Buckeye State Blog - BlogPac and the Kos Crew Want To $ponsor the Ohio 'Sphere - Comments

Jerid taking this money

MarkJablonski — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 13:28:14 -0700

would mean he would let these guys dictate what gets put on the front page and would take away his independence. *Just kidding Red* Seriously though, I guess it all comes down to perceptions, and how Jerid wants BSB to be perceived. As I am not paying for hosting, I don't have much of a right to tell him what to do. Although, I don't think I'd be alone in saying that I'd gladly shell out a few bucks to keep this thing running. When it comes down to it, I'm pretty sure that Jerid takes all of this pretty seriously, and I trust him to do what he thinks is best. I will stand behind whatever decision he makes.

Bonobo

redenemy — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 11:10:35 -0700

Fine point. In part, what I'm doing is saying, look, it's Jerid's blog, and in someway those of us that don't pay the bills need to back up. I'm creating the space for him to make his decision, which he politely asked us to be involved in. And frankly, it's our credibility as well (those of us that are Front Pagers or whatever we are). Shoot, the implication seems to be that if Jerid takes this money every poster here will suddenly have to answer to Kos. It's bullshit.

I think you're absolutely right in saying that it's not a right or wrong question. I think bsb gains the access to a much wider readership, the big boxes can have thier ego stroking. Fine. I'm less than worried about it, because I think we will all continue on exactly as we have before.

That said, I'm going to consistantly challenge anyone that says Jerid taking this money would mean he would let "these guys dictate what gets put on the front page" or would take away his independence. In fact, I welcome that fight. In the words of our president, "bring it on."

Red

bonobo — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 10:12:20 -0700

Somebody needs to be arguing against those who are weighing in against the proposal, so I'm glad that you're doing it. And you're certainly right that worrying about the site content among folks here displays a pretty insulting lack of trust in Jerid. I disagree, however, if you think any and all reservations about this are "hand-wringing." This site, and in particular Jerid, will be called upon to "prove" independence time and again. It won't be fair, it often won't even be relevant, but it will happen. These attacks will either be responded to or ignored, with all the fun consequences of either course of action. It's the sort of downside you just accept and deal with when you're committed to the positive outcomes of an action. What, exactly, are the positive outcomes we're looking at here? What are the negatives of turning down the money?

I don't think this is a question of right and wrong. It wouldn't be wrong to take the sponsorship, and it wouldn't be "right," either. It's just a question of pragmatics. If Blogpac offered to sponsor my blog, I might very well take it. I'm new enough and small enough that what I've got to gain in terms of widespread readership and legitimacy is a lot more than I've got to lose. BSB is not in that position. There's more to lose than to gain. Just my two cents.

seriously

redenemy — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 08:05:10 -0700

What the fuck? Do you really thing that for $180 Jerid would sell his soul and suddenly become slave to the big box blogs? Do you really have this little faith in young master Jerid and his ability to make up his own mind on issues?

Moreover, this whole, blogs about their independence bit: I'd hate to insult of you experts on blogging out there, who want to talk about what blogs are all about, but what if Jerid took George up on his offer? Would you all scream holy hell about Jerid giving up his independence than? That would give George a kill switch on all operations, and even more power over this blog than someone writting a check. Do you think that Jerid would suddenly never say a bad word about George (not that he'd have any reason too, but you get the point)? The guys on the MTB ad network, are they anathema to what the blogs stand for? They're taking money from a coalition of folks. Big deal.

Jerid, ignore the handwringing. Do what you think is right.

Put me down as a resounding NO

Ryan — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 06:01:29 -0700

I can't stand the big box blogs in general and Kos in particular. I think this would be one step toward having these guys dictate what gets put on the front page and what gets discussed on BSB. If its a matter of money I am sure that more than enough people would be willing to donate to the cause. Heck, I'll contribute some money to keep BSB up and running if it means not having Kos looking over our shoulders every time we post. Blogs used to be about independence. This kind of deal is anathema to all that blogs stand for.

mtb and their radical agenda?!

bryan — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 13:52:36 -0700

jerid, you can't become beholden to mtb and their radical agenda of hate! don't give in! they're clevelanders, damn it, clevelanders!

*snark attack over; sorry, things were too nice around here, well, except for pho and jerid beating up on everyone*

that sounds like a much better deal. i vote for mtb to host.

