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.

PubliCola Power: Seattle Magazine Names PubliCola One of 2009's Best

News   November 2, 2009 at 9:30 am Josh Feit

In a year-end wrap-up, Seattle magazine chose PubliCola (along with the PI.com and Techflash) as one of three standout sites on its “Power ’09: New Media” list.

Says Seattle mag about “The New, New Media” and PubliCola:

Print newspapers might be going the way of the stone tablet … but journalists aren’t down and out. They’re still hewing to trusted and true journalistic standards with newly created online-only publications.

A few of these new new media contenders are influencing and shaping Seattle’s news landscape …

Whether you agree or disagree with PubliCola’s witty and irreverent brand of political coverage, it’s time to start paying attention…

We’re flattered to be in the company of the PI.com and Techflash, two sites that share PubliCola’s M.O.—tempering the notion that blogging is changing reporting by making sure reporting changes blogging.


  • Michael M.

    Oh crap…does that mean there are going to be new readers, and we have to behave a bit more in the comment threads???

  • Michael M.

    Oh crap…does that mean there are going to be new readers, and we have to behave a bit more in the comment threads???

  • http://www.seattleuntimely.com/ charlie

    Congratulations guys, you deserve it.

    Next step: making sure spelling changes commenting.

  • http://www.seattleuntimely.com charlie

    Congratulations guys, you deserve it.

    Next step: making sure spelling changes commenting.

  • ivan

    It shows only that Publicola is no more immune to shameless self-congratulation than the Seattle Times is every time it wins some award or another. Nice role model you picked.

  • ivan

    It shows only that Publicola is no more immune to shameless self-congratulation than the Seattle Times is every time it wins some award or another. Nice role model you picked.