Mainstream Media Attention for the JakeFiles

I received a request for an interview a little over a week ago from an Independent newspaper in Chandler:

March 26, 006

Hello! My name is (name withheld) — I am the News Editor for the (organization withheld) newspaper.
I'm working on a story about Chandler residents who do blogs. I was wondering
if I could interview you about this?
Please feel free to contact me if you're interested.

Name and organization withheld, at MY discretion

March 31, 2006

I responded last week to your request for an interview about local Chandler blogging.  Are you still planning on this?  I'd be happy to meet with you in person or over the phone.  If you are still planning on it, you can reach me at XXX-XXX-XXXX. 

(name withheld) aka Amazing Jake

March 31, 2006

Thanks for getting back to me. I appreciate the offer, but I do not do anonymous interviews. Are you willing to use your name?

April 2, 2003

Thanks, but no thanks.  See the recent news articles below regarding protecting your online privacy.  As someone who is actively looking for a new job, I have no desire for potential employers to know my opinions about anything not related to the job I'm interviewing for.  I also don't need my wife or young children having to defend something I've said online.  Nothing about my personal life can be found on Google, and I plan to keep it that way.

If you change your mind about the anonymity, let me know.

Amazing Jake

March 30, 2006   Job applicants' online musings get hard look

March 27, 2006  You are what you post:  Bosses are using Google to peer into places interviews can't take them

March 24, 2006  Blogs make you immortal or infamous

March 18, 2006   What a tangled web we weave:  Being Googled can jeopardize your job search

February 7, 2005  Fired Google blogger reflects, moves on

February 23, 2005  Blog at Your Own Risk

October 14, 2004  Recruiters use Google to screen job applicants

I find it somewhat amusing that the pendulum has swung so far to the other side in the post-RatherGate and Jayson Blair era that some members of the mainstream media are unwilling to conduct an interview with an "unnamed source."  It's not as if I'm some sort of whistleblower or Deep Throat.  I'm just your friendly neighborhood blogger who wants to comment anonymously on matters both important and frivolous.  If I was concerned about getting my name in the paper, you can bet I would have jumped on board that invitation. 

I will, however, be watching for that article to see if anyone else was interested in their 15 minutes of fame.