Best of 2014: Media

S.B. Columnist

Starshine Roshell, The Santa Barbara Independent

“Why do readers vote for me?” asked Starshine Roshell, since we asked her what she thinks might prompt such literary love outpouring. “I want to say it’s because there are very few columnists writing quality vagina news these days. But I think we both know the truth: My weird name is easy to remember, so it’s a gimme when they’re trying to fill in the minimum number of ballot categories to ensure that their vote for Best Margarita gets counted. ‘Put that chick with the hippie name and let’s move on …’ Me, I voted for Nick Welsh.”

FINALIST: NICK WELSH

S.B. Radio Station

KJEE 92.9

It’s interesting that the most old-fashioned mass media in the world—after books and newspapers—would be dominated by the very young. KjEE is consciously attuned to the music of the modern rock spheres, which plays well with the 18- to 30-year-old set, with new music from bands like Interpol (who are suspiciously old) and Arctic Monkeys. Presumably, most of this gang spends more time with computers than with music traveling through the air in frequency-modulated waves. But, whatever, dude. KjEE has won consistently for the better part of the last decade, and we’re glad the youngsters are old-school enough to, as Joy Division put it so eloquently, dance, dance, dance to the radio.

FINALIST: KTYD 99.9

S.B.-Based Website

Edhat

edhat.com

Since 2003, Edhat has provided the community with collaborative journalism—that is, everyday people not necessarily schooled in the arts and sciences of journalism such as they are, reporting on events that happen in the community and also creating lively discussions after the stories in the commentary sections. There are a number of interesting “columns,” including one based on astronomical issues (not astrological, as this and every other newspaper would). The readers like this scrappy website, and we think we know why: It belongs to them in a minimally supervised way. Edhat is an enigmatic name for a plain thing, an electronic water cooler, and a way to keep up-to-the-minute with your own town.

FINALIST: THE SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT (INDEPENDENT.COM)

S.B. Twitter Follow

Jon Mahoney

@JonMahoneySB

One might imagine a Twitter account best serves a pop musician’s musing on philosophical issues or your buddies describing their hookup plights. Not so for our readers, who picked Jon Mahoney, a realtor dealing in mainly luxury homes. Mahoney thinks it’s just staying up with the game. “Having the best Twitter feed for us has been about keeping new and updated content available for buyers and sellers looking to stay up-to-date on local Santa Barbara real estate,” Mahoney said in an email. “Our Twitter feed keeps buyers and sellers connected with all of our social media including market updates, video feeds, comprehensive advice, and new listing information. My real estate team strives for creative ways of staying cutting edge with tomorrow’s technology! Stay connected.”

FINALIST: 33 JEWELS (@33_JEWELS)