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.

Council Makes Committee Assignments Official

News   November 20, 2009 at 12:00 pm Erica C. Barnett

The Seattle City Council just sent out a press release yesterday afternoon officially announcing committee assignments for next year, and the mainstream press has dutifully picked up the story.

PubliCola readers had the scoop Monday: Jean Godden will stay on as chair of finance and budget; Richard Conlin will chair regional sustainability, plus intergovernmental relations, economic development, and the library; Bruce Harrell will continue to chair the City Light committee; Sally Bagshaw will chair parks; Tom Rasmussen will take over transportation; Nick Licata will head up housing, human services, and culture; Tim Burgess will head up public safety and education again; Mike O’Brien will head up neighborhoods and public utilities; and Sally Clark will continue to head up planning and land use.