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When a Progressive Blog for Profit Like the Huffington Post Starts Peddling Panic, It's Time for Reflection

Submitted by mark karlin on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 10:15am.

THE BUZZFLASH EDITOR'S  BLOG

by Mark Karlin

We have enormous respect for the Huffington Post and particularly for Arianna Huffington's brilliant analysis. But when a progressive Internet site -- and the leader on the web -- takes a turn toward the sensational and panic peddling, it's time to pause for reflection upon the impact of commercial investment on the web.

Huff Post started out as a sort of a celebrity blog version of the Daily Kos -- and with the oversight of a former AOL honcho and the infusion of millions of dollars in capital, it expanded into a progressive online newspaper.  It had the money, the celebrity panache, and the brainpower to create the news source of the future, and people -- particularly liberals -- flocked to Huff Po.

But in the past few weeks, its photos and screaming mile-high headlines on the homepage appear more like the New York Post or an attempt to out-Drudge the Drudge Report.

BuzzFlash didn't really remark on this until the Swine Flu epidemic of the last few days, when the Huffington Post has resorted to spreading panic on its homepage instead of balanced news and commentary. In the past 24 hours, going to Huffington Post's front page is like being assaulted with "Attack from Mars" headlines -- and they spill out below the sensationalized photographs into multiple stories about the Swine Flu that scare the bejesus out of you.

Now, the Swine Flu should be taken seriously, but it should also be taken in context.  The powers that be at the Huffington Post have clearly made a decision to go the tabloid route in attracting readers through emotionally charged lead content. More readers means more advertising dollars and increases the value of the site to the investors.

That is regrettable, because the Huffington Post has set an important precedent for progressive news and commentary, but if it continues in the direction the top of its front page is going, it might as well just put up a for-sale sign to Rupert Murdoch.

 Huffington Post front page

THE BUZZFLASH EDITOR'S BLOG




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Mark Karlin the Editors Op-Ed

Submitted by Plus 15 on Wed, 04/29/2009 - 4:08pm.
Mark, this blog makes you come off like a sore loser. This is not worthy of your normally good work. It feels like you were lying in wait for Huffington to post something you could jump on and snicker about. Sometimes reporting is reporting and sometimes it's peddling panic. I think we now all have vast experience and know the difference between peddling fear and panic and actually reporting on a sudden exploding growing real world wide crisis that people are(and were when that headline appeared)anxious for the latest update.
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The Difference Between Fear and Acuracy is Indeeed Clear . . .

Submitted by kathy2 on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 12:22pm.
Of course, there's a major distinction between peddling fear and reporting accurately on a real world crisis. It's clear by the headlines and graphics that Huffington Post was taking a blatantly sensationalistic approach. I use the past tense, was, because on a more recent note the coverage is toned down now, though the sensationalism remains in a less obvious manner. Just yesterday two articles referred to a death in Texas, neither identifying that the 24 month old boy was from Mexico. But then which poison is the worst in disseminating fear- the more subtle or blatant? Yes, this is a real life crisis and because I'm living close to it, perhaps I'm all the more cognizant of fear peddling and its consequences. For one, if I actually do come down with the Swine Flu, I want reasonable access to medical help and the appropriate anti-viral medication, which a panicked run on medical facilities and medication would prevent. Incidentally, given that 3 identified cases have occurred in a heavily populated San Antonio/Austin metroplex of millions, the probabilities are greatly in my favor not to contract it. I found the Buzzflash editorial on the Huffington Post a socially responsible article, in contrast to their socially irresponsible reporting on the flu crisis. There was also another very salient point included-- corporate sponsorship funding can and does have an eroding effect on progressive websites and causes.
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I've been starting to feel the same...

Submitted by mckathiki on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 7:00pm.
...way about HuffPost and finally took the step of taking the feed off my iGoogle today. I will be sending you my measly $10 monthly contribution as usual on payday. It may not be much but every little bit helps. I can only afford to contribute actual dollars to one progressive cause and you're the one. Keep on keepin' on!
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Arianna Huffington

Submitted by clichy1950 on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 1:49pm.

I've never forgotten when we first became aware of Ms. HuffPo. She was a Republican at the time married to some big money GOP turd.

Once exposed forever a carrier. I've never paid much attention to Huff Po because i've always seen it as a way for Arianna to get rich and nothing else.

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I agree....

