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.

What a Weekend

News   September 21, 2009 at 6:31 am Morning Fizz

fizz

1. PubliCola was all sports this weekend.

Not only were the Sounders at home (meaning SoundersNerd got some post-game press conference and locker room time—along with some great new photos), but we also added normal football coverage to the Cola mix.

What a weekend to start covering football in Seattle: The Huskies. The Huskies! And the Seahawks. (Oh, the Seahawks.) Hasselbeck says he’s going to be okay, anyway.

We’ll post a second batch of exclusive Sounders pics later this morning. (We’ll also have SeahawksNerd’s wrap up of the SF game.)

Thornton
Chivas’ goalie Zach Thornton blocks Sounders’ shot on goal. Again./Photo by Jack Hunter.

2. Kirkland’s Bungie Software is taking over the Experience Music Project tonight to show off its latest video game, Halo 3: ODST. Like the other Halo games, this title puts you in the shoes of a military dude shooting his way out of an alien world. Apparently, the series is huge—biggest in America, or something like that?

Head over tonight to try the new game out, talk to the developers, and join tournaments for a shot at some Xbox 360 swag. Or ignore the game stuff and enjoy free entry into the EMP/Science Fiction Museum exhibits from 6-11 p.m.

3. Early Expenditure of the Day alert: Position 4 City Council candidate Sally Bagshaw gave us the heads-up last week that she’ll be making a $10,000 in-kind contribution to her own campaign to pay for her son to come up from Dallas and make videos (hopefully funny ones, she says) for her campaign. Because her son, a TV broadcaster, is taking five weeks off to help his mom, “I’m paying the boy,” Bagshaw says.

4. PubliCola is hiring.

Why is PubliCola the most talked-about new website of 2009 (a “must read” according to the P-I)?

Because we’re off to a killer start: In addition to posting insider gossip and hot scoops everyday (Mike McGinn is T-Mobile’s attorney in major anti-consumer rights case; Ron Sims off to D.C.; the legislature tries to overturn environmental voter initiative), we were the first online-only site in state history to get press credentials in Olympia this winter. And in June, we hired star Stranger news editor Erica C. Barnett.

And we’re not just for City Hall anymore. We’ve got MusicNerd, SoundersNerd, FilmNerd, TechNerd and more.

Next hire: We want an all-star advertising rep.

Who you are: You know Seattle, you know what’s hot, and you want to represent an expanding, young company.  You might love Salesforce, but you can also create and manage a mean spreadsheet.  You want to be part of a scrappy startup that’s filling the void where the old media is MIA.

The ad rep will report directly to Bad Cop, PubliCola’s business and marketing manager.  The job is full-time and includes health care.  Competitive salary plus commission. Previous sales experience  is a must.

Please email resume and cover letter to cynara@publicola.net. No calls please.

Today’s Morning Fizz is brought to you by Washington Conservation Voters.

wcv1


  • Michael G

    Last Friday there was a candidate forum at the Center Apartments on disability issues. Races covered included City Council Positions 4 and 6, Mayor, and City Attourney.

    I’ve been to a few of these things and am starting to feel that I have heard just about all that the candidates have to say. David Bloom made his pitch for affordable, accessible housing, Jessie Israel talked about her work in the parks department, and Nick Licata related some of his personal experiences.

    Poor Joe Mallahan. Last Friday was bad, even by his standards. I will give him some credit for having the integrity not to BS answers that he could have BS’ed, but he was clearly unprepared. I have supported Mallahan so far, but I will rethink that position if he doesn’t get his act together soon. By contrast, Mike McGinn seemed well-prepared, and he did well in relating his views on transit to the needs of people with disabilities and seniors.

  • Michael G

    Last Friday there was a candidate forum at the Center Apartments on disability issues. Races covered included City Council Positions 4 and 6, Mayor, and City Attourney.

    I’ve been to a few of these things and am starting to feel that I have heard just about all that the candidates have to say. David Bloom made his pitch for affordable, accessible housing, Jessie Israel talked about her work in the parks department, and Nick Licata related some of his personal experiences.

    Poor Joe Mallahan. Last Friday was bad, even by his standards. I will give him some credit for having the integrity not to BS answers that he could have BS’ed, but he was clearly unprepared. I have supported Mallahan so far, but I will rethink that position if he doesn’t get his act together soon. By contrast, Mike McGinn seemed well-prepared, and he did well in relating his views on transit to the needs of people with disabilities and seniors.

  • Michael G

    Last Friday there was a candidate forum at the Center Apartments on disability issues. Races covered included City Council Positions 4 and 6, Mayor, and City Attourney.

    I’ve been to a few of these things and am starting to feel that I have heard just about all that the candidates have to say. David Bloom made his pitch for affordable, accessible housing, Jessie Israel talked about her work in the parks department, and Nick Licata related some of his personal experiences.

    Poor Joe Mallahan. Last Friday was bad, even by his standards. I will give him some credit for having the integrity not to BS answers that he could have BS’ed, but he was clearly unprepared. I have supported Mallahan so far, but I will rethink that position if he doesn’t get his act together soon. By contrast, Mike McGinn seemed well-prepared, and he did well in relating his views on transit to the needs of people with disabilities and seniors.

  • Trevor

    Mallahan is on KUOW this morning from 9-10am.

  • Trevor

    Mallahan is on KUOW this morning from 9-10am.

  • insider baseball

    Geez!!!!!! This weekend you had on WAY TOO MUCH sports coverage for my liking! I mean really, scroll through and see for yourselves. And the never ending photos.

    I really only follow Publicola for politics and city hall stuff so if you are going to expand your coverage maybe you could include a way for me to just read certain reporters because I could care less about Husky or Seahawks football (and only a little about the Sounders)

  • insider baseball

    Geez!!!!!! This weekend you had on WAY TOO MUCH sports coverage for my liking! I mean really, scroll through and see for yourselves. And the never ending photos.

    I really only follow Publicola for politics and city hall stuff so if you are going to expand your coverage maybe you could include a way for me to just read certain reporters because I could care less about Husky or Seahawks football (and only a little about the Sounders)

  • insider baseball

    Geez!!!!!! This weekend you had on WAY TOO MUCH sports coverage for my liking! I mean really, scroll through and see for yourselves. And the never ending photos.

    I really only follow Publicola for politics and city hall stuff so if you are going to expand your coverage maybe you could include a way for me to just read certain reporters because I could care less about Husky or Seahawks football (and only a little about the Sounders)

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @3,

    We are working on retooling the site so it’ll be easier to pick and choose what you want to read.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @3,

    We are working on retooling the site so it’ll be easier to pick and choose what you want to read.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @3,

    We are working on retooling the site so it’ll be easier to pick and choose what you want to read.