DU Has a National Reach - Here's an Example:
Sometimes, what someone posts here on DU goes beyond the readership of this discussion forum. Why? Because Google includes DU in its collection of Internet data and stores everything that is posted here in its enormous database. From time to time, postings on DU get picked up by reporters and published nationally.
Last Summer, I posted here about FEMA's COVID-19 Funeral Benefit. I did that, because I had applied for and received that benefit after my parents died in January. My father died of COVID. My mother died the same day, from advanced Alzheimer's disease. I posted about my experience because the FEMA program did not get a lot of coverage and I wanted DUers to know how the program worked and what was involved in applying and qualifying for the benefit.
Last month, EarlG forwarded an email to me. It was from Kevin McCoy, a reporter for USA Today, who had found one of my DU posts about the FEMA program and wanted to contact me. Since DU's administrators never give information about DUers to anyone, that was how EarlG handled it. So, I contacted the reporter.
The reporter wanted to interview someone who had successfully navigated the process of getting that benefit. I was happy to answer his questions. The process is more complicated than it might be, so I knew it might be difficult for others to apply for and receive it. That's why I detailed the program in my DU post.
After I answered his questions and agreed that he could use my name in the article he was writing, he asked if I could send him a photo of my late parents, with me in the photo looking at their picture. I said OK and had my wife take the picture, which I sent to the reporter.
The article in USA Today can be viewed at the link below. This link has the article without the USA Today firewall:
https://news.yahoo.com/federal-funeral-benefits-covid-19-090046139.html
My reason for posting this today is to let people here know that what gets posted here on DU can sometimes find its way to others and be seen by a much wider audience. So, when you post, please keep that in mind. If you want that to happen, be sure to include likely search keywords in your post title. This is not the first time that posts here on DU have gotten national notice and it won't be the last..
= new reply since forum marked as read
That’s wonderful! Congratulations!!!! 
Mind you I’m searching for details on something posted here but you’re right; anyone looking for current events is likely to have DU discussions come up.
Such a terrible thing, losing your parents that way. I hope somehow you made something of it with meaning for you via that article. 
is a very positive thing to see today. We could all use a bit of that--a tiny bit of positive from all that going on now that is decidedly... not.
Good on you and to EarlG for facilitating this in a very appropriate manner.
may your parents RIP
Thanks for sharing here and getting national attention, so others can benefit.
Kinda like Jimmy Stewart in "It's a Wonderful Life", we never know how our ideas might impact society.
So keep posting everyone.
As for national reach, it should always be as worth readers' attention.
… on the subject. I am sure I am not the only one who bookmarked them or printed them out for reference, nightwing1240.
Your career as a writer comes through so clearly in your ability to bring clarity to a complicated series of processes. Your generally calm demeanor in the face of the occasional idiot is an example to us all — I’m serious about that, by the way. When frustrated, it’s all too easy to take everything very personally indeed.
Nice to see your actual face and name — and that of your parents. 
Thanks for the follow up - great work
How nice that this reporter followed up and wrote the nice article. Love the photo of you and your parents!
Nicely done. Must say your avatar/sketch looks exactly like the photo in the news article.
And yes, to agree with the response above, your parents were certainly a handsome couple.
Thanks for posting. I'm sure you did many people a great service by providing the information necessary to start navigating the process. I'm sure the vast majority of Americans weren't aware of this programs existence.
Again, my most sincere condolences for the loss of your Mom and Dad. To lose one parent at a time is difficult, but to lose both.....
Apart from that, great article and photo. You don't look a day over 60.
The value of DU.
And, thanks too for your post about Covid death benefits-
I was able to share with the family when our cousin died of Covid & provide them with the FEMA requirements.
And, btw, your parents are just gorgeous! Love the pic of you with them! 
Congrats on your DU post being picked up by the media.
Ty for sharing your daunting experience to help others.
Good advice to keep in mind! (And here’s lookin’ at you, kid!)
