(Ed.Note) Welcome to our journey into the world of recession blogs! The 405 Club wants to get personal via 10 questions with our favorite fellow bloggers who are documenting the recession and unemployment firsthand.

This week’s blogging brunch companions are Laura and Sara of Recession Wire.

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1. When were you laid off? Or are you employed?

We were both laid off from Condé Nast Portfolio.com in December/January, but we found out about it a couple of months in advance.

2. What did you do?

We are both journalists-turned-media entrepreneur. At the time Laura was assistant managing editor and Sara was lifestyle editor for Conde Nast’s Portfolio.com.

3. When did you start the blog?

We launched at the beginning of February 2009.

4. Initial reason for starting the blog?

We felt like nobody was chronicling the on-the-ground effects of the recession, as well as the big cultural shifts that were taking place. As journalists, we wanted to be part of the conversation. We not only wanted to help people cope, we wanted to offer inspiration, creativity and community to people hit by the downturn. Our tagline is “The upside of the downturn,” after all!

5. Motivation to continue blogging?

We’ve learned so much over the past several months, and continue to every day. We meet new people all the time, some of whom we get to
help. And we get great stories out there. Plus, blogging is fun.

6. Do you think blogging about unemployment/the recession will help you find a job?

Yes. It seems that people have been impressed that instead of lying down, we started our own business and were quickly successful.

7. What do you want to do next professionally?

Sara: Good question! I love journalism, but definitely have the entrepreneurship bug now.
Laura: Agree - I love telling stories and chronicling big changes, like the recession, but starting and running a company is equally thrilling.

8. How will your blog change when you rejoin the workforce?

I think we’ll just continue to cover the changing environment, but maybe work on it during different hours.

9. What’s new at your blog and where does it go from here?

We are looking ahead at the recovery phase, so in our regular Screwed feature, for example, where we track layoffs, we’re also adding updates about new jobs that are being created at companies around the country and the world.

10. Why should someone read your unemployment/recession blog over other and/or what makes your perspective special?

We have new, useful information every day. News you should know, advice, cool trends, personal essays,

Bonus Question: Any Final thoughts or words of wisdom for members of The 405 Club?

Almost any situation can be an opportunity in some way,

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A huge thanks to Laura and Sara, writers and co- founder of Recession Wire. Be sure to check out Recession Wire here.