[imc-tc-network] David Carr Event Monday - Voting with a Mouse: How Bloggers Have Altered the Political Landscape

[Becca Vargo Daggett]

*Voting with a Mouse: How Bloggers Have Altered the Political
Landscape* David Carr, Reporter, New York Times

Moderated by Eric Black, Star Tribune Reporter and Author of The Big
Question blog**

October 30, Noon -- 1:30 p.m.
Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey Center
301 19^th Ave S., Minneapolis

Campaigns and elections are being digitally remastered.  Bloggers and
the internet may be producing a revolution in information and public
debate that is as radical as the changes introduced by radio and
television.  David Carr, _New York Times_ columnist and longtime
journalist and editor, will lead a discussion on blogs and American
elections.  Eric Black, reporter and author of The Big Question blog
for the Star Tribune, will moderate.  Commentary will be offered by
Joe Bodell who runs the blog MN Campaign Report-
www.mncampaignreport.com and by Michael Brodkorb who operates the
blog
MN Democrats Exposed -- www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com. The
discussion promises to be lively and informative.

*DAVID CARR* began working at the Times in 2002.  Prior to arriving
at
the Times, Carr was a contributing writer for The Atlantic Monthly
and
New York Magazine, writing articles that ranged from homeland
security
issues to the movie industry. He also served as editor of the
Washington City Paper for five years and the Minneapolis-based Twin
Cities Reader from 1993 to 1995.

The Center for the Study of Politics and Governance sponsors a wide
range of conferences, public events, and analyses.  More information
about the Center can be found at
_http://www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/cspg/index.html_

This event is free and open to the public.  No registration
necessary.

Directions and parking information:
_http://www.hhh.umn.edu/about/contact/parking.html_



And a little note about Brodkorb, from City Pages.

http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2006/09/senate_candidat.asp
Senate candidate Kennedy paying blogger Brodkorb $4583 per month as  
"part-time consultant"

Perhaps the most interesting item in this Minnesota Monitor profile  
of Minnesotademocratsexposed.com blogger Michael Brodkorb is  
Brodkorb's admission that he is paid $4583 per month--which works out  
to four bucks less than $55,000 per year--to be a part-time press  
consultant for U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kennedy's campaign.

Brodkorb frequently cites his role in Kennedy's campaign when posting  
items about the U.S. Senate race that polls show Kennedy is losing by  
a wide margin to DFL challenger Amy Klobuchar. And while the MDE blog  
is appropriately regarded as place where no attack seems too petty or  
vile when it comes to belittling Minnesota Democrats, Brodkorb should  
also be credited with providing a forum for some of the most  
spirited, and occasionally enlightening, political debates regarding  
state political issues and candidates. DFL empathizers frequently  
weigh in to defend their side.

But Minnesota Monitor raises some good points about how difficult it  
is for a paid consultant to keep his work completely separate from  
his partisan blog. And another DFL-leaning blog, Mn Publius, recently  
published a report from the campaign of Michelle Bachmann showing  
that Brodkorb was paid $5500 for work on her campaign. Brodkorb  
didn't acknowledge this conflict when posting an item on MDE about  
Bachmann's race with DFL challenger Patty Wetterling for the U.S.  
House seat Kennedy is vacating to run for the Senate.

Posted by Britt Robson at September 27, 2006 12:22 PM