Political blog debuts; Digs turns up honors

We're celebrating two birthdays at The Seattle Times — one is an anniversary and the other is a day of birth.

Turning one year old this month is digs, our Saturday section on design, interiors, gardens and spaces. The tab is marking its first anniversary by being named the best newspaper home section in the country. More about that later, but first this birth announcement.

David Postman, chief political reporter for The Times, is starting a new political column and an online blog this week. The column will appear in print and online on Fridays. The blog starts tomorrow on seattletimes.com/postmanonpolitics.

"In general, both the column and the blog are part of our campaign-year effort to be the best source of political news," Postman explained.

Any year with a U.S. Senate race is a political feast, but the menu in 2006 will include measures ranging from gay rights and assisted suicide to transportation taxes and what to do about the viaduct. Postman will ensure that no one leaves hungry.

Postman said the column will offer analysis rather than opinion. "I will express no ideological leanings in the column. I think there is a big audience out there for political news, and I hope the column appeals to both the casual, campaign-year political fan as well as the insiders," he said.

Richard Wagoner, Times politics editor, said the column will allow Postman to step back and explore in more depth various aspects of the political scene as the 2006 election year unfolds. The blog, he said, will be different from much of what exists in the "blogosphere."

"Most blogs provide links to news from other Web sites with short commentary from the blogger. Postman will do some of that. But the meat of his blog will be original reporting, primarily about state, regional and national politics.

"Each day, readers can find news from Postman's deep stable of sources (including other Seattle Times reporters), analysis of the latest political developments and links to the best and most compelling political news online. And because it's a blog, readers can talk back. He'll encourage comments and engage readers in thoughtful discussion of local, state and national politics."

Postman added, "The blog will show more of my personality than what usually appears in the newspaper. If something looks ridiculous to me, I hope to be able to say so and explain why. Again, there will be no ideological slant."

Of course, you'll be the judge of that. I don't envy Postman having to deal with the political vitriol that's out there, but he seems ready for it.

"I love blogs. I read them throughout the day," he said. "I read about politics, including a list of local blogs, about journalism, talk radio, hot rods, motorcycles, music, fashion, gossip and tech gadgets. I think blogs are a great way to communicate.

"I crave immediacy as both a consumer and writer of news. I think working online will allow me greater timeliness. It will also allow me to communicate more directly with readers."

Postman doesn't get hung up debating whether bloggers are journalists and whether "mainstream media" can blog. "I don't think it's necessary for newspaper people to criticize blogs or put them down. They do what they do. We do what we do.

"And what I'm going to try is to mix that up a little bit without trying to change the world or journalism. I hope it is fun for me and our readers, too."

On the home front

The National Association of Real Estate Editors gave digs a super birthday present — first place for best newspaper home section in our circulation category. Judges called the section "hip" and the design (by news artist Boo Davis) "innovative." Times staffer Becky Teagarden won first place for best collection of home-content work by an individual.

Colleen McBrinn, digs editor, said the award comes on top of terrific reader reaction to the section. "One thing I've especially enjoyed in our first year of digs has been the spirited conversation with our readers — from people telling us about their favorite unique shops and artisans to folks opening up their beloved spaces to share with other digs readers.

"This has been a great reminder that this subject — our homes, and how we live in them — is one of those things people LOVE to talk about, and hear about from their neighbors. digs works because readers talk to us, share with us, have fun with us," she said.

"Most of us spend an inordinate amount of time — and cash — thinking about and improving our homes, whether they are apartments, condos or houses. We love to peek into our neighbors' living spaces, glean ideas, find good deals and make our spaces truly our own. That's what we strive to offer in digs every week."

Inside The Times appears in the Sunday Seattle Times. If you have a comment on news coverage, write to Michael R. Fancher, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111, call 206-464-3310 or send e-mail to mfancher@seattletimes.com. More columns at seattletimes.com/columnists