2023 was a tumultuous year for me. My employer went through a lot of changes, so my job took a lot out of me. It was demanding, but it did grant me the opportunity to reconnect with my roots and allowed me the chance to better understand myself and where I want the Daily Planet to go in 2024.
We pitched the Daily Planet Proposal to DC Comics one final time before the publishing giant shot us down and started their own fiction based version on their own website. That was a major blow. I took it so personally. I held such hope that they’d work with us considering I was in communications with them since 2020 about establishing our Daily Planet as a legitimate news organization under their publishing umbrella.
We also lost a lot of momentum with contributors. Podcasts were ever abundant, but written submissions saw a steady decline mostly due to my own lack of time during such a turbulent year. I felt like a failure every time someone left. I just was so busy in 2023 and sucked at managing my time. I had very little free time to manage anyway, and most of the time I did possess was spent with loved ones and on healthcare.
All of these feelings of self contempt came back to the surface this year as I worked diligently on the Daily Planet. The publication went through a lot. There was a lot of good, but there was also bad and I almost called it quits on more than one occasion. My therapist pointed out that I slowed my momentum on the Planet because I felt like I didn’t deserve it to be real. I was self sabotaging. She was right.
But this year will be different.
Up, up, and away: Future goals for the Daily Planet
The first annual business meeting
2024 will kick off with an historic occasion for the Daily Planet, and for me personally. A group of 10 people who I care for, of whom I respect and value their opinions, will be joining me in Downtown Minneapolis at a restaurant called “The News Room” for our first ever annual business meeting.
It’s nothing groundbreaking. I’ve invited this “Kryptonian Council” together for one simple reason — to figure out how the hell can I establish the Planet as an actual news organization without DC Comics. I couldn’t think of a better group. They don’t all know each other, but I have a feeling so much greatness will come from this conversation over dinner.
My hopes are high. I want the Daily Planet to be real. Like really real, and this entire process will be documented to the world on here (dailyplanetdc.com).
Online Edition revival
2023 saw the tenth year for our Online Editions, which were ultimately the birthplace of this website. Due to my own personal issues, I let these digital ones fall out of circulation. They’re an iconic form of media that many can recognize as the broadsheet seen in Superman titles.
I’m hoping to publish one Online Edition every week on Sunday’s to highlight the past week’s headlines, like I have done so in the past. It’ll be a fun and visual way to boost the work of our contributors while also immortalizing important words in a historic format.
Seasonal Magazine
Once upon a time we published a bi-annual magazine. Of course, when I say publish, I mean to the website because we are a free enterprise and can’t afford to mass publish these ourselves. Anyway, it’s my hope to start pushing out seasonal magazines that will encapsulate important cultural events four times a year.
Our first ever Winter Magazine will see the digital news stand in February, so please contribute an article if you feel compelled to share something of significance to you! The Spring Issue will likely be completed in or around April, the Summer one in June, and the Autumn issue in October.
Open to the public digital news room meetings
All constant contributors and collaborators once joined a digital newsroom setting via discord and I hope to get that form of communication up and running again. However, I want it to be public this time. I want people to feel that they are always welcome to come and voice their concerns.
The connections will be closely monitored by me, and the channel for communication is not quite established yet. However, I hope to hold our first ever meeting on Sunday, January 7, at 7 PM Central US time. I’m hoping to have one every week after that. Keep an eye on our socials for those updates.
More quality content… I mean reporting
When I got to tour the Star Tribune Newsroom for my 30th birthday this past year, I spoke with one of their journalists and friend Kim Hyatt about the word “content.” We both absolutely attest the term. It’s often used to compel creators and writers to produce something daily. With that pressure comes the lack of quality reporting.
It is my goal for 2024 to achieve quality reports on things that matter around the world. This includes ALL things. Our multimedia section at the Daily Planet is thriving. We help push phenomenal videos and podcasts almost daily and I’m beyond in love there. I want to establish this same formula elsewhere too.
Our actual written reporting sections have fallen out of orbit and I wish to pull it back in. I want more coverage on news, politics, opinion, culture, food and more and I will strive every day to accomplish this goal.
Email newsletters and a stronger social media presence
I once took great pride in the Daily Planet’s twitter account but neglected all other forms of social media. This past year I’ve been paid to manage social pages and I’ve learned a lot.
I’m hoping to push more of what matters, and more of what’s submitted to us, out into the digital spectrum. 2024 will be a year of gradual growth and revival for the Daily Planet and this is the way to accomplish that.
Target state: 2025 and beyond
Like the Daily Planet in comics, our goal is to house our headquarters in a beautifully adorned building crowned by an enormous golden globe.
This is the last step in mind because it’s ultimately the people that matter. So that’s why I thought of this target state for 2025 and beyond.
The Daily Planet Target State is a planned forecast for success. It documents the company’s hopes for the future and depicts the course of events that would need to take place in order for that to happen.
Phase 1: Project Planet
Phase 1 is simple. The Daily Planet is already built, so phase one consists of making the multimedia organization financially self-sustaining. This would be accomplished through publication permissions from DC Comics, or through other means. After completing all the legalities, the Daily Planet will begin accepting ad revenue and generate an income.
Phase 1 would start with a handful of full-time employees. The Editor-in-chief, Executive Editor, Executive Producer, Creative Director and Chief Financial Officer. These employees would become the Daily Planet’s executive team.
Phase 2: Welcome to the Planet
Phase 2 would commence after a successful phase 1. After a time of garnered financial stability, the Daily Planet Executive Board would branch out their individual teams to accomplish further growth.
Each team would grow organically and on their own merits, but the growth would not be permitted without the Editor-in-chief and Publisher’s permission.
Phase 3: Where heroes are born and the story continues
Phase 3 is the final step before complete success. In this phase growth would continue to commence, but respect and reputation is the main focal point. Our growing team would generate such quality content that the Daily Planet would become a respected and reputable news source for the world.
Phase 4: The Daily Planet Building
This is possibly the most difficult phase in this plan. The Daily Planet Building would be the final step in complete success. Of course the Planet would continue to grow and strive for the best after this, just as any organization does, but for the founding phase plan, this is the end.
For years the Daily Planet Building has stood as a symbol of truth for the fans of DC Comics, and having a physical attraction in the real world reflect that would be a huge gain for the Daily Planet and DC Comics.
Thanks to all for the continued support as we continue to grow. This dream of mine has meant a lot to me, to my family, to strangers and I’m forever grateful. See you tomorrow.
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