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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.

PubliCola Comment of the Day Goes To…

News   September 22, 2009 at 4:44 pm Josh Feit

Today’s “Comment of the Day” goes to regular Cola reader Andrew Smith who had this to say about Erica’s “C” is for Crank column today:

14. Andrew Smith says:

I ride Link and the bus each day and I have had problems with orca exactly once, and that was when it first started.

And as others pointed out, the $5 a month thing is a complete fabrication.

I think this time the “c” is for crap.

09/22/09 AT 4:17 PM

I couldn’t agree more Andrew. But there’s no editing Barnett when she’s on a column jag. The “C” is for Krazy if you ask me.


  • Andrew Smith

    In my defense, I normally love ECB and think she’s one of the best writers in the city.

    This, for example, is amazing:
    http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/back-to-the-future/Content?oid=969209

  • Andrew Smith

    In my defense, I normally love ECB and think she’s one of the best writers in the city.

    This, for example, is amazing:
    http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/back-to-the-future/Content?oid=969209

  • the j pod

    can you please stop naming things after us, esp. when they have nothing to do with whales, the sea, marine life, etc.?

  • the j pod

    can you please stop naming things after us, esp. when they have nothing to do with whales, the sea, marine life, etc.?

  • Jason

    If one of the “best writers in the city” gets basic facts wrong this often, we desperately need better writers.

  • Andrew Smith

    @3 I meant on the quality of writing, not necessarily on the quality of reporting (though she’s a lot better than most on this score as well, try reading the times).

  • Andrew Smith

    @3 I meant on the quality of writing, not necessarily on the quality of reporting (though she’s a lot better than most on this score as well, try reading the times).

  • Jason

    Fair enough, Andrew, fair enough.

  • Jason

    Fair enough, Andrew, fair enough.

  • Amy

    So – why not issue a correction, to at least the title? And revise the post?

  • Amy

    So – why not issue a correction, to at least the title? And revise the post?

  • Jason

    If one of the “best writers in the city” gets basic facts wrong this often, we desperately need better writers.