Here’s an idea we really like: reporters at California Watch are sticking in their community by basing themselves in neighborhood coffee shops. Why not? As long as you have WiFi (and a strong cup of coffee), you’re ready to report. (Via E&P – and it’s good to have you back.) At California Watch, Editorial Director Mark Katches explains how serendipity led to the idea:

“For most of this week, our operations are being disrupted by an office move. We’re packing up and transporting the whole shebang from our existing location on Newbury Street to a beautifully remodeled landmark building on Center Street in downtown Berkeley. Our Internet connection went down Friday at our old location, and we don’t have a place to sit in the new space… We figured we should turn this temporary inconvenience into an opportunity. So we decided to set up shop on Thursday at various WiFi hotspots. The Open Newsroom concept is part of a goal to connect with readers and get out of the office. We’re hoping it will be a regular part of what we do.”

This especially makes sense when you’re trying to cover the state of California. The site has even posted a Google Map, showing you where their reporters are (coffee-) based. We note two things from the map: 1. Only one reporter is based at a Starbucks and 2. We have to try “Chocolate Fish Coffee” in Sacramento.

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