the-uptakes-mike-mcintee-w-minnposts-david-brauer.thumbnail.JPGNow that the recount and the contest trial are over, I thought it was time to recognize those groups and individuals who made major contributions to the coverage of this story.

First and foremost would obviously have to be the fine folks at The UpTake.  The largely-volunteer force, working on a busted-shoestring budget, first came to the outside world’s attention for its coverage of the Republican National Convention in Saint Paul last summer.  Noah Kunin has been the lead reporter for the recount and contest, and he’s worked his tail off so much on this story I’m surprised his hair’s not gray.  

The UpTake has been covering the election and post-election events in fine fashion, drawing a devoted fan base from around the world: "MrsB", one of the most dedicated UpTake viewers and liveblog commenters, is one of the fans from the UK.  The UpTake’s motto is "Will journalism be done by you or to you?" and they encourage viewers and listeners to take up cameras and join the cause.  "51stWardPrecinctCaptain", an UpTake fan from Chicago, got addicted to the site during the Franken-Coleman recount and is now part of The UpTake family, working as a liveblog mod and even visiting Minnesota in the dead of winter to see the recount and contest goings-on for himself.

The UpTake is the sun around which so much of the coverage revolves. At least one legacy-media reporter, Rachel Stassen-Berger of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, spends her waking hours hanging around (or rather Twittering to) the liveblog.  She was even interviewed yesterday by UpTake founder Mike McIntee (shown in the picture above with MinnPost’s David Brauer, another fine reporter).   It’s not a coincidence that her "Political Animal" blog perch at the PiPress shows some of the best TradMed reporting on this subject.

Another notable reporter is Eric Black, currently of MinnPost and formerly of the Minnesota Independent.  Black had a long and distinguished career with the StarTribune, but was one of the early casualties of the newspaper death spiral.  He has two big scoops to his credit recently:  His discovery that the Minnesota Supreme Court was signaling its intent to order the issuing of an election certificate even if Norm Coleman appeals to the Federal level, and his teasing out of Sy Hersh a blockbuster story about the assassination squads of Dick Cheney.  He and Jay Weiner have done excellent work for MinnPost.

Over at the Minnesota Independent, Paul Schmelzer, Chris Steller and Andy Birkey have all contributed key coverage.  [Update:  And Paul Demko, too.  Thanks, Dan!]

TPM’s  Eric Kleefeld rounds out the group; he’s also another UpTake habitué and has done signal reporting thereby.

[Update:  And of course there are the Kossacks, WineRev and Tomtech and Vote For America, all of whom now can be found hanging out at The UpTake’s liveblog as well as providing spreadsheets and charts for the noble UpTakers to use.}

Take a bow, everyone!  You did good.  

Related posts:

  1. Franken-Coleman Update: The Glorious First of June
  2. Franken-Coleman Update: Equal Protection, My Foot!
  3. Franken-Coleman Update: What Will Smilin’ Tim Do?
  4. Franken-Coleman Update: How to Elect Republicans
  5. Franken-Coleman Update: Happy Belated Birthday, Al!