By LINDSAY TOLER

For residents of Columbia, home of the world’s first journalism school, it can sometimes seem like there are more journalists in town than citizens. But as the blogosphere expands, the line between citizens and journalists is blurring.

Mike Martin, a full-time freelance science writer for publications like Science and Spirit Magazine and NewsFactor and a resident of Columbia since 1997, typifies this increasing haziness.

In November 2005, Martin turned what he called “over-the-fence talk” into The Columbia Heart Beat, an online neighborhood newsletter that brings an alternate, grass-roots perspective to the issues affecting the north-central Columbia neighborhood. Martin’s insider’s take on the area has attracted the attention of community members and officials across Columbia, including the City Council. Read more…