Last thing first

Jill — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 13:46:05 -0700

I can agree to disagree. I stick with my original reading of that title, and accept that you didn't and don't see it that way. Last effort on persuading you or anyone else otherwise: think of how we feel when we read MSM headlines that hook us into reading an article. What do we think we're about to read versus what is there for us to actually read? Even in context, Jerid, although possibly VERY unintended on your part, I read the same equation there. You've worked to clarify your position and I believe you believe that position. However, I'd put money on Blogpac or any other out of Ohio larger entity banking on the hope that people outside Ohio, and maybe even inside Ohio, will actually equate whomever Blogpac or other big boxes might choose to support as The Voice of Ohio. Of course here we all know that's not true - we are indeed Whoville - where every voice makes a difference and one less voice will be noticed as an absence.

Still - that post title...but okay - enough. I trust your sincerity in saying that my reading doesn't reflect your intention.

Re: being proud of your independence. I know this gets old, I apologize in advance, but then, as a mom-type, I have to say: go with that. Figure out what risks you're willing to take and how revocable or irrevocable you believe accepting certain liaisons will be. Then go with it.

And the only other thing I will add: it's not like BSB is going anywhere or that there are political blogs in Ohio that draw what BSB draws or does what it does the way it does it. Which is to say, another entity may very well come along to court it - and maybe the configuration will be more appealing. Maybe not. Perhaps you can defer your decision until later in the 2008 cycle. Why not? And why not take George up on the offer (which I'd be happy to contribute to) and think about other configurations through which Ohioans can amplify what we've got in Ohio?

I'm sure you're not, but I feel like it's the appropriate time to say, Are you sorry you asked yet? :)

What concernes me

dpotts — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 13:04:02 -0700

is that by accepting this money you'd allow the national bloggers to write their (small) checks and post these links that say "hey look, were working with Ohio" and move on on the next state. If you refused this money they might actually have to get their hands dirty and work with Ohio.

Have you considered all the consequences of this decision? What makes this site so great is that it's mainly Ohioans talking about Ohio. If these big box blogs integrate BSB into some kind of network of state blogs this might change. It's quite possible that the majority of comments could come from people that have never even been to Ohio, much less lived here. Also keep in mind that the loss of appearance of independence can be just as damaging as the loss of independence itself.

As people have already said, $180 isn't really a lot of money. If you really need help paying the bills there are other options available like donations or more ads. If BSB could become self sufficient it would be far more beneficial in the long run.

Still the classiest guy in the room

redenemy — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 12:57:48 -0700

George Nemeth everybody, still the classiest guy in the room.

If the cost of hosting is an issue

GeorgeNemeth — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 12:45:21 -0700

I'm offering for Meet.The.Bloggers* to host BSB and AOG. If you're interested, Cindy or Jerid, drop me an email.

Jill

Jerid — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 11:49:34 -0700

I'm proud of being independent as well. I'd wager that other recipients of blogpac grants throughout the nation haven't been as forthcoming as I, or sought input. That's in the interest of transparency and independence.

Re: your comment on the Ohio 'sphere. Sorry - still disagree with you there. Read the post in context.

Marcvs

redenemy — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 09:25:22 -0700

thank you for saying what I wanted to so much more concisely.

p.s. cute name ref.

man..

redenemy — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 09:22:54 -0700

I'm crap at welcoming committee stuff too now? Stupid hypercritical site, everybody just wants to point out what you've done wrong (did you give one to Toledo Mike too? Cause he should get one)...

Who Shunned Jill?

redenemy — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 09:19:16 -0700

Lemme at 'em! Lemme at 'em!

Confidence and hubris are not the same thing

Jill — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 08:04:11 -0700

What you've posted here, Jerid, I read to be too personal a response by you, about me, to want to respond back publicly. The posts and comments I've left over the last 20 months or so, whereever I've left them, rarely if ever constitute defenses of myself as a person and my motives, and I'm not going to do that now. I have confidence that people to whom I'm familiar - through whatever venue - can decide for themselves as to whether 1) my perceptions about your blog post title, "Blogpac and the Kos crew want to sponsor the Ohio 'sphere" are wacko or spot-on and 2) my comment is the result of me being irritated by BSB's significance and traffic.

