All Eyes Open

The academic blogosphere has a new addition that has been getting a lot of attention from college writing program administrators, who must often negotiate high-profile political issues raised by writing classes that may become spotlighted for the curious public. To cover these stories for their news-conscious membership, the WPA Network for Media Action has a Watchblog, which "keeps an eye on American media for the presence of articles or opinion pieces on matters related to the teaching of writing or the administration of writing programs in American schools and colleges." Like all good writing teachers, they -- of course -- present some ground rules for online composition, even as they solicit user-generated content:

Posts do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Council of Writing Program Administrators or any of its regional affiliates. Comments are invited in response to posted or linked news items so as to promote a robust conversation on issues of concern to the profession. Comments will be moderated, and commenters are asked to refrain from ad hominem arguments or inflammatory language.

The site is hosted by CompPile, which has a great "inventory of publications in post-secondary composition, rhetoric, technical writing, ESL, and discourse studies" that is also worth checking out.