I’ve decided to bring you in on these developments because you’re part of this experiment, too. An integral part, as it turns out.

I’ve alluded to some offline conflict in the past, but I’ve never made clear the full extent of the push back to which this blog has been subjected.

My reason for doing so now is to put the bullies on notice that I will no longer keep their attempts at intimidation quiet — and to encourage others to take a similar stand.

Let me first make very clear that the pressure I’ve experienced has not come from local government administrators, who have been consistently professional and fair in their dealings with the DGreport, but from a small group of elected/appointed leaders and their supporters. This is an important distinction that I believe speaks to a political agenda and a desire to control the local discourse.

The campaign against the DGreport –- and I chose that word with care –- goes back two years to when I was contacted by an official who accused my blog’s “anonymous attack gang” of tearing apart the community. A few months later, the IReadItInDG attacks were disseminated via e-mail. And from that point forward there has been no let up in the attempts to pressure the DGreport into becoming the sort of online news source that few read and even fewer comment upon.

From the start, my anonymity policy has been a major point of contention and, in all fairness, it’s reasonable for different people to have different views on the subject. My view is that I won’t make a promise I can’t keep just to curry favor with my detractors. Anyone can create an e-mail account in any name to “verify” their identity and most blogs that claim to require “real names” only verify that the e-mail account is real.

However, I took the concerns about anonymity to heart and moved to a fully moderated blog, cracking down on comments that fall outside my stated policy. (This job is more difficult than it appears, as the vast majority of comments fall into the gray area. I continue to wrestle with this to the best of my ability and make my apologies when I inevitably — and regrettably — slip up.)

But when the move to moderation had no impact on the amount of push back, I began to grasp that the anonymity issue was a smokescreen.

The real agenda, it appears, was to determine who was making comments and to shut down as much “negative” opinion as possible. Comments, after all, make a blog interesting and transform the DGreport into a community of readers. Shut down the comments and you’ve choked off the blog’s oxygen.

I came to this conclusion when I saw my most vociferous critics apply a completely different standard to other online news sources, repeatedly referencing and linking to sites that allow un-moderated anonymity, commenting on some of those sites themselves, becoming Facebook “fans” of such sites, and even putting up posts on sites that allow anonymous comments. Note that to my knowledge, none has ever linked to or otherwise positively referenced the DGreport publicly.

I also noticed that some members of the group were looking to lob their own incendiary comments on my blog from behind the presumed protection of hidemyass.com.

Finally, about six months ago, I started to hear from readers who were being pressured to stop commenting on the DGreport. Some of these readers had commented anonymously, causing concern over whether their identities had been compromised. I believe this was an attempt to call my integrity into question, as one long-time commenter did last year when he/she claimed, in another very public forum, that I had “outed” him/her.

In subsequent months, the rhetoric against me and this blog – delivered via e-mail and Twitter – has ratcheted up considerably. Now, my credibility as a journalist is being called into question.

Why such concerted effort to shut down a blog that welcomes divergent views and attempts to inform the public about a variety of local issues, share good news, encourage support of our local businesses and engage the community?

I believe the answer lies with April 5, 2011. That’s the date of the next local election and I suspect the troops are already mustering for a fight. Unlike local newspapers, with their unwieldy archives, the DGreport serves as a readily accessible record of the past three years of local government. It also allows you, the readers, to weigh in with your views.

The decision to share this information – and it’s just the proverbial tip of the iceberg – wasn’t made lightly. I came of age at a time when journalists were never part of the story and I hesitate to break that rule now.

However, I believe the political pressure brought to bear against the DGreport has much wider implications for continued free speech and a free press, as the responsibility for news coverage increasingly passes from large news organizations to lone bloggers who are much more susceptible to that sort of pressure.

Many times in the past three years I’ve wished for the editors, publishers and corporate attorneys I had backing me up earlier in my career. And I confess that I’ve been intimidated by the recent round of bullying — to the extent that I’ve held off on certain posts and seriously considered shutting down the DGreport.

But after much consideration, I’ve reached a different decision. The DGreport will remain up. It will continue to be a fully moderated blog that seeks to fairly and accurately report and opine on local news and events while inviting contrary perspectives. And it will welcome constructive criticism offered in good faith.