I appreciate and trust your compliments, but I have no ruffled feathers that need to be smoothed, Jerid. I've maintaind the same line for months and months about blog authors making decisions for themselves and allowing readers and participants to decide how the decisions affect the product. Nothing I've said is new or different because it's you or BSB.

But you see, Jerid, this sentence of yours about how ultimately the choice made for BSB affects us all just does not resonate for me. Now, I respect that you may feel that way, and others may feel that way. I don't feel that way. I just don't. The decision you make will affect, once again, how the national sites treat Ohio blogs.

But why are we caring so much about how they treat us? Why is that so important? As I wrote on my blog last night, I'm proud of being seen as independent. That is EXACTLY what I want. But it's what I want - it's FINE if it's not what you or anyone else wants. I WANT the national sites to see me as independent - because there are some national sites that LIKE and are attracted to that indepedence. I, obviously, am far less interested in sites that are NOT attracted to independence but rather, something else - I don't know what you want to call the opposite of being independent when it comes to blogs.

And so, for me, that is why, if it were me, and you've solicited opinions, I know what I would do. But I am not you, I am not BSB, I am just me. I treasure, value and love being shunned for being independent. And I haven't wavered from that since the first day I started blogging, and of course long before that in many other choices I've made over my more than half over life (OMG).

BlogPac and the Kos Crew Want To $ponsor the Ohio 'Sphere

Jerid — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 12:40:07 -0700

BlogPac has offered to sponsor this site.

Specifically, they've offered to pay the hosting costs (around $180 apiece) for the Buckeye State Blog and As Ohio Goes, and feature these two sites in their national project. I did not request a grant - BSB was offered one because of the significance we play in Ohio politics. Before we celebrate, it's important to note that this is a tricky situation.

I don't mean to disrespect a gift, but in the interest of transparency we need to talk about the implications this sponsorship could hold. I don't agree with everything that's been pushed nationally through the big box blogs; I saw first hand in 2005 as the national blog crew did things that set off high tensions throughout Ohio (think the Hackett Incident). Since then, the relationship between the Ohio 'sphere and nationals has been rocky. Still, even with its problems, the national blogosphere has a very important role to fill; they bind communities together and accelerate the dissemination of information. Without sites like Kos or MyDD people in California, Wyoming, Hawaii wouldn't find the information we put out throughout the Ohio 'sphere as easily as they do now.

For about the past year and a half Ohio's been more or less cut off from the national scene. This blog gets enormous traffic and under Russell's administration it made significant contributions to the '06 election. Despite that, there's been the perception amongst many in the Ohio sphere that national sites have purposefully avoided aiding or recognizing this site, and many of the sites throughout the Ohio 'sphere, because of our independent nature. A while back Salon wrote a great article that touched on some of those issues (click through the ads, the article specifically mentions BSB). The short version is that there have been allegations, some originating at this site, that the national 'sphere is motivated by the profit margin more than local communities like BSB. The fear is that pursuit of profit makes bloggers beholden to the purse; whoever's controlling the cash might ultimately try to exert influence on the content. Sirota, case in point.

So now the conundrum. I think the big box blogs are onto something huge here - this is exactly the sort of thing the Ohio' sphere discussed a few weekends back at RootsCamp. Organizing throughout the state level and providing a mechanism for low level funding has the potential to create a more agile, dependable network of progressive political sites throughout the states. BlogPac's already organizing sites like BSB throughout the country as part of the blogpac network to recieve blogpac grants. Some of the hottest, most innovative, and connected sites like Raising Kaine (VA), Burnt Orange Report (TX), Left in the West (MT), Calitics (CA) are already part of it. With sites like these on board, the organization is bound to be ridiculously influential and could have the potential to help us aid candidates and officeholders in the Buckeye state to an even greater degree. Turning Blogpac's offer down because of a poor relationship we've held in the past with big boxes could be detrimental to the concept of this project, and could be a disservice to our democratic candidates. But then again, accepting could give the impression that we're lumped in with all the shenanigans that happen outside of our 'sphere. What's worse...it could give the impression that we've lost our independence.

This is a project that excites me...one that I think could benefit Ohio tremendously...it's just touchy. So now you know what was on my mind last night, and what kept me awake at 3:30am.

I've spoken with a lot of those (but not all) that have my trust here at BSB to solicit their input on this. I'd like yours in the comments. I'm gonna put a poll up later, but for now please tell me what your thoughts are.