Making the NYT

It was exciting to learn today that I'd been included in a New York Times story on "some of the most influential bloggers who went to work for campaigns this year." It's great to be recognized as a leader in an emerging phenomenon. Of course, Larry Grant gets plenty of credit for being an early adopter of what's likely to be an essential campaign tool for most candidates in 2008.

Unfortunately, the story - actually a full-page chart listing 13 of us - made it sound like Larry Grant paid me to flack for him here on Red State Rebels ...  a misconception one red Idaho blogger seized upon and another handily cleared up. In fact, as most of you know, Larry paid me to write his Grassroots for Grant blog (on which I made nearly 500 posts) and to reach out to the national netroots. I also did some writing and media relations work on the Jerry Brady for Governor campaign early in 2006. I made full disclosure of both these assignments here on Red State Rebels.

Grassroots for Grant is in mothballs, at the candidate's request. But it's still available via password to anyone with a legitimate interest in reading it - namely, scholars and select candidates seeking a professional, proven blogger for the 2008 cycle. Email me if you are interested. But like Ali Bubba, I won't blog for just anyone.

Comments

[h sofia]

Hey, congrats!! Now you can add this to your resume. =)

[The Nickel-Plated JA]

What I think the Times went soft on (deliberately? I don't have the same regard for the quality of the NYT anymore that many seem to retain) is the fact that it is a new form of political-media arms race: You *have* to have a blog and do net outreach *OR* you will fall behind; in which case, paying people who've already demonstrated they know what they're doing in that arena becomes old news.

Of course, the thing that boggles my mind is what pulling GFG down from public view actually achieves? If nothing else, keeping before the public the traffic from otherwise-loyal Republicans who opposed Sali could foment dissent in their ranks for years to come.... And if Larry is thinking about another run (which I would consider ill-advised, for reasons I'll get into at some other time), it would give a jumping-off point for further support.

[JamesL]

That's kind of a good point--there was a lot of opposition research stored on GFG that could, if still stored online, go a long way to reminding people what Bill Sali is about whenever they google him.

Regardless, Larry probably has weighed that option against other factors and made his decision accordingly.

[Julie in Boise]

NPJA, campaign blogs are still very much a developing medium. There were actually relatively few active official campaign blogs this past cycle, perhaps a few dozen that had regular posts. Grassroots for Grant was near the top of the crop in terms of frequency, depth, and range. I am sad it's no longer available to the general public, because I believe it could be a primary tool in keeping Bill Sali to one term.

But JamesL, you nailed it. And as I've mentioned, the blog is available, but only to those approved by the 2006 staff. Fortunately, much of the most salient Sali stuff is also posted elsewhere. There are 200+ stories and diaries at Daily Kos alone. If Larry runs again, you can bet the 2006 GFG content will be resurrected in some form. If he doesn't, it'll be made abundantly available to whomever winds up as the Dem challenger.

[kainah]

Hey Julie -- it's Lesley W over in Laramie, just dropping by to congratulate you on the NYTimes mention. Very cool!!!

I was watching your coverage of Grant -- and contributing regularly to his campaign -- but too busy pushing Trauner to comment much. Anyway, good to see you making such a splash.

[Julie in Boise]

Hey Lesley, thanks for stopping by and for your support for Larry, too.

That was a heartbreaker for Trauner ... soooo close! Has there been much backlash against the Libertarian spoiler?

At least Dave F won in a walk. Very good news.

[curious dem]

I'm still a bit unclear - did you or did you not take money to say positive things about Democratic candidates on THIS blog? And could you please post links to the disclaimers you mention in your post? Thanks.

[Julie Fanselow]

Curious Dem,

Click my name for the disclosure I posted when I became Grant for Congress blog manager. It remains in the right-hand sidebar, clearly labeled, where it has been for more than a year. (Before Election Day, it was the top item on the sidebar.)

I was paid $1,300 a month to write the Grassroots for Grant blog, reach out to the national netroots, and perform various other writing and organizational tasks for the Grant campaign. It was a part-time salary for what wound up being a full-time job. And frankly, as someone who has been paid a dollar or two a word from national magazines, I was working very cheap.

I have never accepted nor solicited any money for writing Red State Rebels. Have I written nice things about Larry on Red State Rebels? You bet. It has always been a political blog, and it would've been odd for me not to write about the hottest campaign in Idaho. And I do believe my track record with Red State Rebels was a primary reason Larry hired me in the first place.

But the bottom line is this: I am a professional writer. I have made a living entirely with my writing since 1982. Earlier in my career, I paid the bills writing about travel, parenting, and small business issues. Now, I feel blessed to be able to make at least part of my living by writing for people who are trying to get elected to create positive change in our state and nation.

I lump Red State Rebels in with all the other unpaid work I've done in politics, including serving as a precinct captain, helping local candidates on their campaigns, and even managing a virtual phone bank to Oregon for America Coming Together in 2004. But as someone who has earned a living with writing for a quarter-century, I can do only so much writing work for free. And as someone who needs to pay her bills, send a kid to college, and maybe even retire someday, I will continue to accept paid jobs writing for politicians and public-policy institutions whose views are aligned with mine.

Frankly, I hope more candidates hire professional writers instead of career political operatives for their blogging and writing needs. And I hope many of those writers are outside-the-Beltway bloggers and local pundits who know their regions and who think outside the boxes that the overpaid, underperforming D.C.-based consultants have constructed for our party.

[sharon fisher]

congratulations!

I always knew that RSR was a labor of love and that the money was for the Grant blog.

[Julie in Boise]

Yeah, I think that's been pretty clear to folks here in Idaho. But the New York Times article really confused the issue ... surprising since it was written by the same guy who did a similar piece for MSNBC just before the election, in which he made it clear I was being paid to write the campaign blog.

Sharon, I do note that you, too, have joined the blogosphere. Congrats, and I will be keeping an eye on that.

[The Nickel-Plated JA]

Why surprising? Both have editors. Everything I've seen in the Times suggests to me they would like nothing more than to discredit Liberals, bloggers, and *especially* Liberal bloggers! MSNBC, on the other hand, is a *LOT* more tech/geek/blogger friendly, and at least neutral (in the case of Keith Olbermann, quite favorable!) toward Liberals. Unlike the relative freedom we've had writing nonfiction books, many newsrooms are a comparatively Gestapo environment; look at the mess McClatchy has made of the Statesman in a few short months!

[Deb Givens]

Congrats, Julie. I saw the NYT article and was so proud of my fellow Bobcat I showed everyone at work. Keep at it.

[Julie Fanselow]

Thanks, Deb! Great to hear from you ... hope all is well back East.

[Jill]

Thanks for responding elsewhere to my question about whether you noticed the lack of women in the blogger column and the political candidate column of the NYT chart.

I also agree with what you say about writers and blogs. I call myself a wonkabee because I'm outside the beltway and I'm so far from an operative. But I watch, I ask, I try to learn. I vote. I write. I blog, about politics. I would hope people who want to look like they care about what people like you and me want and think would think enough to have us write for them. And I don't see anything wrong with that, especially if you support the effort.

[Joan Wallace]

I was happy to see your blog recognized! I always enjoy your writing. Thanks for the work you do on Red State Rebels.