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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.

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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.

TechNerd on KUOW

News   December 11, 2009 at 3:04 pm Josh Feit

PubliCola TechNerd Glenn Fleishman has been writing about the digital divide—the problem with online access in historically segregated and redlined neighborhoods—all year.

Today, he’s got a piece about it on KUOW.


  • Central District resident

    Glenn is awesome! And spot-on with his assessment on this issue.

    One question though for Glenn: how do you reconcile your support for Bill Schirer to stay on as the city’s CTO when much of this problem happened/got worse under his watch? Not attacking, just asking.

  • Glenn Fleishman

    @1: Take a look back at the history of this thing on this site and elsewhere: Schrier has limited control over broadband because of federal regulations. At the same time, he has promoted a plan to bring better broadband–but one that the mayor had to support and push, and the city council agree to. Nickels liked having a plan, but wasn’t interested in promoting it, clearly. McGinn does.

    As far as city infrastructure, Schrier has put in dozens (hundreds?) of miles of fiber among city offices, as well as partnering with Seattle Public Schools, state and federal offices, and other institutions to share fiber. He doesn’t have specific numbers, but all this fiber means better intra-government communication, and the cost is mostly upfront for building, instead of recurring when purchased from a telecom firm like Qwest.

    You can also judge his efficacy by Seattle.gov. It’s not the most beautiful site, to be sure, but I find it generally gives me all the information I need.

  • Glenn Fleishman

    @1: Take a look back at the history of this thing on this site and elsewhere: Schrier has limited control over broadband because of federal regulations. At the same time, he has promoted a plan to bring better broadband–but one that the mayor had to support and push, and the city council agree to. Nickels liked having a plan, but wasn’t interested in promoting it, clearly. McGinn does.

    As far as city infrastructure, Schrier has put in dozens (hundreds?) of miles of fiber among city offices, as well as partnering with Seattle Public Schools, state and federal offices, and other institutions to share fiber. He doesn’t have specific numbers, but all this fiber means better intra-government communication, and the cost is mostly upfront for building, instead of recurring when purchased from a telecom firm like Qwest.

    You can also judge his efficacy by Seattle.gov. It’s not the most beautiful site, to be sure, but I find it generally gives me all the information I need.

  • Glenn Fleishman

    @1: Take a look back at the history of this thing on this site and elsewhere: Schrier has limited control over broadband because of federal regulations. At the same time, he has promoted a plan to bring better broadband–but one that the mayor had to support and push, and the city council agree to. Nickels liked having a plan, but wasn’t interested in promoting it, clearly. McGinn does.

    As far as city infrastructure, Schrier has put in dozens (hundreds?) of miles of fiber among city offices, as well as partnering with Seattle Public Schools, state and federal offices, and other institutions to share fiber. He doesn’t have specific numbers, but all this fiber means better intra-government communication, and the cost is mostly upfront for building, instead of recurring when purchased from a telecom firm like Qwest.

    You can also judge his efficacy by Seattle.gov. It’s not the most beautiful site, to be sure, but I find it generally gives me all the information I need.

  • Central District resident

    Glenn is awesome! And spot-on with his assessment on this issue.

    One question though for Glenn: how do you reconcile your support for Bill Schirer to stay on as the city's CTO when much of this problem happened/got worse under his watch? Not attacking, just asking.