Starfleet News Network

The Voice of STF

History of SNN

The Starfleet News Network (abbreviated "SNN," also known as CNN of STF) started out its life a very long time ago (sometime around late 1991 or early 1992) under the leadership of Genesun Han, who would write a comedic column under that name. Later that tradition was taken up by Mike Cathcart, who by 1994 was writing brilliant pieces about STF's social and political aspects.

In mid-1994, then-Captain Mike Ballway, impressed with Cathcart's wide exposure, decided he would write a news show for STF and would base it at Cathcart's network. The new show, dubbed "SNN UPDATE," would eventually succeed Cathcart's column when he left STF.

By 1996, SNN's new Executive Editor -- Commodore Mike Ballway -- was also publishing a satiric/humorous column called "Kent's Corner." In October 1997, SNN expanded in recognition of STF's Web Bulleting Board with a new newsletter called "WeBBsights," while continuing to publish SNN UPDATE as its flagship program.

SNN Update

Since the time when he had joined STF, Mike Ballway had wanted to write a newsletter for that club. Just after he joined, the "Midyette Scandal" rocked the club's leadership. Mike, however, had absolutely no idea what or who it was about; It was with this memory in mind that he, on 9 September 1994, wrote his first wide-circulation newsletter under the working title "SNN News/Announcements Service." The second issue, bearing the now-familiar name SNN UPDATE, was written the next month and Mike soon established a biweekly schedule for his UPDATEs (never mind the fact that this schedule is almost never adhered to, and the Editorial staff -- namely, Mike Ballway -- goes on frequent long hiatuses). With the resignation of Admiral Mike Cathcart in late 1995, SNN UPDATE became the flagship program of the SNN network. SNN UPDATE is distributed to every ship in STF and takes as its motto "Quick, Informative, Totally Biased Reporting of STF Events."

Look at the latest SNN UPDATE!
Review prior SNN UPDATEs!

WeBBsights

In the summer of 1997 STF expanded beyond its Prodigy roots when it commissioned the star-fleet.com Web Bulletin Board (abbreviated "WeBB"). As more and more members joined the new Third Fleet, Executive Editor Mike Ballway realized that a new publication designed especially for the web would need to inform this public, and together with then-Lieutenant Laurence Garfield, established WeBBsights, a newsletter devoted to the WeBB. WeBBsights calls itself "Your #1 Source for WeBB Misinformation" and has been published somewhat biweekly since 10 October 1997.

View the latest issue of WeBBsights.
For back issues, check out the WeBBsights index.

Other SNN Publications

Genesun Han and Mike Cathcart were the first two Editors-in-Chief of SNN (in fact, since Mike Cathcart never formally resigned from STF, he still is; Commodore Ballway fashions himself "Executive Editor" to this day). Both Genesun (known by his RPG name, Larimda ME) and Cathcart wrote many articles for the Network, most of which unfortunately have been lost to the seas of time. However, a we have rescued a few and have compiled a collection of SNN articles by Cathcart, Larimda, Mike Bourdaa and some early work by Mike Ballway, in addition to his latest column, Kent's Corner . N.B. some of these pages are not up yet. Many apologies.

No Regrets

Jim Midyette, one of the founding members of STF, wrote "No Regrets" as a history of STF that traced his life in the club. Covering STF's early history from 1991 through 1994, No Regrets spans 14 pages and is required reading for any STFer who wants to know how the club got started.

Read "No Regrets"

Where to find SNN

SNN started out in one place: the subject "STF - CNN OF STF" in Prodigy's Games Bulletin Board, in the Sci-Fi Game Clubs topic. While CNN of STF still remains the center of operations for SNN, we have since branched out: SNN UPDATE is delivered to the "Announce" subject in each ship in the STF*Prodigy fleets and SNN "Affiliate" stations serve both fleets' command areas: WLAR for Fleet Two, WTFF for Fleet One, and WSFA for STF*Prodigy's Starfleet Academy. Each of these member stations carries the full range of SNN programming, not just the UPDATEs.

This website also carries the full range of SNN programming, plus some historical STF documents like the Bourdaa Papers and No Regrets, besides serving as the base of operations for WeBBsights.

So You Wanna Write for SNN, Eh?

Well-- you're in luck! SNN welcomes any and all would-be writers to send their stories and columns to Executive Editor Mike Ballway, who (if he likes it) will post the whole shebang in each SNN affiliate. Keep in mind that it ought to be less than a page-and-half long in 12-point Courier. Also, STF members only, please.

Those wishing to contribute to WeBBsights as a news correspondant should contact either Mike or Associate Editor Larry Garfield.

Page Created on 19 July 1997 -- Last Updated on 28 November 1997
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