Messing With Texas: Seibert Leaves Think Tank For Internet Startup
Posted on August 12, 2008 at 8:01 am
Journalist turned think-tanker, Trent “Sweet Tea” Seibert, is turning journalist yet again. The former Tennessean reporter and WKRN investigative journalist who teamed up more than a year ago with the libertarian Tennessee Center For Policy Research to serve as their Director of Government Accountability has departed that organization and the Music City for the home of the Astrodome.
Seibert, with the help of some as yet unnamed benefactors, has started Texas Watchdog described on its new website as “a news Web site and training center that scrutinizes the actions of government agencies, bureaucracies and politicians in Texas.”
While he was loathe to leave Nashville, Seibert felt the opportunity to strike out on his own was too good to pass up.
“Leaving Nashville will be the toughest part. I love this town. It’s a heckuva town. I’ll miss working with Drew [Johnson] and with TCPR. There was a free-wheeling spirit there. We were fighting for a lot of good things: better open records, a more transparent government, more government accountability to residents – the kinds of things I fought for as a journalist,” Seibert tells Post Politics. “But I want to get back into journalism, and this is a phenomenal opportunity to do exactly that, as well as work with two journalists that I greatly respect.”
Indeed, Seibert is not alone in this venture and the names of his associates and fellow board members will not be unfamiliar to Tennessee media watchers. Lee Ann O’Neal, formerly of the Tennessean as well as the Asheville (N.C.) Citizen-Times, is on the team as City Editor.
Also on board is currrent Tennessean Government Editor Jennifer Peebles. The 14 year Tennessean veteran and Vandy grad, however, cannot be chalked up as just the latest statistic in the mass exodus from 1100 Broadway. Peebles has no intention of leaving her day job.
The powers that be at the Tennessean are fully apprised of her involvement in the new organization and bestowed their blessing on her activities. Peebles role with Watchdog will be chiefly an advisory one as her former Tennessean colleagues do most of the grunt work on the ground in Texas.
“I am very excited to be part of Texas Watchdog, even though Trent and Lee Ann are really doing all the work,” Peebles explains, “I think two full-time employees is about all our little startup nonprofit is going to handle. I have the greatest respect for Trent and Lee Ann — God bless ‘em, they have taken a leap of faith and are truly putting their whole lives into making this work. Leaving your job (and your health insurance) to move to another state is a big leap. They’ve really put their whole lives into it.”
As its website indicates, the new organization is not only seeking to fill a void in investigative journalism Seibert has seen develop as traditional news organizations cut staff and resources, Texas Watchdog has an evangelical mission as well.
“Our organizational model is a newsroom – that teaches. We’re bringing in bloggers, citizen journalists, journalists from small papers – frankly, anyone that wants to walk through the door. We train them and they produce for our website where we will break news. They leave with the skills of a journalist so they can dig up original content for their own blogs/jobs/desire to fight city hall,” explains Seibert.
So why Texas? Trent breaks it down.
“Texas is a place that people nationally look to see what works and then they duplicate it in their states. (California would have been another logical choice, in that regard.) And Houston is chock full of entrepreneurs. We’re hoping to tap into that community for ideas/cash/support, etc.” Seibert tells Post Politics.
“If it works in Texas, it can work anywhere in the US. And with journalism going the way it is, I think we need more organizations like this in every city in America.”
Texas Watchdog is an independent, nonpartisan corporation currently seeking nonprofit 501(c)3 status. Apply to work with Trent here.
SEE ALSO: Trent on YouTube
Comments
5 Responses to “Messing With Texas: Seibert Leaves Think Tank For Internet Startup”
Does anyone think this arrangement is slightly strange?
Who are Trent’s “unnamed benefactors”? Are they the traditional, well-heeled Republicans like those in Tennessee who bankroll TCPR?
And the Tennessean has no problems with Peebles getting in bed with an organization who likely won’t disclose who is writing the checks?
This is another blurring of the lines between journalism and partisanship. How Trent treats Rick Perry will be closely watched.
While Trent will be missed at TCPR, and by all Tennesseans who appreciate his triumphs in holding public figures accountable and forcing government to be more honest and transparent, I couldn’t be more excited for him. Trent has the opportunity to teach others to uncover waste, fraud, corruption and abuse of power by government, his true passion.
Hiring Trent was the best decision I’ve ever made. The idea of utilizing an investigative reporter to advance liberty is an idea that Trent and I conceived, and now more than a dozen free market think tanks have replicated our model.
The marriage between Trent and I may have looked odd from the outside – the teetotaling economist and the scrappy journalist – but if there is any doubt about the success of our partnership, just ask Al Gore, Jerry Cooper and the dozens of public officials whose wrongdoing, hypocrisy and abuse of power was exposed by TCPR over the past two years.
Good luck, Trent. And thanks for all you’ve done to protect the little guy in Tennessee.
A “Texas watchdog” that “scrutinizes the actions of government agencies, bureaucracies and politicians in Texas”?
It already exists.
There’s an outfit called “Texas Observer” that’s been forcing government to be accountable for over half a century, and doing a danged fine job of it. I’d say anybody who wants to learn a few things about watchdogging in Texas should start local with TO and not wait for the Tennesseans to get there.
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