The LAPD has launched a blog (via LA Observed).

Our online journal is an interactive tool that we use to deliver real-time, unfiltered information. We invite you to take a look inside the Department to learn more about the men and women in blue who have sworn to protect and to serve you.

By using this Blog, the LAPD hopes to maintain an open dialogue with the communities we serve and those who have an interest in the men and women of this organization. We encourage you to express your opinions about current events through respectful and insightful discussion. We reserve the right to refuse to post those comments that contain inappropriate language and/or material. In the near future, we intend to expand our Blogging capabilities to all 19 Area Stations.

They’ve even enabled comments (moderated).

This is interesting as a form of disintermediation of the media. Big-J journalists might argue that it’s merely flakery and doesn’t replace the need for real reportage. And that may all be true. But I also believe most readers are pretty smart and can separate the flakery from the useful information. While I believe in aggressive journalism in covering government agencies, I also think it’s a good thing for agencies to open up and try to reach the public in an unfiltered manner. The more voices the better.

Of course, the best thing the LAPD could do is not just sugar coat everything. They’ll have more credibility if the voice is authentic and honest, and credibility will be important in those times they want to use the blog for a pissing match with local media.