I dunno about you, but I almost never read posts or editorials from various gasbags when they’re introducing themselves to their new readerships. They’re usually a lot of expended wind in the service of pompous talk about their publication’s larger mission, blah blah blah.
But not this one. I’ll try to make this short and sweet and to the point.
Many of you know me from my regular Thursday FDL posts, and others know me from my long-running blog Orcinus. I’m a longtime journalist, winner of a National Press Club distinguished-online-journalism award, and have been blogging since early 2003; I’ve also won a couple of Koufaxes. And I’ve authored three books.
A couple of weeks ago, Jane and Pach and I began talking about FDL’s need for a front-page editor, and I suggested myself for the job. (Positively Cheneyesque, I know.) I’ve been looking to work in a medium I actually believe in for awhile now, and I especially believe in what the folks at Firedoglake have been doing. The journalists among us know what I’m talking about — this site has become the classic example of what Internet journalism can be but isn’t often enough.
What Jane has needed is someone to provide editorial guidance for the site while freeing her to do what she does best. In Jane’s case, that’s two things, actually; The first is writing — I think we all know what an insightful and witty voice she brings to the blogosphere; and the second is that she makes things happen. For those of us motivated by the desire to make a difference, that’s a supreme talent, and one I hope I can play a role in enabling.
Among the things Jane makes happen is that she brings a lot of amazingly talented people together, and FDL is living testament to that. I’m a little awestruck by the talent I’ll be working with here, but terribly excited about it, too.
I’m going to be working a lot behind the scenes to make them all be the best they can be. Some of us will be posting meaty and detailed pieces with substantive reporting and analysis. Some of us will be chiming in with the latest and freshest news and opinions and snark. It will all be a mix that we hope you’ll find engaging, entertaining, and enlightening.
There’s obviously an awesome array of talent working here. I’m hoping my efforts make FDL more readable, more cohesive, more up-to-the-minute, and more fun.
So enough about me. On with the doggies.
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official Welcome Mr Dave !
that Hamsher woman would beat Big Dog in a wonk-harvest any day !
I can almost see the FireDogLake World Headquarters compound on the horizen
And probably cut him to ribbons (as we all laughed) along the way, too.
Right before Murdoch buys out Jane & Christy.
ewrdtfgvbcbcrugfgfggfhk
Hello right back! Will you be helping me with my spellin an grammar errors? If so thier knot payin you enuf.
Boxturtle (I would never trust anyone who can’t spell a word at least three different ways – Will Rodgers)
oh,
and I think this could be a very good thing
the evolution continues
congratulations Mr. Dave!
Yeah Dave! But please, please , please don’t stop writing.
Does FDL have fact checkers? I wonder because the lake is often ahead of the media on stories but the media well two words Judy Miller. How as an editor do you plan to keep the Lake’s rep for accuracy.
I want in on the IPO:)
Editorial cleanup needed on Aisle 5
What a great addition to an already superlative blog.
Great news. Welcome.
Might want to update your FDL bio page, boss!
Hi Dave
We usually get 150 or so on each thread. The best ones include links to back up what they claim.
Welcome Dave … it’s going to be a treat to have your skills around here full time!
I’ll be writing here, of course, but I’ll maintain Orcinus for at least the next year, too. There are things I do there that just aren’t appropriate for FDL.
What??? No one smacked my down for my irreverent suggestion @ 4?
You’re a first-rate choice, Spudboy! Especially now as Calcified Silliness settles in on the “Mainstream” horizon. Joe Klein and his ilk must be bitch-slapped regularly, and John McCain given a nice hot cup of cocoa and sent to bed.
I think Christy responded at 5 :)
Welcome. May the “new journalism” replace the corrupt and complicit corporate media and all of their editors, celebrity news readers and disengenuous bloviators. That is the only hope for a legitimate 4th Estate and the future of America’s democracy. The old media is dead, long live the new media!
I think part of my job is to enhance our accuracy as much as possible. I was a newsroom editor for many years and have a long background in fact-checking and copy editing. So a lot of what I’ll be doing is cleaning up copy, tightening and making sure all the factual nuts and bolts are tightened down.
Welcome Dave!
I assumed your identity had been stolen by a troll
Could have fooled me. I didn’t understand that one at all.
Hi Dave. It will be like herding cats – nice cats, smart cats, beautiful cats, but cats nonetheless. Please add my name to the IPO list.
