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About the Project

Background

Pacific NW Portal was founded in January of 2005 to provide the citizens of Washington, Oregon, Idaho with local news and political commentary, as well as allow the rest of the nation and the world to gain access to an entire region of news & local progressive viewpoints through one website.

The site was designed to be a regional start page, making it easier for people living in the Pacific Northwest to access local news and viewpoints.

Pacific NW Portal is owned and powered by the Northwest Progressive Institute, a netroots powered strategy center working to advance the common good through ideas and action.

It is our policy to try to be as inclusive and helpful to the entire regional progressive community as possible. We created the Regional Blogs Directory for this purpose. If you are the author of a progressive blog or a webmaster of a website based out of Washington, Oregon, or Idaho, your site is eligible for inclusion in our directory. Submit your site for consideration here.

Blogs with multiple contributors are welcome for inclusion in the directory as long as one of the contributors is living in one of the five states mentioned above.If you make your home in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho, but are temporarily out of the region, your site can still be included.

Pacific NW Portal has stricter criteria for blogs selected for syndication. The following are the basic criteria generally required for syndication (in addition to the directory inclusion requirements):

  • Publication of an RSS or Atom feed that we can access;
  • A strong focus on local, state (any state in the Pacific Northwest), and or regional issues, blended with periodic national and international news and analysis
  • Frequent updates (daily posting is ideal, but near daily posting, at least a few times a week, is also acceptable)
  • Well written, original content (not just a compendium of links to other places, but original news, investigative reporting, or analysis)
  • Neatly presented for easy navigation

Pacific NW Portal currently syndicates twenty-four blogs. Each of those may display a syndicated button featuring their home state.

Blogs we don't syndicate may still display a link button, but they may not display a "Pacific NW Portal Syndicated" button.

Timeline and Development History

The following is a comprehensive overview of Pacific NW Portal's growth, looking back from the present to January 31st, 2005. Each version release reference includes links to related posts from The Advocate.

About the codenames
Every release of Pacific NW Portal is named for a community, town, or city on the Oregon coast, beginning with Version 1.0 (Astoria) to Version 5.0 (Newport). Many releases have had other informal nicknames as well, which are listed next to the official codename for that release.

Newport (Version 5.0)

Released on December 22nd, 2011 | Theme: Speed
Summary: The most complete revamp of Pacific NW Portal yet undertaken, with a particular emphasis on speedy loading, support for smartphones and tablets, and graceful degradation of advanced features in older, more crumbly browsers. Several new pages were introduced, including NW Life, Breaking Now, and the Idaho Digest. A modernized Regional Blogs Directory was unveiled, with listings sorted by city as well as state.

Inauguration Day Edition/Sunset Beach (Version 4.3)
Released on January 17th, 2009
Summary: Debuted nearly half a dozen new syndicated blogs and upgraded a few outdated features. Last major change to the Seaside foundation.

Third Anniversary Edition/Miles Crossing (Version 4.2)
Released on January 31st, 2008
Summary: Introduced several fixes, updated features, and a sampling of newly created blogs on the front page.

Svensen (Version 4.1)
Released on August 29th, 2006
Summary: Version 4.1 included a syndicate change, an improved Daily Kos diary tracker, and enhanced filtering technology for news wires.

Seaside (Version 4.0)
Released on May 24th, 2006 | Theme: Compatability
Summary: Billed at the time as the most compatible version of the site ever, Seaside introduced a sleeker, edgier, faster, and more reliable site, packed with well organized information. With a revamped Regional Blogs Directory featuring new tooltips, coverage of Montana, and many other new features, Seaside ranks as one of Pacific NW Portal's biggest overhauls.

Late November Update/Necanicum (Version 3.7)

Released on November 21st, 2005

Summary: The Regional Blogs Directory receives an update, and most of the pages on Pacific NW Portal receive minor upgrades or added news sources and blogs for indexing.

Marine Green/Gearhart (Version 3.5)

Released on October 24th, 2005 | Theme: Coverage

Summary: Major changes in "Marine Green" include new graphics, a new Resources section, redesigned Highlights section, clickable blog titles, and an expanded navigation bar.

