Steve Gilliard, 1966-2007

Whatever one writes about in the Blogsphere, we owe a huge debt to Steve Gilliard, one of the pioneers and giants of turning what was originally intended as a format for personal diaries into a political and cultural forum. Gilliard, and others, realized that even those of us with very narrow-cast interests (like, say… Mexican culture and politics) can make a difference, even if, like Steve, their physical limitations kept them from being as active as they’d like.

This very limited interest site would never have started if it hadn’t been for the example of people like Steve, whose “news blog” was one of the first, and one of the best, sources of political reporting in the new media.

His associate, Jen, may or may not be keeping the site going, but for now, she has posted this:

It is with tremendous sadness that we must convey the news that Steve Gilliard, editor and publisher of The News Blog (www.thenewsblog.net), passed away early Saturday morning, June 2nd. He was 41.

To those who have come to trust The News Blog and its insightful, brash and unapologetic editorial tone, we have Steve to thank from the bottom of our hearts. Steve helped lead many discussions that mattered to all of us, and he tackled subjects and interest categories where others feared to tread.

We will post more information as it becomes available to us.

Please keep Steve’s friends and family in your thoughts and prayers.

Steve meant so much to us. We will miss him terribly.