Looking forward to it. Good luck with the edits.

A

On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 4:45 PM, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi, Allison-

Good questions. I'm actually doing my final edit on the book today, but will get back to you tomorrow or Sunday at greater length and explain what we've decided upon so far in terms of the software and the network and get your input into whatever might warrant changing. In short, we've got some ideas on how to approach this without letting it turn into something that's already been done and which would just result in more of the same. Will e-mail you soon.

Thanks,

Barrett

On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 3:50 PM, Allison Kilkenny <allisonkilkenny@gmail.com> wrote:

Barrett -

Still very much interested. My only concern is the echo chamber effect. I'm still a little hazy on the various software elements of the development, but I don't want to be involved with any kind of Journolist circle jerk (and I know you're not pitching that,) but that's why I look forward to clarification regarding what the software actually entails.

I do know Michael Rothschild. I emailed him a bunch of submissions when I was extremely green and he sent me some very nice rejection letters. I've been meaning to work him back into my submissions cycle.

Here are the questions I have:

1. What exactly is the software element?

2. How will the software and/or project raise our visibility?

3. What will the project do for journalists who don't need their profiles boosted i.e. the Taibbi effect?

Like I said, still very much on board (and always am) to fuck shit up. Very much looking forward to seeing this thing evolve.

A

On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 3:35 PM, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:

Howdy-

I'm going to be going into the True/Slant office next week to talk to Coates Bateman and all of them about the blogger project I mentioned to you a few weeks back; they're interested in getting involved, perhaps even funding it. If you have some time over the next few days, perhaps we can talk via gchat about any input you might have regarding how the blogger network itself might operate; I'd like to run our current plan by you to see what you think. Right now, I'm thinking I might establish a sort of executive committee to oversee certain aspects, which would include you, Charles Johnson, perhaps Juan Cole and Matt Taibbi (whom I'm about to speak with; he blurbed my first book but I've never actually talked to him). Also, if you can think of any features you'd like to see in terms of the software we're developing to accompany the network - anything that might be of assistance in the ways by which bloggers acquire and disseminate information, for instance - let me know and I'll talk to our software developer about getting them implemented.

As I may have mentioned, one of the goals of this project is to raise the visibility of certain commentators whose work is superior to the more notable, douchy folks like Dowd and Friedman, etc. Specifically, I'd like to get you and a couple of other bloggers a bit higher on the food chain. The blogger network should help to accomplish this in part, but I'm also thinking that you could be doing pieces for a few more outlets. You should try querying The Progressive, for instance, which pays pretty damned well; if you find yourself working on a good investigative piece, for instance, you might try to sell it there, and if they don't take it just run it on T/S and HuffPo or whatever. Editor is Matthew Rothschild, editorial@progressive.org. It often takes a week or two for them to get back to you, so ideas that aren't particularly time-oriented are best. Another good one is Toward Freedom; I haven't written for them in a while but they pay decently, and I can find the contact info for you if you'd like.

Anyway, let me know if you're still interested in the project and if you'd like to discuss it a bit more before I go in to meet with Coates next week. Hope all is well; I'm still waiting to hear back on when The Onion might run the piece, and if it looks like they're dragging their feet too much I might query another pub instead, perhaps Rolling Stone.

Thanks,

Barrett Brown

Brooklyn, NY

512-560-2302