Newspaper Gives School Official a Blog

The St. Petersburg Times in Florida has given a local newsmaker his own blog on the paper’s Web site …

… E&P Online reports. Clayton Wilcox, the Pinnellas County superintendent of schools, has written an education blog for the Times since March 13. This sounds in theory like a great idea, but why limit it to one school official? Why not just give everyone a blog?

Excerpt (Added by WPN):

‘St. Pete Times’ Gives Schools Chief a Blog

“We were looking for an issue that would attract participation,” Kevin McGeever, the Times’ online city editor, said in a statement. “In Pinellas County, one of the nation’s largest school districts, public education is in a critical moment as it emerges from court-ordered desegregation.”

As for the blogger, Wilcox is a first-year superintendent who McGeever said is “Web-savvy and interested in keeping in touch with his constituents.” And apparently it’s working.

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.