Unionized Blogging

By Steve Rubel
Expert Author
Article Date: 2005-01-26

Here's a novel idea, a union is blogging to get it's message out. The L.A. Daily News reports that a major city union this week ...

... launched a blog featuring anonymous comments and rumors, many taking direct aim at Mayor James Hahn.

The Engineers and Architects Association, which has endorsed Hahn's challenger, took its campaign to the Internet via a new blog.

From The L.A. Daily News:

"Robert Aquino, executive director of the 9,000-member Engineers and Architects Association, said in a press release that the new site would provide a stronger voice for rank-and-file city employees.

"The information exchange and rumor mill among City Hall workers will never be replaced, but we believe this blog and others like it offer a means to articulate the concerns of this community without the consequence of political retribution," Aquino wrote.

Aquino declined to make himself available for an interview about the site.

On Monday, the site published tips about a Hahn appointee to the Public Works Commission campaigning for the mayor on city time and about the city-run Port of Los Angeles donating to a ballet company where Hahn's children are dancers."

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About the Author:
Steve Rubel is a PR strategist with nearly 16 years of public relations, marketing, journalism and communications experience. He currently serves as a Senior Vice President with Edelman, the largest independent global PR firm.

He authors the Micro Persuasion weblog, which tracks how blogs and participatory journalism are changing the public relations practice.

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