Justene: I think that some of that is access right now. The interviewees being willing to talk to a favorable ear.
Temple: Oh yeah, that's part of it. Also if I was doing it full time and paying people there would be harder and stronger rules - again that's different from the reason a lot of people take up blogging.
Justene: Originally PolState was connected to DailyKos but it was always intended to be independent. Then Markos turned it over to you for full independence, right?
Temple: The site was originally started by Markos, yes. As far as I know, yes it was meant to be an independent site open to both Republicans and Democrats and points in between. It started in Jan. 2003 and certainly by the time I took it over in Oct. 2003 it had Republican and Democrat contributors. Markos said - in a posting to the PolState Yahoo group - that the site would die unless someone took it over because he had no time. We see now where his time was going.
Because it had that bipartisan goal I felt comfortable as a reporter, who talks to politicians frequently, taking it over. Still people get confused because the last time I looked Kos had on his DailyKos About page that he had started Political State Report (true), without adding that he no longer has anything to do with it.
Temple: You used to be a contributor before that time.
Temple: And thanks for giving me a chance to explain that.
Justene: Yes, I recall you coming in. I thought it was independent but Markos' name meant some people just refused to believe it.
Temple: Understandable after DailyKos got going.
Justene: I thought DailyKos was first or simultaneously? But they were on the same server and Markos ran both.
Temple: Regarding which was first - you are undoubtedly correct with DailyKos being first. I'm not 100 percent sure.
Justene: You've said that your main concerns about blogs are political blogs. PolState is different from those "political blogs" you are referring to.
Temple: Well, I partly addressed that above. The site has no single agenda and
is not trying to convince anyone of a particular belief. Still contributors are free to meld some analysis in their pieces and some POV. It's funny, many contributors who've been there a long time are reluctant to do that. I think they share my idea that the rest of the blogosphere, with few exceptions, is a place to argue and get angry. Ultimately to little purpose.
I keep on thinking of things I could do with PolState with more money and more time. Advertise in the NY Times. Get a billboard. Pay the contributors. I also want to find out more about my contributors; maybe ask a question when I sign people up: Are you being paid to blog or promote a candidate online?
Justene: Do you consider the PolState contributors journalists?
Article comments
1 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Excellent Justene, and Temple too. Great questions, great answers, i think i know too much.
2 - francisco68
Justene and Temple. Successful interview that kept me interested (and I am not a big reader of interviews). And I thank Justene for the links to Temple's different sites. Those of us who usually just look at the pictures enjoyed the casagrande site.
We obviously don't always agree on things,but you are both gentlefolk (gender neutral) and believe in rational discussion.
Temple's homesite and PolState site are fascinating. If I decide to move to North Dakota there is a reporting job open. Sadly I cannot write on Quintana Roo,Mexico politics for you or they will deport me.
Thanks for the glimpse into both your thoughts -- those on which we agree and not.
3 - Eric Olsen
super, thanks, very important and readable
4 - Eric Berlin
I happen to enjoy interviews and this was a particularly interesting one. Nice job to you both.
I'm fascinated to see where technology, journalism, entertainment, and information are headed.
And I might be biased a little, but I think BlogCritics is a pretty great place to watch it happen, and take part in the process at the same time.
5 - Temple Stark
There's a lot of stuff packed in this two-parter. I just hope most of it makes sense and is clear enough.
Thanks Eric.
6 - Temple Stark
Um this interview got cut by about 400 words. I hope it can be reinstated
7 - Justene
Of course it can be reinstated. It only took another hour of my time parsing through your words over and over again. At first I didn't know you too well and then I liked you and now I am totally over you.
8 - Temple Stark
:-). LOL I think. too funny.