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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.

Two Updates: Nickels Ad, McKenna on Light Rail

News   July 21, 2009 at 2:14 pm Josh Feit

1. I talked to Seattle Ethics and Elections Director Wayne Barnett regarding an ethics complaint filed about a Nickels campaign ad. (The crux of the complaint, which we reported in this morning’s Morning Fizz, was that Nickels, abused his public office to get privileged access to the light rail stations to shoot a video spot.)

Ethics director Barnett reports, as I believe some people in the comments thread pointed out, that the ad was shot from a public location (4th and Lander). Barnett adds: The footage was actually borrowed  from another ad shoot—it’s footage from the 2007 roads and transit initiative. No foul.

2. Those who took offense at my shout out to former Republican King County Council Member and Sound Transit board member (now Republican A.G. and likely GOP gubernatorial candidate in 2012) Rob McKenna for his active watchdogging over Sound Transit in 1999 and 2000, will be titillated to know that McKenna has refused to talk to me after I asked his spokesman yesterday (and today) to offer a comment on light rail’s big opening weekend.


  • Laura
  • Laura
  • Barb

    Proposed alterenate title for this post…
    A Mole Hill and a Weasel

  • Barb

    Proposed alterenate title for this post…
    A Mole Hill and a Weasel

  • Mikos

    Josh–

    He wants to be governor. The last thing he wants is somebody reminding Democratic voters that he opposed light rail.

    None of this, however, absolves you of your apostasy: you dared speak well of a Republican. Shame on you.

  • Mikos

    Josh–

    He wants to be governor. The last thing he wants is somebody reminding Democratic voters that he opposed light rail.

    None of this, however, absolves you of your apostasy: you dared speak well of a Republican. Shame on you.