Behind the Scenes at Presence News: The Work You Don’t See
At Presence News, not every story begins with a headline — some begin with patience, persistence, and a series of unexpected challenges.
Over the past year, our team has been quietly developing a feature centered around a remarkable 275-year historical timeline, dating back to 1752. While the final publication is still in progress, the journey behind the scenes offers a rare look into what modern journalism truly involves.
A Simple Task… That Wasn’t So Simple
One of the latest steps in this process seemed straightforward: converting a historical book into a digital format.
After receiving a rare family-held book covering the years 1752–1977, mailed from New York before its owner returned to Florida, our team began the process of preserving it digitally as a PDF.
That’s when the unexpected started.
We contacted two local companies to assist: (Video of the phone call below)
- Records Nation — our call resulted in being placed on hold for over six minutes without resolution.
- ARC Document Solutions — answered immediately and provided clear direction.
It was a small moment, but one that highlights a bigger truth:
the quality of a story often depends on the reliability of the people and systems behind it.
More Than Just Writing
This story has evolved far beyond a traditional article.
Behind the scenes:
- Rachel Flammia has been actively reaching out to key individuals connected to the story
- Conversations are ongoing with figures including Dee and Billze Zoa
- Additional historical context and verification are still being gathered
What may eventually read as a smooth, polished narrative is actually built on dozens of moving parts — outreach, verification, logistics, and technical work.
Why You’ve Seen Fewer Articles Recently
If you’ve noticed a slight slowdown in publication frequency, it’s intentional.
As Presence News continues to grow its audience and authority, the editorial approach is evolving:
- More detailed reporting
- Stronger fact-checking and sourcing
- Improved production quality across video and written content
- Ongoing investment in film, infrastructure, and relationship-building
Each piece is now being treated not just as content — but as a long-term digital asset.
What’s Next
This historical feature is currently targeted for publication within the next 14 days, as final details are confirmed and materials are prepared.
Due to the significance of the story and the growth of the Presence News platform, some details remain intentionally unreleased for now.
The Bigger Picture
What this process reveals is simple:
The stories you read are only a fraction of the work that goes into them.
From sourcing rare materials to navigating real-world obstacles, journalism today is as much about execution as it is about storytelling.
And sometimes, it all starts with a phone call.
