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A Northwest Progressive Institute Website
Community Center
Find helpful information about and for the regional progressive blogging community.
Not a member of the Pacific Northwest progressive blogging community? Here's how to get started!
Get your own blog
We recommend starting your own blog, if you don't already have one. A blog is your unique, independent voice in the community. It's easier and a lot more fun to get started than you might think!
Choosing a platform
There are many platforms out there to choose from. There are a few that stand out above the crowd. If you don't already have webhosting or you don't want to buy it, we recommend a hosted solution. These platforms host your blog for you:
- Blogger (free)
- Blogdrive (free)
- TypePad (subscription)
- UserLand (subscription)
If you do have webhosting space and are willing to do the installation work, we recommend the following platforms:
Creating your identity
A good blog has its own unique identity. When creating yours, you'll want the following aspects at a minimum:
- a name that stands out
- a description or a slogan
- links to other websites you like
Having your own unique colors and design is even better, but it involves more work.
Let us know you're here
Once you've picked a platform, set up your blog, and created your identity, let us know you're here!
- Submit your blog to our directory
- Submit your blog to BlogPAC
- Submit to blog search engines
- Ask established bloggers to add you to their blogroll
Don't want to start a blog?
If you don't want to start your own blog, why not contribute to an existing one? NPI is always looking for good contributors. Click here to send us a message if you're interested in writing for our official blog.
Political blogging tips
- Give your blog a focus: whether that be local politics, or a specific issue (i.e. the environment).
- Take advantage of TrackBack and link back if you write about someone else's blog post
- Alert other local bloggers if you're breaking a news story or a development of significance
- Support your neighbors. Participate in the comment threads on other local area blogs.
- Join blogswarms and post your unique take on hot topics and important issues.
Consumer information
Media Research
Information lookup
We strongly encourage you to take the next step and become more involved within the community.
Meet your fellow bloggers
One easy way to meet your fellow bloggers is to join your local Drinking Liberally chapter. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. Drinking Liberally is perhaps the easiest and best way to meet other progressive bloggers. If you come, you are certainly not required to drink.
The Pacific NW has several Drinking Liberally chapters (click map to expand):
There is also a social group for Seattle area members/readers of Daily Kos.
Join a local Democratic Party
You may be surprised to learn that the Democratic grassroots are just as progressive as you are! Joining your local Democratic Party organization is one of the easiest ways to find fellow like minded activists. Our Democratic Party directory can help connect you to the nearest local organization. Most county and district organizations meet monthly, while state committees meet quarterly.
Join a progressive organization
You can also become involved in a technologically savvy progressive organization such as Democracy for America or MoveOn.org. DFA has regular meetings of its members in local chapters across the country, while MoveOn frequently organizes a huge number of house parties through its website for its members.
Pacific Northwest Portal has links to each state DFA website in the Regional Blogs Directory.
Help build a progressive future
Become a more effective activist or candidate by participating in a Wellstone Action training camp. There is typically at least one training camp in the Pacific NW every year. Wellstone Action's website has a calendar of upcoming training camps. You can also support Progressive Majority, which is working on the local level to build a farm team of candidates that can eventually run for federal office.
Attend special events
Use NPI's calendar to find special events within your area that you'd like to attend. The calendar includes events put on by the Democratic Party and many different progressive organizations. Find anything and everything from barbecues and picnics to peace marches and forums.
If you're interested in attending future gatherings organized for progressive bloggers in the Pacific Northwest, let us know.
Voting records and financing
Blog Search engines
Legal resources & advocacy
Here's some useful links that you may find useful both for blogging and for activism.
Use one or more of Pacific NW Portal's three directories if you're looking for links to Democratic Party organizations, local progressive blogs, or traditional media sources.
Find links to the websites of traditional media outlets in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
Find links to numerous state and local Democratic Party organizations in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
Support, assistance, and links for the regional progressive community
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Pacific Northwest Portal is owned and powered by the Northwest Progressive Institute, an organization fighting for a peaceful, freer nation and working to promote progressive, responsible policies for America.