Murdoch buying FDL for the sole purpose of shutting Christy & Jane and the rest of us up is not outside the realm of chance.
Boxturtle (A buy out attempt from him would truly mean We’ve Arrived!)
Damn, this is great news!
Mush, doggies! Mush!
“Murdoch buying FDL…”
Wouldn’t he have to arm-wrestle the almighty Kos first?
Sounds like a lot of work Peterr @15’s other 150 fact checkers tend to get a little too excited if they find a mistake. Although I can’t recall finding any factual mistakes just differences in opinion?
Yes. Many ways a Murdoch attempt to corner the press could be interpreted.
Well, there’s an issue of quality vs. quantity. *g*
Welcome/Willkommen/Bem-vindo
Looks like the Peanut has weighed in this morning or perhaps PJ.
Well, FWIW, I don’t exactly get excited about mistakes, but I reflexively jump all over them. It’s in my wiring.
I think the only update my bio needs is to say I’m now working here, though.
I think it’s her new puppy. Who is neither house-trained or Treo-trained.
Hey Dave, welcome in that official “hang around her long enough and you’ll get a gold watch” kinda way!
Still keeping the lights on over at Orcinus I hope!!?!
Welcom Dave. Just don’t screw it up.
errrp… shoulda been: “hang around here long enough and you’ll get a gold watch” LOL
Welcome aborad, Dave, and congratulations on your new position.
I read that, then I got this vision of Murdoch trying to shut Christy up….My figuring is that rather than arm westle, KOS would likely grab a seat and sell popcorn.
Boxturtle (I’d pay to watch that fight)
OMG I Have Truly Found Paradise OMG OMG!!!!!
Sorry, couldn’t restrain myself from a little over-excitement. FDL and Orcinus have both been on my daily must-read list forever, and the official addition of Dave to the FDL editorial staff is a dream come true.
OMG OMG OMG … (Dr. Bonzo rides, OMG-ing, into the distance.)
Dave,
Can you give us some examples of what you’ll be doing as a front page editor?
seems vague to me. Thanks.
Are you mocking LHP’s typing again?
Bravo to Jane on bagging more excellent talent.
And congrats to Dave on this new and exciting phase in his online career.
Looks like wisdom strikes again. Hooray for the evolution of the Lake.
here’s to the new editor….. CHEERRS!! just be certain FDL retains its independence and great work in beating out the MSM!!
This is excellent news for Republicans.
Yeah, brevity sometimes requires vagueness. “Editorial guidance” just covers a lot of nitty-gritty stuff: Making assignments, coordinating publication schedules, copy editing, headline writing, tightening/rewriting excerpts, that sort of thing. I think the main thing is providing a kind of overall vision, based on my own news judgment and news sense, for what stories are important and what we want to be writing about and what we want to be playing up and down. That obviously means I have to be in tune with Jane’s vision in those regards as well — but so far, I’d say that won’t be a problem.
Ruturd’s daughter just bought “The Office” and some other hit show. His spawn have been buying up all kinds of New Media recently. Clearly there is a plan in place to maintain control over the Message Machine as the New Media world develops.
We must stop these Death-lovers. The less of the electorate that gets their “news” from Conglomerate sources, the fewer Killers, in other words modern day Republicans, that will be elected. Each of us must do whatever we can get more and more people off the Conglomerate Media teat. Now.
Welcome, Dave! So good to have you on as Managing Editor. You’ve already brought a lot of great ideas and enthusiasm as well as skill to the blog. I’m really excited about this.
Poodles (and Howie) say “hi.”
Thanks. That makes your new job much clearer and will be a great addition. Especially the part about what to drill down on. So many complicated considerations could go into that decision.
This is outstanding. FDL needed someone to polish the atmosphere of insightful posts coming from all the new people.
Thanks, Jane. Give Katie and the gang a headscratch for me.
Somebody took my lunch out of the refrigerator in the break room. Again.
Jane said I should come talk to you about it.
Great news, Dave.
I’ve been posting your work at wingnut news groups for years now, and it just makes them go crackers off a cliff.
(Every Christy post is a gem)
Hey Dave, welcome!
Calling Ken Starr!
Also, TBogg, I’m instituting a ride-your-bike-to-work policy. Figured you’d be pleased to know.