But from this point forward, it will no longer protect political bullies by shielding their efforts from public view.

“I would like to see, through council action or staff, that any member who is on the commission refrain from any sort of blogging until after this council votes on this matter,” Durkin said.

“There are certain members of this committee who have blogged, blog or have their own Web sites,” he said. “So, I’m not pointing a finger at any specific person or person, but I just ask that whatever is discussed at this stays at the level it is and not on the internet.”

This is, to my knowledge, the first time such a concern has been floated by a member of the village council. Maybe because DGreport contributor Mark Thoman was about to be appointed a member of the committee?

Thoman is surely the most active blogger on the committee, which also includes Bill White and Marge Earl of the Zoning Board of Appeals; Alan Jirik, Audra Hamerik and Gregg Beggs of the Plan Commission; Mike Davenport of the Architecture Design Review Board, John Wendt of the Traffic and Parking Commission and at-large member Paul Jacobs. Two additional at-large members are yet to be appointed following Tuesday’s vote to increase the committee.

White, of course, was the publisher of the now defunct Wired Grove blog before assuming his current roles as chairman of the ZBA, D99 school board member and, as of Tuesday, chairman of the CPC. While a regular commenter during the 2007 campaign, he has offered only a very occasional comment on the DGreport since.

Marge Earl also has commented here on limited basis, most recently to report on last month’s Community Events Commission meeting, while Mike Davenport has commented just once.

None of their comments have been strident, indiscreet or otherwise objectionable. Thoman, on the other hand, has certainly come in for some push-back for his posts. However,  he’s made it clear he is stepping back from blogging on the DGreport and focusing his attentions on the CPC.

“Mayor Sandack knows I continue to be appreciative of the opportunity to serve the village, and appreciative of his appointing me to what everyone knows to be a key undertaking of the village,” Thoman said.

While I have no problem with Durkin raising the question of blogging in conjunction with boards and commissions — in fact, I think it should be raised — I would have appreciated a larger discussion of the issue.

As it turned out, commissioners Geoff Neustadt and William Waldack were the only ones to weigh in, although Durkin said he “had communications with several colleagues and there were no objections” to his proposal.

“I think there’s a different kind of respect and professionalism that comes once on an acting board or commission, Neustadt said. “I fully expect all of our appointees to respect and follow rules of conduct for the municipal organization and that board and commission.”

It took Waldack to point out that the council was framing the question in the narrowest possible terms by focusing on blogging to the exclusion of other social media — of which local officials including the mayor, Neustadt, and commissioners Bob Barnett and Bruce Beckman make regular use.

“I know the rules apply,  we  have legal standards we have to meet and I know there’s a concern,” Waldack said. “Keep in mind it doesn’t mean no blogging, because keep in mind we have council members up here always Twittering and blogging, Facebooking and everything else .

“The standards that apply to us would probably apply to them as well. It doesn’t put a kibosh on blogs,” he said.

Waldack’s point speaks to the universality of social media. This is an era when members of Congress Twitter from the U.S. Capitol during the president’s State of the Union address, policy discussions flourish on local Facebook pages and the Village itself makes regular use of Twitter and TribLocal, and also posted an official statement on the “Bring Back the Heritage Fest” group’s Facebook page.

So where to we draw the line? At all digital media? All blogs? Or just the DGreport?

I wrote in yesterday’s Sun column about the difficulties and challenges digital media present to the dinosaurs among us — journalists, government officials and consumers of the “news.” Falling into two of those groups myself, I’m certainly sympathetic to the third.

However, at the risk of sounding self-serving, I’m going to suggest it could appear that public officials are personally motivated when they single out one tiny corner of the digital universe as off-limits and apply that criterion to a single committee.

By all means have a discussion — a far-reaching, all-inclusive discussion — of what the explosion of  blogs and other digital and social media means to government business as usual. But, please. Be fair.

So the bad news is I won’t be posting here on whatever hits my fancy anywhere near as often…that’s good news too, right?

