might say regarding the news, we can usually be trusted to have things worth reading. Some of you like Gossip and Maja provides, some of you like to learn about kinky stuff and Carly… really provides, while others prefer hearing about events, parties and people. Some even like the in-depth stuff, although I confess ad metrics show that having naked body parts in an article really helps, especially if it’s a guy… Yes, some of you like to send us warnings, but overall… you kinda like reading us (mostly). Look at all the corpses of paparazzi accounts and gossip rags in our wake.
Speaking of the departed though, it would be wrong of me not to note that as well as those staff that have resigned and tried their hand elsewhere, we have sweated blood for Hathian. Being a journalist can be deadly or traumatic and as the current editor I want to acknowledge the sacrifice our staff have made.
So, what is this article about dear reader (other than a shot of nostalgia?). Two things… Both connected to the fact that our official Web Archive of Hathian Observer articles is shortly to reach 3,000 articles since September 2008. 182 articles on average a year, one every two days. In 2024 alone we are at 320 articles at the end of October… Our most productive year.
So as we near the big ‘3K’ I’ve managed to beg from Stanley, our managing owner a little bit of funding for a party, and because my second job is working for the Museum & Galleries, they’ve graciously agreed to support us as we’ve supported them with their events.
So, two things…
Our ‘Look Back Series’ – Submissions Welcome!
Firstly, over the next two weeks we’ll do a few articles celebrating some of the biggest stories we covered in Hathian. Think of our “Year in Review” but we’ll do ONE (or at most two) articles in retrospect from 2008 to 2022. That’ll be between 15 and 30 throw backs to Hathian History… Reapers? Orcus Samedi MC? We’ll delve into the past so you can learn and remember. Watch out for two special articles one covering 2008 to 2015 and one 2016 to 2022. If you have a submission of what you think is the best, get it to me via e-mail! ((Notecard to Daiyu with your Observer Favourite Article(s)))
Party Time
Ok, I confess that the “Observer’s Observance Milestone” is not a catchy party name, but yes… on the 17th November we will have a party for all current and former staff and of course our readers. Come and meet your reporters, get (or give) an autograph, get your photo taken and professionally edited, pose with our news truck and if Carly is there, probably try out the Alleyway nearby… (heh). More details will be shared on location in our next article in the Look Back Series.
But for now, 1pm SLT 17th November… See you there!
