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.

Afternoon Fizz: Local Democratic Operator to be Sen. Harry Reid’s Campaign Spokesman

Politics, That Washington   March 8, 2010 at 2:12 pm Josh Feit

Kelly Steele, a tough talking Democrat who ran Sen. Maria Cantwell’s messaging in her 2006 blowout reelection over Mike McGavick and—as communications director for the Washington state Democrats—helped Gov. Chris Gregoire knock out challenger Dino Rossi in 2008, has been tapped to be U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) campaign spokesman.

Steele is good—the Seattle Times wrote a feature on him and his bruising brand of campaign politics during the Gregoire-Rossi race.

But Steele has his work cut out for him. Sen. Reid’s numbers are not good. He’s currently down 50 to 38 against his GOP challenger, former state Republican party chair Sue Lowden.