Projo Politics Blog

By Katherine Gregg
Journal State House Bureau

The political advocacy blog known as RIFuture.org is about to have a new owner: Patrick Crowley, assistant executive director of National Education Association Rhode Island.

E-mailing answers to a series of questions last week about his new gig, Crowley said he would not disclose the purchase price, but "I bought the blog individually. NEARI was not involved in the purchase." Asked how he would juggle the two jobs, he said his " 'day job' is not the type of job where I am tethered to an office or a particular time line... Given the technology of the blog I can update it wherever I am whenever I want. I can also post items in advance."

What's to come? "There will be more video features, including live video, and there will be more writers. My long-term plans include trying to franchise the blog to different states."

Asked whether he considered himself a new-age journalist, Crowley said: "A very good question. I am not really sure what you call what I do. To call it journalism isn't fair to people who are professionals at it. But it's not just blogging in the generic sense either. I guess the best way to describe what I do is simply 21st-century organizing, and instead of the street corner and a soap box my tools are a key board and a wifi card."

Crowley acquires the blog from union organizer-turned-lawyer Matt Jerzyk on Jan. 2.

 Tags  Matt Jerzyk National Education Association Rhode Island Patrick Crowley RIFuture.org

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