When EJ sent out the call for a little help in April of 2009 to make DGreport more than a time-crushing one person effort I said I think I can help, I hope I can help, and I’d do what I can to help it be so.  141 posts later, EJ’s given me continuing free rein to write about whatever interests me.  I know, I know…boy what pathetic interests.  Instead of writing about sexy new cars I write about buying an 8 year old Accord.  Instead of big picture stuff I bored again and again into budget meeting details, municipal code enforcement and development issues, and bored some readers to tears.

A hyper-local blog like DGreport is at its best when there’s involvement and some variety.  You guys can’t expect EJ to keep just her shoulder to the stone alone.  I’m politely and respectfully calling some of you out; time to give a little back.

Meat, you said you’d contribute and you tossed in a few nicely done posts, all net, no rim.  Few is the key word. Amp it up, Studly.  Heck half the time your comments should be posts.  Bob Lemay, you’re a great guy with a clear head who can write from the heart.  So why don’t you?  Liz, your focus broke a story about incompetence and waste on the county water commission.  How are they going to dig out of that hole?  There’s not a post or two in there that we’d all read?  Ryan, I read your stuff, I don’t know how you can type so much so fast, but you should at least cross post here.

Anyone else?  Cawthorne, you see leading indicators on livestock and foodstuff commodities way before anyone else; you could give us a heads up once in a while where that market might be leading us?  Schofield, a little photo journalism on your next foray for some pad thai might be interesting.  Chad, you’re into local football.  That alone was reason for 13 or so posts.  there’s plenty more of you that can contribute if you simply decide you will contribute.

They don’t have to be long involved stories, just put something into the basket on EJ’s desk.  None of you have to shoot for 141 posts.  Just try one.  A little one.  Then maybe another one.  See how it goes.  Give a little back.  Have some fun.

Depending on why you do it, being a citizen journalist can have its pitfalls in the Faustian bargains one might make for access.  Here there’s no such deal to be made but it’s peer review at it’s most basic.  You’re not a shill or a sycophant unless you choose to be, and then you’re on your own.  Make your points, keep it clean, and your credibility will be what it will be.  DGreport has sifted out most of the trolls, stoopids, and pot-stirrers.

Wait I have one modifier to that: EDC President Greg Bedalov has given me info in the past that I’ve been happy to tout because it’s news that impacts how we’re doing as a community.  It’s usually good news springing from good effort by his team, and the C of C, and the Downtown Management Group.  So there, I’m a shill and a sycophant for the village’s economic well-being.  I’ll be hyping the Ice Festival for sure; I’ve gone every year and it’s great how many people come out.  Did I mention the weekend of February 13 & 14 if you head downtown you’ll find that Love Is In The Air?

Like I said above, I’m not stopping as a contributor to DGreport, but I’m saying up front I won’t have as much time if this goes well.  I know some of the other nominees, and I think it will go well, I hope it will go well, and I will do what I can to help it be so.

- Mark Thoman

Me here.  We’ve all read Elaine’s DGreport now for over two years, and recently she asked us if we might help her out for a while.

I put up the video of Ms. Richards.

And yeah, consider me a pulling blocker on all the trolls, and self-righteous scolds, and stoopid jamokes trying to wearing her out, not being mindful they’re in a neighbor’s house here.

Use a pseudonym?  Fine.   There’s plenty of people who’d like to say something but don’t want blowback from blowhard trolls, and fallout in their personal lives.  Understood.

There’s a difference between someone using a pseudonym, and a troll with an agenda and an attitude.  If you’re registered, and use your real name, your comments are worth a bit of care.  Know up front, if you choose to engage here as a known real person using your real name, I’ll work to spike any negative comments directed towards you instead of towards what you are saying.

I’m hoping I’m just the first of several who agree to try and contribute.  I tend to go wider than DG, and I’m not a career journalist like EJ.  I write about village matters, council matters mainly, infrastructure, development, TIF.  Sometimes county, sometimes state, sometimes left field.  Where EJ calls people and does interviews, I stick mostly to the public record; what’s on-line and already in agendas, minutes, documents, and on and on.  If it’s on-line I’ll try and find it.

Elaine does her here gig very well, and she’s the boss.  I do my gig…ummm, too.  All of the above?  Not hard and fast, not final, not etched in stone.  Times change, and lately they’ve been changing really fast.  EJ tries her best to keep you in the loop, and I’ll try and help too.

How about you?

Mark Thoman