Ooops — that was The Peanut while mom was grabbing a shower. I think she said “welcome, David — and bless you!” *g*
Welcome Dave. It’s hard to believe FDL could “improve itself”, but if you say it, I believe it. Onward, then.
Can’t wait to see the changes.
Great news. I look to this sight to get my juices running in the morning and to improve my writing by watching howl the pros do it. This is a good evolutionary step, and what’s best about it is we don’t know how it will end.
Hmm. You really don’t have any idea about what you’ll do, do ya?
I think the highest compliment I get from the wingnuts is that they work really, really hard to ignore me and pretend I don’t exist. Malkin and Reynolds especially.
Congratulations on the new job. That certainly bucks the trends of the Bush economy.
Bush’s tax cuts for himself, his family, and his cronies just keep on working! Mission Accomplished!
spacefish @ 19 thought that it was your smackdown of me.
AWWWW!!!! The Peanut’s first post! The reich wing needs to run in terror NOW!
:)
welcome, as well. I would like to see some emphasis on the threat to privacy in our lives from government as well as corporate side. Particularly the part that is growing as technology expands and our use of it expands as well.
For instance, we had little to fear when medical records sat in file cabinets, but now with the push for electronic medical records, the impulse to share and requirements to do so by health insurers on docs is growing.
Similarly, health insurers have written into some contracts rules that require the patient to authorize access to lab tests results when the company pays for them.
Dave, if you can keep FDL going in the direction it is, and add lustre and consistency, you will have done mighty good.
my fify cents.
and welcome.
Will you still be writing/supporting Orcinus?
My sincerest welcome Mr. Dave.
You should be swamped with Emails in 3…2…1..
Am I supposed to actually look at my spell checker or can I continue to ignore it?
Decisions, decisions.
I didn’t think there were any of you guys left in the business. We don’t seem to get a lot of fact-checking in the MSM any more. One of my students became editorial page editor for a major Canadian paper owned by the despicable Conrad Black. He said that Black’s people had gutted the fact-checking and copy-editing sections to the point where it became a matter of chance whether anything turned out right, including the spelling.
Well, generically speaking, I do intend to make FDL the liveliest, most indispensable read on the Internet. How you get there, though, entails a lot of daily nitty-gritty stuff.
I think it’s best in this line of business not to get locked into hard goals (”We’re going to achieve X and X”) but to be capable of making sure of two things: You give readers stuff they need and can’t get anywhere else, and that you’re always getting better. How you do that often depends on what you do minute by minute — and since ground conditions are always changing, you have to be nimble.
This is excellent news on a Monday morning! Welcome, Dave, & welcome to your considerable talents, ideas, & efforts for FDL.
Yes, Orcinus will keep going. As I mentioned above, a lot of what I do there isn’t appropriate for FDL (though there will be some x-posting). The long, meaty stuff, especially the research material, will still be there, as well as the killer-whale posts. [;^)
Reading their responses to a threat to their world view might shed some light on their prime fears and fears of the day knowing those fears and having it confirmed by using stimuli to trigger a fear response would be useful to us . Good Work!
I am 343 pages into a 506 page book, After Tamerlane by John Darwin (thanks to whoever at FDL recommended this heavy but cogent tome to me). Darwin is at Oxford. Publisher is Bloomsbury Press. So far I’ve discovered two typos. Which is almost never happens in books I’ve read. I’m appalled that they would get through the process.
How are things going now that Black is in jail?
Oh we just figured you hadn’t had your coffee yet.
FDLers might want to have a look at Dave’s most recent piece over at Orcinus. It’s a very nice snark melding journalism with the Rapture. Funny stuff.
I have a dear friend who does copyediting for one of the larger science fiction imprints — and she does a fantastic job for the books she edits, too, especially the big fat fantasy ones. But there is definitely a cost-cutting trend in publishing and, I fear, some houses are using less-than-reputable folks because they are cheaper and figuring most people won’t catch the remnant errors. Sad, but true…that commitment to quality for quality’s sake ethic has gone out the window in far too many venues, I fear.
Okay, but just make sure The Peanut gets her post up every day. *g*
There goes my next post idea.
Damn.
and since ground conditions are always changing, you have to be nimble.
I assume you read Sun Tzu
Welcome…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7YlEywVWvM
1,805 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…
Citizen David Neiwert:
Welcome Citizen Neiwert, a front page editor with both writing and reporting skills is terrific…I get a tingly when I think of the prospects for this site in the new interactive world of blogospheric journalism.
