SANFORD -- Headline Surfer was among the first media outlets worldwide to report today's major developments in the George Zimmerman criminal case regarding his legal team's demand that the presiding judge be disqualified.
In the digital world of search engines led by Google news directories, small outlets like ours get buried fast by the media giants. Still, it is rewarding to see that our coverage is out there and available.
Every time we pursue these high-profile breaking news stories, our analytics show major increases in visitors from places near and far; in summary worldwide. But then again, 15,000 unique visitors in a 24-hour cycle is nothing when large metros like the Orlando Sentinel get hundreds of thousands of visitors and CNN several million.
Having covered court cases over the last three decades here in Florida and before that in New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut, the biggest story I ever covered before Zimmerman were the ongoing appeals of famed serial killer Aileen Wuornos and then witnessing her execution on Oct. 2, 2002.
In hindsight, I wish I had covered the Casey Anthony trial, but with limited resources, it was not realistic at the time. The Zimmerman case is different because I interviewed Trayvon Martin's parents in Miami early on, something most Florida media outlets have not been able to do. I've made a commitment to follow it directly.
There is a world of difference between watching a bond hearing on CNN and being in the courtroom. Had I not been at the June 29 bond hearing, I would not have been able to ask his lead defense attorney, Mark O'Mara, questions that led to my report on speedy trial provisions.
That story, with our own video showing Zimmerman's attorney holding court with countless reporters on the courthouse grounds, drew tremendous visitors to Headline Surfer. Here is the link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/409596-zimmermans-1m-bail-means-defense-doesnt-have-force-states-hand-speedy-trial-provision.