Big Question's Big News

Mary Lahammer — Tue, 5 Jun 2007 14:29:57 -0500

The news is big, I think. Eric Black, the much-read man behind the Strib's Big Question is officially headed to "web land." This is pretty solid evidence newspapers, journalism, and public affairs are changing. We've been lucky at tpt to have people like our former web guru Chuck Olsen see trends like this coming when more than five years ago he told me I had to start doing this blogging thing (although one local blogger once called it my "weekly paragraph" — sorry, I do have a really busy job where TV is the first thing I have to do ahead of blogging). Now, I know I'm not nearly as prolific or well-read as Eric Black, but I do see value in traditional journalists opening themselves up to the blog world. We've got nothing to hide. I'm more than happy to share my insider's perspective with you. If you read and watch often you'll see we cut and reward both sides of the aisle. It's not about partisanship here, it's about good governing and good journalism. Enough of my little rant. Here's the news release:

STAR TRIBUNE VETERAN REPORTER ERIC BLACK JOINS THE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT MEDIA, MINNESOTA MONITOR

As newspapers continue to cut staff, online journalism continues to grow

Washington, D.C. (06/05/2007)—The Center for Independent Media (CIM) today announced the hiring of veteran Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter Eric Black. Black, who recently accepted a buyout from the newspaper after 30 years of service, will begin writing his own blog and cross-posting at CIM’s state sites MinnesotaMonitor.com, ColoradoConfidential.com and IowaIndependent.com.

“I've been at the Star Tribune 30 years. That's a long run. I look back on it with fondness. But maybe 30 years of any one gig is long enough,” said Black. "That's a lot of years writing in the voice of a newspaper writer and imbibing and internalizing the norms of newspaper journalism. They have their good points, but for where we are now are I think they’re more constricting than they need to be. Journalism needs something better than the model it's been using for several decades now.”

“Bringing Eric on board is exciting news for the Center for Independent Media and its sites,” said CIM President David Bennahum. “While there are national blogs who have hired ‘main stream media’ reporters to write on national issues for its online journalism sites, we believe that our model of local coverage is a first-of-its-kind in the United States.

“As local newspapers continue to cut staffs, online reporting continues to grow. Online journalism will be the place that traditional print reporters naturally move to over the course of the next few decades. We’re on the cutting edge of this change.”

Black will fulfill his commitment to the Minneapolis Star Tribune and then begin reporting for CIM from Minneapolis later this month. To read an interview conducted with Minnesota Monitor on Black’s buyout, visit http://minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1870

Black also began writing his popular Star Tribune blog, “The Big Question,” in 2005. Visit the blog at http://www.startribune.com/blogs/bigquestion/

In the past year, CIM’s sites in Minnesota and Colorado have won prestigious Society of Professional Journalism awards in its respective states, and the Iowa site, Iowa Independent, recently launched. CIM will continue to grow this year, with announcements to be made this summer.

The Center for Independent Media is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that fosters diversity of ideas in the national debate through the advancement of independent media, with a primary emphasis on online journalism. The Center brings talented and diverse voices and ideas to the forefront through its fellowships, publications, conferences and research. Programs emphasize the importance of citizen-driven journalism as a critical founding principle of our nation. Program participants adhere to the highest standards of journalism and follow the code of ethics adopted by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Eric Black’s bio

Eric Black has written for the Star Tribune for 30 years, mostly as a reporter and most recently a blogger for the Star Tribune. His specialties have included political coverage, pieces that provided historical context to issues that were in the news, and, during the 2006 election cycle, he wrote pieces for both the paper and the Big Question blog fact-checking campaign ads and other political communications.

It's a Bloggers World

richard — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 13:33:27 -0600

How have blogs changed Minnesota's political world? We here from two bloggers who talk about their craft. Michael Brodkorb and Chuck Olsen are our guests.