First Draft by Tim Porter

Newspaper's Ed Page Writers Launch Blog

When the editorial page writers of the Dallas Morning News have something to say they don't need to wait for the next edition of the newspaper or a convening of the editorial board to say it. They use their new Edblog.

The Morning News began the Movable Type-powered blog with the intent to "allow board members to share their evolving thoughts on a variety of issues, and to allow readers a window into our opinion-development process."

John Granatino, who manages the DMN's web operations, said in an email to an online news list, that he's "not aware of any similar newspaper-sponsored project."

Thus far, the editorial board members - whose names are posted but unfortunately not their bios -- have opined on Tony Blair's problems, Texas redistricting, the nature of Islam and the movie Winged Migration.

Many newspapers invite the public into editorial or news meetings in an effort to make the paper's decision-making process more transparent, but access is limited by the number of seats in the room. In a way, the Dallas blog does the opposite - it takes the decision-making out of the room and into the public using a vehicle (the Internet) with unlimited seating.

Smart move. I'll expect other papers will follow suit.

Links
 Dallas Morning News EdBlog

Posted by Tim Porter at July 21, 2003 08:57 AM