Late August Update/Melville (Version 3.2)
Released on August 30th, 2005
Summary: The "Late August Update" includes the debut of a new syndicate member, another directory update, and another set of new graphics.

Early August Update/Tolovana Park (Version 3.1)
Released on August 4th, 2005
Summary: The Early August Update includes new graphics, better newswires, new syndicated blogs, a revamped Toolkit page (with better traffic and weather), another directory update, and minor changes to a few other pages.

True Blue/Cannon Beach (Version 3.0)
Released on July 20th, 2005 | Theme: Stability
Summary: "True Blue" is the most significant overhaul and redesign since the site's debut nearly six months earlier. The new version includes new sections andnew syndicated blogs along with a sizable Regional Blogs directory update and vastly improved feed engine.

Lukarilla (Version 2.5)
Released on May 10th, 2005
Summary: Version 2.5 introduces the Toolkit section. Most pages are given important updates.

Knappa (Version 2.3)

Released on April 25th, 2005
Summary: Version 2.3 launches with an updated Regional Blogs directory and a new Highlights section.

Jewell (Version 2.2)

Released on March 29th, 2005
Summary: Version 2.2 includes blog syndication changes and an update to the Regional Blogs directory.

Elsie (Version 2.1)

Released on March 21st, 2005
Summary: Version 2.1 rolls out improved newswires with better filtering to screen out conservative and unwanted traditional news sources.

Warrenton (Version 2.0)
Released on February 28th, 2005
Summary: Version 2 debuts a smarter front page, two new sections, and a new Blogs & Websites directory with site icons for every blog.

Arch Cape (Version 1.7)

Released on February 14th, 2005
Summary: Version 1.7 includes an Expanded Oregon section with six additional syndicated blogs from the Beaver State.

Wauna (Version 1.5)

Released on February 10th, 2005
Summary: A minor package of changes is released - with the largest being a font change on the RSS feeds, which is changed to Trebuchet MS from Garamond. Version 1.5 also includes new CSS code to stabilize the display in different browsers. Support for Firefox is improved.

Brownsmead (Version 1.1)

Released on February 7th, 2005
Summary: Version 1.1 introduces the Expanded Washington section with six additional syndicated blogs from the Evergreen State.

Inaugural Debut/Astoria (Version 1.0)

Released on January 31st, 2005
Summary: Pacific NW Portal Version 1.0 is officially launched, and traffic takes off. Version 1.0 includes just three pages.

Beta
In Development January 10th-28th, 2005
Summary: Pacific NW Portal is conceptualized and developed. By the 28th, a beta version is live on the web for testing.

Praise and Accolades

Best Local Website"A nerve center for progressive information with a northwest flavor." - Mr_Blog

"An ambitious blog of blogs for the progressive Pacific Northwest plus news and weather. An indispensable resource. " - BlatherWatch

“Your site is a great way to start the day.  Great information, good insight and truthful reporting of the happenings in the Pacific Northwest." - Daily Kos user reality check

"Pacific NW Portal just keeps growing as the Internet's top source for news and views from our corner of the country. " - Red State Rebels

"The appearance of Pacific Northwest Portal is decidedly a step in the right, er, left direction."- Orcinus

"From the day it was launched, Pacific Northwest Portal instantly became a must-have bookmark for anybody interested in perusing progressive news and views from the Pacific Northwest." - HA Seattle

Help Spread the Word

Like Pacific NW Portal? Help spread the word about us by putting a button/badge on your blog or website's sidebar. We offer buttons specially for blogs we syndicate as well as more general buttons that anyone can use.

For syndicated blogs:

Pacific NW Portal Syndicated WA WA  Pacific NW Portal Syndicated Oregon OR

Pacific NW Portal Syndicated ID ID

For everyone:

Pacific NW Portal

Please avoid hotlinking- save images on your own server so we can save our bandwidth for people trying to visit our network. Thanks!

Site Map

The Portal is divided into several different sections. Below is a brief description of each page on the portal and the purpose it serves.