Submitted by jhakevargz on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 5:57pm.

I have heard about this issue before and it given us annoyance.

They took advantage on the epidemic just to be more progressive.

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Mark

Submitted by Hillbilly on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 12:31pm.
I don't have much money, but I'm going to send you some today. I really understand what you're saying here. I've worked my ass off here in rural Kentucky for progressive issues and my work speaks for it's self. I don't put ads on my blogs either. The key for change is independence and when the blogs get in bed with corporate America there is no independence. I am also offering you my services as a videographer for free. If you need video shot and edited, just let me know and I will do my best to get it done. My work: Here
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Hang in there!
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Slay the Huffpuff Dragon!

Submitted by kathy2 on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 2:11pm.
I'll follow suit with Mark and donate. Living about 10-15 miles from Cibolo, TX, where 2 mild cases have been identified, I find the Huffington Post sensationalism nothing less than unconscionable. There will more than likely be other cases discovered in various parts of the state and country, but that won't constitute a pandemic. In the meantime, journalistic exploitations of the Huffpo ilk will only serve to induce panic and divert unnecessary trafficking to clinics and emergency rooms along with consumption of flu medications, which could prove to be debilitating if an actual crisis emerged. I'm reluctant at this point to visit their website, since my hit would be used in marketing sells to their corporate sponsorship. They may have started out with good intentions, but it looks like greed and power have become their primary influences.
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Agree wholeheartedly with you!

Submitted by mckathiki on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 7:07pm.
My husband, my 14 year old daughter and I live in El Paso, Texas and are following the swine flu news carefully. I'm a private nurse for a 6 year old boy who has a tracheostomy, g-tube and other issues AND attends public elementary school. I don't know if cases have been officially identified here but I believe we already had this flu about 2 weeks ago and it went through the schools like wildfire. It isn't pleasant, flu never is, but definitely survivable with proper care and attention. The news media needs to temper their excitement -- the next worst thing to a pandemic would be full-fledged panic.
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Corporate cash corrupts parties too

Submitted by alankdkd on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 11:28am.
BuzzFlash makes a good point that when a blog like the Huffington Post starts accepting corporate cash, they get corrupted.

People need to realize that this goes double for political parties, like the Democrats who are totally dependent on corporate cash for their survival.

No wonder the Democrats refuse to give us a single-payer health care system, like ever other civilized country in the world has.

No wonder the Obama Administration refuses to prosecute the fascist torturers who committed war crimes in our name and paid for with our tax dollars

No wonder the Democrats stand united with the Republicans against a real investigation into how the 9/11 attacks were staged by the neocons to shock the nation into allowing a fascist takeover, under the excuse of "national security".

If you vote for a corporate-financed party, you are part of the problem.

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Used to check out HuffPo

Submitted by lmjohnson on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 11:25am.
Used to check out HuffPo rather frequently, but have gotten tired of it for some of the above stated reasons. If I want fluff I would go to the networks or to Faux.
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Huffpuff, the Fear Mongering Dragon

Submitted by kathy2 on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 11:38am.
The sensationalistic headlining and layout aren't recent on Huffpo. The motley crew of advertisements, ranging from AT&T to online "Botox alternatives", isn't either. I find increasingly that the better articles, such as pieces by Naomi Klein, are eclipsed by sensationalism and headline priorities found with the MSM sites. I'm not familiar with Huffpo from their earlier days, but there's obviously been appreciable dumbing and bowing down. Like other media outlets, which Huffpo is supposed to be an alternative to, fear peddling with the swine flu will continue to take precedence over the more pressing national and global realities. BTW, I line near an outbreak in TX, which has shut down a school district, and fortunately, the local media has taken an informative, rather than a fear pandering, approach. It's a major act of journalistic irresponsibility to emphasize worst case scenarios in a potential health crisis over information which is accurate and preventative.
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Please

Submitted by vtjozef on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 10:32am.
This sure doesn't say much what about what it means to be a "progressive". When one's income and sustenance becomes dependent upon a blog or website that espouses a political point of view, then the blog or website has been compromised. The begging for money makes so-called progressives appear more and more like the NRA, and desparate. Progressives are liberals that have shed the four-letter "L-word", and liberals are those that go to the left only as far as the Right will let them. When Obama is seen as a "progressive" then we have truly moved the center so far to the right that that the left is AWOL.
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