I've been a regular visitor to the Huffington Post web site. But why? Beats me.
I rarely read any news stories, because almost all of them are copied (some would say, stolen) from genuine journalistic sources like the New York TImes and the Associated Press.
I'd rather get my news from the original outlet. And in a more attractive format.
The Huffington Post looks like its trying to be the National Enquirer of the Internet. Gigantic flashy headlines mesh with sensationalistic celebrity gossip in a mix that never appealed to me.
I put this web site on my daily visit list because I thought that since Arianna Huffington was a serious supporter of progressive causes, the Huffington Post would be equally substantive and thoughtful.
I was wrong. It's shallow and derivative. Not to mention, sleazy.
It bothered me when I heard that Arianna Huffington had sold the site to AOL for $315 million, yet the legions of unpaid bloggers and other content contributors weren't going to get a dime.
That didn't sound progressive. Or fair.
Now I see that P.J. Myers, a pro-science and anti-religion blogger whom I like a lot, has amplifed his distaste for the Huffington Post in "Sweet Jebus, but I hate the HuffPo."
It's a woo-infested sewer, a cesspit of inanity and exploitation, and they cheat their writers. There is a strike/boycott in operation. This is what you get when an unprincipled, opportunistic hack like Arianna Huffington runs the show.
Here's what the Newspaper Guild says:
The Newspaper Guild is calling on unpaid writers of the Huffington Post to withhold their work in support of a strike launched by Visual Arts Source in response to the company’s practice of using unpaid labor. In addition, we are asking that our members and all supporters of fair and equitable compensation for journalists join us in shining a light on the unprofessional and unethical practices of this company. Just as we would ask writers to stand fast and not cross a physical picket line, we ask that they honor this electronic picket line … Working for free does not benefit workers and undermines quality journalism.
Cool. An electronic picket line. I shall respect it.
No more visits to the Huffington Post for me. Not that I was getting much from this web site anyway, but now I have a reason to un-favorite the Huffington Post from my Safari browser links bar.
She got her millions and millions...she doesn't even need any of the writers who work for free any more...I hope the strike makes an impact, but I'm not holding my breath.
Posted by: Nathan | March 26, 2011 at 09:36 AM
Well on the other side, she only got part of the money from the sale as there were other investors. No writer has to write for Huffington if they want money. They did hire researchers and journalists last year, I think. One of them talks on MSNBC every so often. A lot write for Daily Kos also and are just glad to get their words out there as are most bloggers. People can strike where they want but I don't want to see one less leftie website out there. I don't read a lot on the site and my daughter got tired of the salacious stuff last year. But a lot feel that is what it takes to get people to also read the serious.
Posted by: Rain | March 26, 2011 at 04:06 PM
Hello
As a former editorial cartoon submitter to HuffPo, I appreciate your suppot. You would be most welcome at this FB page
http://www.facebook.com/heyarianna
should you like to puruse our case.
Thank you very much.
Mike Spicer, Cartoonisist.
Posted by: Mike Spicer | March 27, 2011 at 02:52 PM