  • Front Page. The front page is what most visitors see when they first access Pacific NW Portal. The front page includes newswires for the three major Northwest states and a national newswire, as well as a list of recently added blogs, a selection of regional highlights, and a section for general announcements or specific news from the Northwest Progressive Institute. Below these sections, in columns arranged by state, are the twelve syndicated front page blogs - four each from Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
  • The Washington Outlook. This section includes nine additional syndicated blogs from the Evergreen State which provide additional news and commentary to visitors. It also provides an expanded news wire which indexes traditional media sites and blogs, a short list of facts about the state (i.e. capital, largest city, area, etc.), and it carries local newsfeeds from major cities in Washington.
  • The Oregon Bulletin. This section includes nine additional syndicated blogs from the Beaver State to provide additional news and commentary to visitors. It also provides an expanded news wire which indexes traditional media sites and blogs, a short list of facts about the state (i.e. capital, largest city, area, etc.), and it carries local newsfeeds from major cities in Oregon.
  • The Idaho Digest. This section includes nine additional syndicated blogs from the Gem State to provide additional news and commentary to visitors. It also provides an expanded news wire which indexes traditional media sites and blogs, a short list of facts about the state (i.e. capital, largest city, area, etc.), and it carries local newsfeeds from major cities in Idaho.
  • Feedback. The Feedback page allows visitors to contact the Northwest Progressive Institute and submit blogs/websites for potential inclusion in our Regional Blogs Directory.
  • Regional Blogs Directory. This page is one of the most important on Pacific NW Portal. It's similiar a telephone directory, providing links to hundreds of progressive blogs throughout the region, arranged and alphabetized by state. Each blog is identified by a 16x16 graphic, either the site's favicon or a tiny screenshot of the site. Mousing over any link will prompt a tooltip menu to display the blog's location and description.
  • Toolkit. The Toolkit provides help and troubleshooting tips to site visitors. The Knowledge Base helps identify potential solutions to problems with the site. The Toolkit's handy utilities simplify the process of making the Portal your start page or adding it to your bookmarks.
  • About the Portal. This is the page you're on - the page where you can learn about Pacific NW Portal, its mission, development history, and policies, as well as read accolodades we've received over the years. This page also includes our "Syndicated" and link buttons.
  • NW Life. This page provides Business, Labor, Traffic & Weather together on one page. Visitors can see what's happening with local nonprofits and Fortune 1000 companies, check their local weather conditions and get the latest weather info from NOAA. Traffic cameras for major cities in the Pacific Northwest are also available, and the page provides quick access to state DOT websites.
  • Cascade Dispatch. This page allows you to explore the regional progressive blogosphere with ease. On the left side of the page, you'll find the latest eight posts by state from the blogs in our directory. On the right, you'll find the Topic Hotlist and posts from national bloggers based here in our region.

Additional resources

Some pages that previously existed as part of Pacific NW Portal have been moved to the Northwest Progressive Institute's Core website. See the Resources section for a number of links no longer available here.

Photo Credits

Washington, mountain landscape near Mount Rainier: Andrew Villeneuve/NPI
Oregon, Multnomah Falls: Andrew Villeneuve/NPI
Idaho, green field with mountain backdrop: Bruce Lund
Alaska, ice field: Bill Diebels
British Columbia, Kokanee ferry: Andrew Villeneuve/NPI
Montana, Continental Divide: Andrew Villeneuve/NPI

These photos may be seen on the following pages: Washington Outlook, Oregon Bulletin, Idaho Digest, Cascade Dispatch. They are either from the Northwest Progressive Institute's image library, used with permission, or used under a Creative Commons license.

Archive

Special pages

View previous versions of Pacific NW Portal
Warning: Previous versions of Pacific NW Portal may not load or display properly, especially on Mac or Linux.

About | Feedback | Breaking Now | Regional Blogs Directory | Toolkit | NW Life + Weather | Washington | Oregon | Idaho | Front Page

Pacific NW Portal is owned and powered by the Northwest Progressive Institute, a netroots powered strategy center working to raise America's quality of life through innovative research and imaginative advocacy.

The End