While compiling next week's web view column (much further in advance than normal) I discovered this Typepad-hosted blog about trade. It seemed thoughtful and passionate if not exactly erudite (particularly after coming from reading Martin Wolf's latest on the topic (subscription) and Philippe Legrain, from whose blogroll I discovered kickAAS)… but it had a nice running theme about how getting rid of agricultural subsidies would make economic sense for rich countries as well as poor.
I did the search check to see if the author's details were listed in the nav and found a rather odd 'Supported by the Guardian Unlimited' and a link to "the editorial that launched kickAAS'… the editorial that was published on the Guardian Unlimited (not sure if the print edition too) about two years ago. There's no sign of the author's name, mind you, but mousing over the (non-guardian) email address reveals the name 'keegan'… ah ha! surely that wouldn't be Vic Keegan? I can't remember what his job there is now, but he used to be the technology or 'Online' (as in content, not medium) editor. Nice guy, I think – he took the time to email me back about a pitch I sent him from Oz. Rejected it, but still.
So does that make it a 'real' blog or a mainstream media blog? I kind of think the former as it's not part of the GU navigation or hosting… but it's all a bit odd.
Hi
Thanks for unearthing me . . . every bit helps.
No mystery really. KickAAS was launched with an editorial in the Guardian (the paper not the web site) before the Guardian had its own blogs, hence the Typepad association. When the other blogs were incorporated into GU KickAAS stayed where it was mainly because it was my thing.
You are right – I was editor of Guardian Online for seven years though during that period my main job was writing Guardian editorials on economics, business and technology for the paper. I am now semi-retired doing a weekly column for the Technology section, a fortnightly economics based one for the website plus a few other things. But you have reminded me, it is a little while since I bloogged for KickAAS so I had better get my fountain pen out.
No worries! Do keep it up and I must say a) I was unduly harsh and b) thanks for not pointing out my hypocrisy in not properly identifying myself or my workplace yet in this blog (though anyone who could be bothered could work it out)… I am planning to soon, assuming this blog looks worth continuing with. k.