Huffington Post

Definition

The Huffington Post is a prominent American news and opinion website that covers a wide range of topics, including politics, entertainment, technology, and lifestyle. It is known for its progressive and left-leaning editorial stance, as well as its use of citizen journalism and blogging to supplement its professional news coverage.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Huffington Post was founded in 2005 by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, and quickly became one of the most widely read news and opinion websites in the United States.
2. The Huffington Post is known for its use of citizen journalism, which allows readers to contribute their own articles and commentary to the site.
3. The Huffington Post has been criticized by some for its reliance on unpaid bloggers and for its perceived liberal bias, but it has also been praised for its innovative approach to news reporting and its ability to engage a wide audience.
4. In 2011, the Huffington Post was acquired by AOL for $315 million, making it one of the most significant acquisitions in the history of online media.
5. The Huffington Post has expanded its operations to include international editions in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and France, as well as a range of specialized verticals covering topics such as politics, entertainment, and technology.

Review Questions

• Describe the Huffington Post's approach to news reporting and how it differs from traditional media outlets.
  • The Huffington Post is known for its innovative approach to news reporting, which includes a heavy emphasis on citizen journalism and blogging. Unlike traditional media outlets that rely primarily on professional journalists, the Huffington Post allows readers to contribute their own articles and commentary, which can provide a more diverse range of perspectives and experiences. Additionally, the Huffington Post is known for its progressive editorial stance, which often differs from the more centrist or conservative leanings of traditional media outlets.
• Analyze the potential benefits and drawbacks of the Huffington Post's reliance on unpaid bloggers.
  • The Huffington Post's reliance on unpaid bloggers can be seen as both a benefit and a drawback. On the one hand, it allows the website to publish a wide range of content and perspectives that may not be available through traditional media outlets. This can lead to a more diverse and engaging news experience for readers. However, the use of unpaid labor has also been criticized as exploitative, as it can be seen as taking advantage of people's willingness to contribute their time and expertise without compensation. Additionally, the quality and reliability of the content produced by unpaid bloggers may be more variable than that of professional journalists, which could potentially undermine the credibility of the Huffington Post.
• Evaluate the impact of the Huffington Post's acquisition by AOL and how it may have affected the website's editorial independence and journalistic integrity.
  • The acquisition of the Huffington Post by AOL in 2011 for $315 million was a significant event in the history of online media. On one hand, the acquisition provided the Huffington Post with additional resources and funding that could potentially allow it to expand its operations and reach a wider audience. However, the acquisition also raised concerns about the website's editorial independence and journalistic integrity. There was a fear that the Huffington Post's progressive editorial stance and commitment to citizen journalism could be compromised by the influence of a larger, more corporate-oriented parent company like AOL. Additionally, the significant financial investment in the Huffington Post by AOL could be seen as a potential conflict of interest, as the website may feel pressure to produce content that aligns with the interests of its parent company rather than prioritizing objective and independent journalism.

Related terms

Citizen Journalism:

The act of citizens playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing, and disseminating news and information, often through the use of digital technologies.

Blogging: The practice of maintaining a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that presents commentary, opinions, and other content.

Progressive Ideology: A political ideology that generally favors social and economic reform, often with a focus on issues such as income inequality, social justice, and environmental protection.