As for topical or thematic suggestions, I would like to see this site continue to investigate and expose the structures of political and economic power in our country and the physiology of corporate fascism as it has been functioning for lo these last 100 years er so.
This site has an identity that I think gives us a glimpse of what the “new” citizen powered journalism can be and I know you’ll be a big force in the future of FDL.
Welcome, Brother Neiwert.
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION AND REMEMBER YOU DON’T COMPROMISE WITH FASCISTS!!
Welcome sir….
Attention
is
Destiny
Nice to meet you, David.
You sure merit the all-star FDL pup’s list, considering who all commented here.
Watta bunch of eggheads.
Smartest bloggers in the ’sphere.
Hi Dave
So you will be reviewing every piece before it gets posted?
Actually, I haven’t read Art of War yet, for some reason (have always intended to). But I have read a lot of Laotse and the Taoists generically, from whom I gather Sun Tzu drew many of his ideas.
An observation about people, Psychology, Magic?
I’m not gonna be able to review every single piece before it gets posted, but I can make sure someone does.
OT
Josh Marshall will be on wnyc.org (where you can click on the link to listen online) after the news (about 6 minutes), to talk about his Polk Award and the USA scandal. You can leave a comment or a Q here:
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/e…..ents/96370
Sounds like an excellent idea- it would also be great if there were some control on the TIMING of pieces- often a very good one gets killed prematurely by another posted right on top of it. We lost a great one from Redd the other day because of that.
Oh shit. Norske’s “tingly.” Look out Republicans!
Your words did ring of Sun Tzu I think you will enjoy the read you already seem familiar with the principles plus its a very easy read if you have the right mind set.
Dave, good luck. We’re all counting on you.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Cwy…..re=related
I definitely want to make our flow smarter. And I plan to be doing some tweaking so that recent posts don’t get buried quite so deeply by newer ones.
Dave, to what extent will this limit FDL’s ability to respond quickly to breaking events? I would say this is one of its current strengths.
It’s a Sun Tzu observation.
I think of it like “If you focus on the telephone pole while driving, you’re gonna hit it.”
It shouldn’t affect it at all, other than perhaps slowing the process down by a few minutes. Mostly I just want another set of eyes on the posts before we hit publish so any red flags (libel, etc.) that pop out can be dealt with.
Oh, a suggestion I made earlier that seems to have gotten lost. A box at the top of the page indicating media appearances of front pagers. When there’s nothig forthcoming to alert in that box, make it a button with a page that links to past media appearances.
Josh is up on wnyc.org.
Welcome Mr. Neiwert. Take no prisoners…………….
Thomas Jefferson, if alive would be posting on this site today! “Protecting the legitimate expression and enabling the voices and concerns of the governed is the first charge of good government!” Paraphrasing!
I do not think this site’s originators would sell out to old Rump Butt!
KUTGW!
I would like to see this site continue to investigate and expose the structures of political and economic power in our country and the physiology of corporate fascism as it has been functioning for lo these last 100 years er so.
May I add that we empathize that Fascism is less efficient/doesn’t work in the long run as George Bush has been proving the last 7 years.
I learn something new everday I need to reread a certain book:).
comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable; and dont change sides (but fake bonhomme with the masses) when success strikes.
That’s really excellent. Congratulations to everyone!
Bienvenue David, heureux de te voir éditer le lac.
Is THAT being outsourced to China too?
I’ve always considered Fire Dog Lake as the New Yorker in the internet. May the bird of paradise crap on your keyboard.
If you free up Jane for the overall generalship and can make this a spot for quality/succinct/incisive content then more power to you. Welcome and good luck.
me too – ‘cept Jane is a smarter Harold Ross – the pace of blogging would have killed him
Welcome, Dave!
3 questions:
1) If the Nation has a cruise, when will have a “Lake” dog paddle? Or cat paddle, as the case may be…
2) Could TBogg please leave the egg out of his tuna sandwich? Gives my kittes indigestion.
3) Most important:
when we will start casting interns?
PS – Are yuo sure weed need a copy editor?
1) Well you know me. If I have any say, it’ll be an FDL Sea Kayak!
2) Basset hounds love eggs in their tuna sandwiches.
3) I’m unfamiliar with how to cast interns. Now, casting a dry fly, I can tell you all about.
