This week, we chatted with James Keblas, director of the City of Seattle Film and Music Office, about what he’s reading these days. We found Keblas is, appropriately, a bit of a news junkie and willing and eager to embrace new technology.

This is the second installment of a regular series we plan to run. We’re surveying prominent people around Seattle — authors, journalists, politicians, actors, chefs, and business leaders — to find out how their reading and media consumption habits have evolved in recent years.

Keblas’ answers seem to jibe with a new Pew Research Center survey showing that people are consuming more news now than ever, and finding that news from a more diverse array of sources. Here’s a link to a Washington Post article on the survey.

Below are Keblas’ responses to questions about what he reads:

1. What are your favorite local news outlets? Why?

My favorite places to read daily local news are all on the web.  I can’t remember the last time I picked up an actual paper.  When I get up in the morning I make an espresso and read through about 10 different blogs sites, including Publicola, neighborhood blogs, The Stranger, Puget Sound Business Journal, etc.

2. What do you consider “must reads” every day? Must watch? Must hear?

If you care about local politics, then Publicola is a must read.  Very little gets by that team.  Working in a public office, it is great reading Publicola because it’s like a City Hall/ Olympia newsletter.  I don’t always agree with them but I like their coverage.

3. Do you consume news through: print, television, radio, laptop, smart phone, ipad, podcasts, other?

NPR is a must for me first thing in the morning.  It’s like getting my daily news read to me by Burl Ives.  Great long, in-depth stories presented without shouting and no commercials (yes, I am a member).  My wife loves MSNBC so we watch that sometimes in the evening.  I have an iPhone so it’s really easy for me to get all my news and information all day long where ever I am.

4. Do you use Facebook, LinkedIn, and/or Twitter for news and information?

I use social networking personally and professionally to disseminate information, but to be honest I don’t read it much.

5. What online news sites or aggregators do you visit regularly?

For the most part I use Google Reader and let everything come to me.

6. Do you regularly visit any individual blogs for news, analysis and opinion?

Huffington Post is a good aggregator so I occasionally check it out.  I am a major technophile so also read sites like Engadget, Wired, Fast Company and Gizmodo to fill that fix.

7. Have your news consumption habits changed in the last few years? If so, how?

I used to religiously read the Seattle Times and the Seattle PI daily because those were the best sources.  I still read them and think they play an important role, but I go to many other sites beforehand now.

8. Do you read for fun? If so, what? Last novel you read? Non-fiction book?

I have to read for fun otherwise I risk becoming one of those people who take relatively unimportant things too seriously.   I don’t trust people who only read serious news and non-fiction.  They don’t have perspective or imagination.  To keep my sense of humor in shape I read The Onion, The Stranger and Stewart/Colbert.  To keep my imagination in shape, I subscribe to Yanko Design and read Kerri Harrop’s blog, generalbonkers.com.  I also try to keep a fiction book going at all times.  Right now I am reading all of Jonathan Troppers books.  He is insightful, funny and an eloquent writer.  I just finished the book, This is Where I Leave You.  Highly recommended.