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 Jolt: The Day’s Winner and Loser

2010 Election, Jolt, Politics   August 26, 2010 at 6:31 pm Afternoon Jolt

Today’s Winner: The Washington Education Association

Incumbent state Democratic Sen. Steve Hobbs (D-44, Lake Stevens) might be the teachers union’s least favorite member of the legislature. Hobbs, a hero to education reformers, was the beneficiary of a $10,000 independent expenditure from the ed reform group Stand fro Children PAC,  and the morning after the primary he led the field with 37 percent.

However, the race has been trending towards Republican David Schmidt all week. (Yesterday, The Everett Herald‘s Jerry Cornfield covered Schmidt’s narrow lead and today, he’s in first  by 135 votes.)

The WEA, which did independent expenditures of their own  against Hobbs (and endorsed Schmidt) looks to have taken round one as we head into the general.

Today’s Loser: Jean Berkey

At the beginning of the week, Republican Rod Rieger was battling for second place with Democratic State Senator Jean Berkey (D-38, Everett) to advance to the general election (progressive Nick Harper is already through). On Monday, Rieger was ahead by nineteen votes with 5,000 left to count.

Today, with 111 ballots left to count, Rieger is ahead of Berkey by 119.