Scribner's "Red Crow" news blog joins Berkshire County online community

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. -- There's a new source of news about to debut in southern Berkshire County with an eclectic -- but perhaps appropriate -- name.

"Red Crow News" is the creation of one of the region's long-time editors, David Scribner, and two co-writers, Scribner confirmed on Tuesday. Scribner is a former editor of The Berkshire Eagle and current news editor of the weekly Berkshire Record. He also writes frequently for the monthly Hill Country Observer.

  A Pittsfield resident, Scribner has also edited the Bennington Banner. For several years, he has been exploring options for web-based news gathering and fine writing. At one point Scribner and the writer of this post proposed "Newscafes" -- a non-profit project to bring community journalism, coffee shops, museums and libraries together.

Although "Red Crow News" has not been formally announced, said Scribner, the website is now public and already has some stories and commentary on it.

"We take our inspiration from the Red Crow, endangered, eccentric, rarely seen," says an explanation on the website. "But known throughout the world of wild life as a truthteller, soulseeing, royal pain in the ass. Darwin couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the Red Crow; and so doubting his vision, he refused to tell others. But we believe the Red Crow is ever-present, everywhere."

Among stories already posted are a series about General Electric Co., and the longterm strategies for cleanup of the PCBs from the Housatonic River.

"Red Crow News" takes its place alongside another web-based news-and-arts service piloted by another former Berkshire Eagle writer, Seth Rogovoy. Rogovoy, most recently editor of Berkshire Living magazine, does a daily rewrite of key national, regional and local stories -- and sometimes some original writing, as BerkshireDaily, an email news letter.  He also updates a website: http://rogovoyreport.com .