I know there’s another post up, but I just have to offer my Congratulations to both Dave and Jane. Kudos to FDL!
My favorite people are all gathering in one place. How cool is that?
Jane and Dave: I visualize a network of local affiliates of FDL to replace or complement weekly newspapers with real time news and comment. Our local newspaper, run for many years by the irreplacable Henry Gay, and carried on by his family, has been sold. The magic is gone, and we need an online source of the truth. The same must be true of many small communities across the country. FDL could blossom with this opportunity. FDL type talent is waiting to be nurtured, and Jane, Christy and their crew can do it.
Karen
Hi DAve,
FDL is one of the most suggestible liblogs I know of, that is, I suggest it to computer owning TeeVee watchers every chance I get.
However, sometimes the snarky and sarcasm, fun for regulars, may be unreadable to occasional visitors. I visit nearly everyday and sometimes I have to read a piece twice to get it.
The raw food here is wholesome, please don’t salt and garlic it too much.
Joel
Now if we could just get “edit” back……
Living on LA’s Westside, I heard the art was in repeating the presentation until accepted, but not with such vigor as to cause a strike…..
I knew Henry Gay. Great man, one of the last of his breed. But really, his paper was probably the last holdout among small community papers, which have all been snapped up since the early ’80s by chains that then proceed to gut them. (I know this from experience, having started out at a number of such papers.) Down the road, I definitely see Web-based media like FDL filling that niche in a highly localized form.
Dave: We need that niche filled right away. If I can help start it with a local effort in Shelton, WA, please give me some direction. I will start contacting local professionals immediately. We could get a team going in a week, and write a protocol for use in other small towns. Henry will smile if this works. I know quality control is a big concern, and the FDL brand must be protected, but this is all doable. I would love to be a part of it.
Karen
Thanks, Joel. We hope mostly to remove the dirt and other indigestible bits but leave the rest intact.
Dave: This might be lost forever in EPU land. Please keep in touch with me at ksslampwork at g mail dot com. Can I have an email for you?
Karen
I’ve dreamed about this for a long time. My rural neighbors are just so clueless. Been watching things like this:
http://www.stpns.net/
and this:
http://www.smalltownpapers.com/
It is needed.
Thanks Audrey. Want to keep in touch on this? You have my email. I agree there is a great need here, and no one better to jump in than Jane et al. It could spread quickly too.
Karen
Audrey:
Thanks for the links. I’ll keep them close by.
Karen
Sure. You can write me at dneiwert AT hotmail DOT com
What you’re talking about is something a group of us tried to do in Seattle about a year ago. What we discovered is that it takes time and investment capital; we had the former but not the latter. And really, it’d have to start on a metro level to be initially successful (which is why we were looking at the Seattle market) and then evolve into more localized versions.
a question for you dave…. will the posts still be as free-wheeling as in the past or will they have to “tone” message down? i hope not….
Thanks Dave. I’ll keep bugging you, and if I find a pile of money, I’ll call you first.
Karen
Well, I’m an aging punk (albeit one from Idaho) so I really want to keep the attitude intact here. The only things I really have an eye on reeling in are the situations where we hurt fellow progressives — I won’t block criticism, of course, but I will throw up red flags and ask everyone to think carefully before we do it. Otherwise, I strongly prefer the “free-wheeling” style because it’s what gives us our edge.
Congrats and Welcome!
I’ve sent a friend request at facebook. That should make it easy. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to make it cheap and/or profitable. Worthy of discussion for sure.
Welcome aboard Dave!
ahhh you’ve made my day dave!! thanks a heap ;o)
Dave, a sincere welcome and take good care of our women folk, you hear? We really, really need them, now.
Welcome, Dave. Editorial boards at NYT and WaPo are in deep doodoo now. They’ve got hacks to work with and you’ve got real people with brains and real compassion. No contest.
cool
Mr. Dave:
As I have said to Jane, and anyone else who will listen. This is the place to be. And in a few years, you (fdl) will have all the readers, and all the advertising, and increasingly the people who know whereof they speak, and the so-called MSM will be a collection of empty buildings and lost opportunities.
I’ve been somewhat of a lurker for the last few months, because I don’t have time to comment, and in this company of friends, not much to say that they don’t say better. But I’m reading, and welcome aboard.
I will now go back to lurking.
Regards,
Cynic
Congrats, David. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer Dad, a better journalist, or a greater warrior against the ideology of hate.