I often get asked how I stay on top of everything that is going on in and around Phoenix. My main source of information is my fellow bloggers. I follow over 150 Arizona based bloggers in my Google Reader feed and scan about 100 posts a day. I also have set up a search downtown Phoenix to capture local news feeds and other online sources than mention the area.
Of all these sources, I have narrowed all these sources down to the following top ten (in no particular order). They offer me a mix of politics, news, insights and events that keeps me plugged into to the pulse of Phoenix specifically and Arizona more generally. If you are not following them already I suggest you check them out today.
- Arizona Capitol Times: A great source of political news from the state Capitol and beyond. They highlight the key issues of the day from a non-partisan and well-researched perspective.
- Rogue Columnist: Phoenician ‘in exile’ Jon Talton’s blog. It’s focus is “commentary and analysis too dangerous for corporate media” The site focuses on issues of politics, sustainability, economics of his beloved hometown from his current peach in Seattle. Some find Jon too negative, sarcastic or even bitter. I find he offers a refreshing clear perceptive that cuts through the denial and boosterism too common in our local media landscape.
- Blog for Arizona: “Arizona and National Politics and Culture from a Progressive Perspective.” I don’t always agree with their perspectives, but this site consistently provides cutting edge commentary on the issues facing the state.
- Democratic Diva: Democratic Diva is a venue for all things political. One of it’s contributors, Donna Gatehouse is also a regular contributor of Phxated.com. Like Blog for Arizona, I don’t always agree with their positions, but I also learn something new about Arizona’s wacky politics.
- Heat City: ‘Hard news in the political interest from Metro Phoenix.’ Nick Martin is a former staff reporter for the East Valley Tribune, who brings a professional journalistic rigor to his coverage of an array of topics from crime to business to politics and beyond. This is not a blog, but rather a hard-hitting media outlet providing original research and analysis of important stories often overlooked by the mainstream media.
- Jackalope Ranch: The Phoenix New Times Culture Blog. a great source of information to who is who and what is what in and around Phoenix’s burgeoning creative scene.
- LightRailBlogger/RailLife: A one two punch of life on and around Phoenix Metro Light Rail system. Tony, the Light Rail Blogger provides commentary on living a car free lifestyle in downtown Phoenix. Nick from RailLife provided a valley wide perspective of ‘life along the line.’
- Blooming Rock: Provides a perspective on all things of note about architecture and planning in central Phoenix. Includes tips on how to green your home in this climate to the latest on urban development to profiles of up and coming Phoenix architects and their projects.
- Valley Fever: The Phoenix New Times current affairs blog. Privies unique insights and analysis about Phoenix news and politics not often found elsewhere.
- Phxated.com: While I am a regular contributor to this site, I find the content provided my fellow writers to be a constant source of top quality commentary and news about the local arts, media and political scene.
What is your favorite site for news and information on what is going on in Phoenix or Arizona?
Thanks for sharing this list. I’m sure you know by now that we’ll never agree on Talton, and I find a few of the other blogs mentioned almost equally troubling with their negativity and nastiness. Nevertheless, I agree with you completely on Blooming Rock, Heat City, and the light rail blogs. I’m pleasantly surprised to see that the AZ Capitol Times now offers some free content on its site. In the past, I found everything required a subscription.
I’m still puzzled trying to figure out the media landscape at the various ASU campuses, but it seems like some decent student journalism is now filling in the gaps left by the professional media. I’m particularly impressed by Cronkite News (http://cronkitenewsonline.com/) and Downtown Devil (http://downtowndevil.com/). The State Press, the traditional student paper at ASU, seems in the past to have been taken over by extreme voices on the right, but I was impressed by today’s detailed coverage of First Fridays and Phoestival (an article I was alerted to by your retweet, by the way): http://www.statepress.com/2010/10/13/the-politics-of-art-the-fight-for-first-fridays/
Thanks for sharing this list. I’m sure you know by now that we’ll never agree on Talton, and I find a few of the other blogs mentioned almost equally troubling with their negativity and nastiness. Nevertheless, I agree with you completely on Blooming Rock, Heat City, and the light rail blogs. I’m pleasantly surprised to see that the AZ Capitol Times now offers some free content on its site. In the past, I found everything required a subscription.
I’m still puzzled trying to figure out the media landscape at the various ASU campuses, but it seems like some decent student journalism is now filling in the gaps left by the professional media. I’m particularly impressed by Cronkite News (http://cronkitenewsonline.com/) and Downtown Devil (http://downtowndevil.com/). The State Press, the traditional student paper at ASU, seems in the past to have been taken over by extreme voices on the right, but I was impressed by today’s detailed coverage of First Fridays and Phoestival (an article I was alerted to by your retweet, by the way): http://www.statepress.com/2010/10/13/the-politics-of-art-the-fight-for-first-fridays/
Thanks for including Heat City, Yuri. That’s very kind.
Thanks for including Heat City, Yuri. That’s very kind.
Just wanted to share a new blog with you about Arizona: http://www.iheartaz.com Thanks for the great list!
I hate to be a bummer and bring reality into the picture but I’ve found out the hard way that if you don’t deal with reality? It will find a way of dealing with you! I’ve been dealing with this cult for 30 years since I was 21 years old and after witnessing deaths and experiencing crime and abuses of every sort I may have to return to Phoenix/Scottsdale to deal with it some more but if you think it’s a threat only to me…you need to rethink that!
Carly Klein who is linked is a highly destructive and conspiring, devious and calculating JW cult member and criminal and anyone who continues to support her and associate with her knowing this including Dr. Shelly Friedman, D.O., FAOCD of the Scottsdale Institute for Cosmetic Dermatology who definitely knows by now, deserves to be exposed. In dealing with crime and abuse personally in just the last few years in Phoenix AZ. Mark Suddock and David Taylor and Brian Russell of the Moon Valley Congregation with help from Sierra Adobe and the Spanish North are accountable for much which was turned over finally to the federal authorities as well. I was made homeless again and lost all of my property once again before being disfellowshipped again which included lots of crime, violence and rights violations that landed me homeless in Alaska and Mexico (where I almost ended up unduly in prison) Since she played and continues to play a key and active role in their criminal activities. This is not slander, it is not untruthful or unlawful or anything that authorities don’t already know and it appears that I may very well need to come back to Phoenix/Scottsdale this fall or winter to deal with this matter and a few others! I have what I need to do that and a few writs should not be hard to obtain…I don’t give a rat’s behind about their business or commercial interests. The Federal authorities thankfully are doing their thing on the big picture so the brutal Watchtower cult organization as a whole will be getting it’s due soon enough. It’s already a third to one half what it was even five years ago due to all of the child sex abuse and criminal activity that is becoming public.
Apparently neither one of these two has an ounce of integrity if he would knowingly permit such a morally bankrupt and bereft individual even to remain attached to let alone in a position of representation in his firm.
If I am forced to come back out there I will be on a Blitzkrieg and I will not be unprepared, unsupported or ill-equipped nor will I find myself at the mercy of predatory inbred corruption as has happened in the past.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/carly-klein/20/563/a4