Viva La Cola!

Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Coming Attractions

News   July 10, 2009 at 4:53 pm Erica C. Barnett

We’ve been in a heated endorsement interview with city attorney candidates Tom Carr and Pete Holmes for the last 7 1/2 hours (only kinda kidding), and we’re excited to tell you all about it on Monday. (Verbal fisticuffs, heated accusations, and allegations of incompetence.)

Best quote: “Are you saying I’m unethical?”

In the meantime, please enjoy this photo of both candidates (Holmes on the left, Carr on the right) in the Cola offices. They really seem to like each other, don’t they?

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  • scaredofthebaron

    Pete Holmes better be careful or Tom “The Baron” Von Carr will get him, just like he jailed that single mother for serving drinks to someone cops let into a bar, or how he’s overseen the harassment of the gay clubs on Cap Hill, or gone after those kids actually smoking that damned loco-weed

    here’s a great photo if “The Baron” before he ran for office
    http://farm1.static.flickr.com/214/470804335_a677aeeed1.jpg?v=0

  • scaredofthebaron

    Pete Holmes better be careful or Tom “The Baron” Von Carr will get him, just like he jailed that single mother for serving drinks to someone cops let into a bar, or how he’s overseen the harassment of the gay clubs on Cap Hill, or gone after those kids actually smoking that damned loco-weed

    here’s a great photo if “The Baron” before he ran for office
    http://farm1.static.flickr.com/214/470804335_a677aeeed1.jpg?v=0

  • bluecella

    what a load…

  • Trevor

    I was very surprised by the perma-frown on Carr’s face at the 43rd District Dems meeting where I saw him speak. At that point, he had lost a couple endorsements of note, but really still had a lot of power, credibility, and experience to rely upon. Why he then chose to be so arrogant, seemingly resentful that he had to run a campaign at all, is beyond me.

    What’s happened to him? I didn’t see any kind of fireworks between the two candidates. But it made me wonder if Carr believes that he is essentially unaccountable, and that any questions about his conduct raised by electoral challengers can simply be dismissed out of hand. As his hyper-sensitivity makes him more angry about campaigning, and as his anger turns off more and more of his former allies, I have to wonder if we are perhaps witnessing his self-destruction in slow time?

    I look forward to publicola’s coverage next week.

  • Trevor

    I was very surprised by the perma-frown on Carr’s face at the 43rd District Dems meeting where I saw him speak. At that point, he had lost a couple endorsements of note, but really still had a lot of power, credibility, and experience to rely upon. Why he then chose to be so arrogant, seemingly resentful that he had to run a campaign at all, is beyond me.

    What’s happened to him? I didn’t see any kind of fireworks between the two candidates. But it made me wonder if Carr believes that he is essentially unaccountable, and that any questions about his conduct raised by electoral challengers can simply be dismissed out of hand. As his hyper-sensitivity makes him more angry about campaigning, and as his anger turns off more and more of his former allies, I have to wonder if we are perhaps witnessing his self-destruction in slow time?

    I look forward to publicola’s coverage next week.

  • Trevor

    I was very surprised by the perma-frown on Carr’s face at the 43rd District Dems meeting where I saw him speak. At that point, he had lost a couple endorsements of note, but really still had a lot of power, credibility, and experience to rely upon. Why he then chose to be so arrogant, seemingly resentful that he had to run a campaign at all, is beyond me.

    What’s happened to him? I didn’t see any kind of fireworks between the two candidates. But it made me wonder if Carr believes that he is essentially unaccountable, and that any questions about his conduct raised by electoral challengers can simply be dismissed out of hand. As his hyper-sensitivity makes him more angry about campaigning, and as his anger turns off more and more of his former allies, I have to wonder if we are perhaps witnessing his self-destruction in slow time?

    I look forward to publicola’s coverage next week.

  • 36th district democrat

    Carr was a no show at the 36th district democrats endorsement meeting.

    No one spoke for him either, it seems.

  • 36th district democrat

    Carr was a no show at the 36th district democrats endorsement meeting.

    No one spoke for him either, it seems.

  • 36th district democrat

    Carr was a no show at the 36th district democrats endorsement meeting.

    No one spoke for him either, it seems.

  • Dan

    Nice digs. I’ll bet publicola owes a lot of favors around town for the money to support an office like that. Who to pay first? Supporters of Sandeep’s boss is my best guess.

  • Dan

    Nice digs. I’ll bet publicola owes a lot of favors around town for the money to support an office like that. Who to pay first? Supporters of Sandeep’s boss is my best guess.

  • Dan

    Nice digs. I’ll bet publicola owes a lot of favors around town for the money to support an office like that. Who to pay first? Supporters of Sandeep’s boss is my best guess.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @5,

    I know. Don’t they look awesome?

    My office was the cafeteria at the state legislature and coffee shops in Capitol Hill for 4 months. I’m psyched about the regal digs.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @5,

    I know. Don’t they look awesome?

    My office was the cafeteria at the state legislature and coffee shops in Capitol Hill for 4 months. I’m psyched about the regal digs.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @5,

    I know. Don’t they look awesome?

    My office was the cafeteria at the state legislature and coffee shops in Capitol Hill for 4 months. I’m psyched about the regal digs.

  • eww

    Is Carr touching himself in this photo?

  • eww

    Is Carr touching himself in this photo?

  • eww

    Is Carr touching himself in this photo?

  • eww

    come to think of it, it looks likes he’s reaching out to Peter AND touching himself. No wonder Peter is scrunched over in that corner.

  • eww

    come to think of it, it looks likes he’s reaching out to Peter AND touching himself. No wonder Peter is scrunched over in that corner.

  • eww

    come to think of it, it looks likes he’s reaching out to Peter AND touching himself. No wonder Peter is scrunched over in that corner.

  • bluecella

    what a load…