Blog for Arizona is pleased to announce a new feature for 2012. Because mainstream media do not cover local campaigns except within a narrow window of coverage shortly before a primary or general election, BforAZ will strive to provide our readers with in-depth election coverage throughout the year. With the number and coverage of newspapers continuing to shrink, and the poor quality of local news, some institution needs to fill the growing void. We poor scribblers on the internets are certainly not the whole solution, but we want to do our part.

BforAZ aims to be “election central” for Democratic campaigns in Arizona. It’s a tall order, and we have the humility to know we’re going to need a lot of help to make a go of it. So we’re asking for that help from Arizona’s Democratic candidates for office, as well as the assistance of our readers. We are willing to do the hard work of growth and adaptation to make BforAZ a truly collaborative enterprise. We’ll only succeed to the extent you want us to, and help us to. We ask for your assistance, your goodwill, and, in anticipation of many errors and false starts, your forgiveness.

Submitting materials to BlogForArizona@gmail.com

Campaigns are encouraged to submit notices of campaign events to BforAZ at BlogForArizona@gmail.com (the capitalization doesn’t matter, it’s just for clarity) at least seven (7) days in advance of the “Weekly Calendar of Campaign Events” to be published on Sundays. Please note “Event Notice” and the date of the event in the subject line.

Campaigns may send press releases to BforAZ at the same address with the note “Press Release” in the subject line. The editors reserve the right of editorial discretion as to which press releases are newsworthy for publication. It will significantly increase the chance of a mention if you have your press release on the web and submit a permanent URL with the release. We are much more likely to link to your release with a comment than to republish.

Campaigns are encouraged to submit your YouTube or other online video host to BforAZ. The best method is to cross-post at your campaign web site and YouTube or other high-volume hosting service (please also provide us a transcript with your video). You may also submit campaign walk-pieces and mailers, if you are particularly proud of the piece. If we think it’s pretty great, too, or possibly just the opposite, BforAZ may report on your ads and/or lit. Any press is good press, right? Please note “Campaign Video” or “Campaign Lit” in the subject line, as appropriate.

We here at BforAZ love to deconstruct campaign signs. If you see some in the wild that are new to you, or interestingly placed (or defaced), take some snaps and send them in. Please note “Campaign Sign” in the subject line

The BforAZ contributors are happy to conduct an interview of any Democratic candidate for office. Our minimal method is to submit questionaires via email and then submit follow-ups to answers if we would like elaboration. One of our writers will post the transcript of the interview, with follow-ups inserted appropriately, to the blog. If we decide to conduct a live or telephonic interview, any actual audio or video recording of the interview, made with the candidate’s permission, will be posted along with any commentary or excerpts the interviewer or editor decides to post with the media. Requests may be submitted by email. Please include the subject line note “Interview Request” and note your preferences for written, telephonic, or live formats, any recording equipment you can provide and background materials.

A special plea to our BforAZ readers

Help us to help you and our other readers be better informed in 2012. We encourage you to engage in opposition research. We are here to help you get your finds into the mainstream media. They are watching the blogs for leads, and you could provide the next big story. 

If you are attending an event with Republican candidates for office, an audio recording, or better yet, a video recording may be submitted to BforAZ (your detailed handwritten notes may also be considered, but will require confirmation from another source). We’re always on the lookout for the next “Maccaca” moment, but we can’t be everywhere. But all of you can. If you think you have something newsworthy, let us know! The best method of submission is to upload any videos to a hosting service and send us a link with notes and time stamps of any particularly interesting bits. Audio may be posted directly as an email attachment in any common format, also with notes and time stamps of the good bits. Please include the note “Recorded GOP Event”.

Of course, if you have a recording of a campaign event that you think is very favorable to your candidate, you may also submit that. If we find it of interest too, we may post that as well.

As a reader of BforAZ, you can also be an author. If there is an event that you think deserves coverage, by all means, cover it and send us your report. We may edit for length or grammar, but we won’t change your viewpoint. We won’t promise to post everything sent us, but who knows, you might have a budding blogger inside you just itching to get out. When submitting posts please be sure to note clearly whether you want the byline to identify you, or if you wish to post anonymously. We respect your privacy.

Thanks to all who contribute to make free collaborative media like BforAZ work. Let’s all pitch in and help fill the gaps that the traditional media leave as they try to adjust to the world of online collaboration. 

While you are feeling in a contributive mood, you might consider a small donation to help BforAZ defray its costs and take on new projects such as this one.