The Big Tent Makes a Big Splash at the DNC

For the past few months, bloggers have been buzzing about the "Big Tent" at the #DNC08. Well, now that America's Democratic National Convention is underway, we finally got to see the Big Tent in action. The Big Tent is a facility for the alternative media hosted by DailyKos, the Sustainability Alliance and ProgressNow, with Digg, YouTube, and Google as corporate sponsors.

The two-story tent was made available for alternative and indy journalists and bloggers who didn't have a home base to report from for the political conventions. Everyone from small town soccer moms to Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, is blogging from the Big Tent in Denver.

The Big Tent is very luxurious compared to dirty cramp press rooms frequented by traditional press. Journalists and bloggers who signed up for a slot in the 8,000 square-foot facility get unlimited access to WiFi, phone/iPod/laptop charging stations, yoga classes, 10 minute massages, smoothies, comfy couches, a baby changing area and live entertainment. Oh yeah, food and drinks are included as well and the free beer starts at 1pm. The Big Tent is even handicapped accessible. I wouldn't be surprised if some traditional journalists decided to work "off site" in the Big Tent and avoid the skanky press rooms all together.



Flickr photos by socalmom and Steve Rhodes
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