Can the BuzzFeed Formula Work For Real News?

BuzzFeed, the meme-centric social news site known for its reserves of offbeat content and silly cat photos, is stockpiling journalists—serious ones. Last week, it announced the hire of award-winning Rolling Stone writer Michael Hastings, adding to an impressive roster of reporters that include Gizmodo’s Matt Buchanan, RollingStone.com’s Doree Shafrir, New York magazine’s Amy Odell and, most notably, Politico powerhouse Ben Smith. The recent spate of big hires has even sparked its own Tumblr. It’s all part of an original content effort that CEO and co-founder Jonah Peretti said is intended to make BuzzFeed the leading social publisher. “We’ve been hiring a new breed of reporter who combines traditional journalistic values with fluency for the social web,” he said. “People can share and discover content on [social networks] and email. The big opportunity now is making content worth sharing.” Surely, every reporter believes their content is worth sharing. But as this new class of journalist attempts to remake BuzzFeed into a purveyor of consequential stories —not just catchy ones—what’s to say that its scoops on politics and culture won’t get lost amid the flood of posts labeled “lol,” “cute” and “omg”? In a world where people already get news from Facebook News Feeds and Twitter streams, that’s not a big issue, said Peretti. “Consumers are used to seeing personal updates, mixed with cute cat pictures, mixed with election coverage,” he said. “Everything is combined... Continue reading at 'AdWeek'

[ AdWeek | 2012-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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L.L. Bean’s employees spent decades working in the dark. Its new HQ is radically open

The outdoor gear company’s new headquarters adds visibility to its workspaces and its work. For an outdoor clothing and gear company, L.L. Bean’s offices were surprisingly cloistered. “About 90% of our employees did not have access to natural daylight. There were parts of the building that were... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2023-06-14 04:30:00 UTC ]
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Want a Living Wage? You Won’t Find It Working at Most Indie Bookstores

You won't make a living wage working as a bookseller in an indie bookstore. Here's a look at wages across the country. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-06-12 10:37:00 UTC ]
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Bruce Lehrmann drops defamation case and settles with News Corp over Brittany Higgins reports

The two parties reportedly settled with News Corp saying it had not paid any damages and the articles in dispute would remain onlineFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastBruce Lehrmann has discontinued... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-05-30 04:40:11 UTC ]
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U.S. Book Show 2023: Jacqueline Woodson Works from Memory and Empathy

At a lunch-hour keynote on May 24, National Book Award winner and former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Jacqueline Woodson sat down with bookseller Miwa Messer. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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News Corp denies it played a part in Stan Grant’s decision to leave Q+A amid racist attacks

Murdoch’s Australian media chief calls on ABC to ‘correct the record’ after accusations that excessive coverage encouraged racist social media trollsGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastRupert Murdoch’s top executive in Australia has defended News Corp’s... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-05-23 08:46:23 UTC ]
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Good news: there are more bookstores in the US this year than last.

Today in good news, the American Booksellers Association announced that membership is at its highest level in 20 years. Per reporting by Hillel Italie at the Associated Press: The ABA added 173 members last year, and now has 2,185 bookstore businesses and 2,599 locations. Three years after the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-22 15:55:36 UTC ]
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Tensions Flare Inside The Messenger, a Fledgling News Site

The company’s high-volume approach to digital publishing has led to duplicated stories and alienated some of its journalists. At least one editor has already resigned. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-05-21 00:15:06 UTC ]
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A Bill in Connecticut Would Fund Sanctuary Libraries: Book Censorship News, May 19, 2023

A Connecticut bill would provide funding for sanctuary libraries across the state. That, plus this week's book censorship news. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-05-19 10:40:00 UTC ]
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News Corp sports journalist Paul Kent faces court after being charged with assaulting ex-girlfriend

‘Embarrassed’ Daily Telegraph writer and Fox Sports host tells reporters outside court it is his turn in the spotlight of the ‘rugby league soap opera’Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe News Corp... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-05-17 07:00:21 UTC ]
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It's Pulitzer Prize day, honoring journalism's best work

The Pulitzer Prizes will be awarded Monday to honor outstanding journalism during a violent year that included Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, mass shootings that targeted an elementary school and supermarket, and floods and flames fueled by clima... Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2023-05-08 05:17:36 UTC ]
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On creating a board game that is also a work of literature.

Telling good stories in games is really hard. It’s hard in any medium, of course, but games provide a set of challenges over and above those faced by novelists and screenwriters. Take the question of agency—if the player is allowed to make the primary narrative decisions in the game, then the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-01 15:00:45 UTC ]
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Traffic review: Ben Smith on Bannon, BuzzFeed and where it all went wrong

Now a co-founder of Semafor, formerly of Politico, BuzzFeed and the New York Times, the author expertly pulls readers inBen Smith is a willing passenger on the rollercoaster also known as the internet. He reported for Politico, was founding editor-in-chief at BuzzFeed News and did a stint as a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-29 06:00:28 UTC ]
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Facebook Made BuzzFeed, Then Killed It

The digital publisher grew fat off the back of Facebook’s fickle algorithm. Battered and bruised, it’s now going back to where it all began. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2023-04-24 11:00:00 UTC ]
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ABC thumbs its nose at News Corp and Acma with rerun of Fox and the Big Lie | Weekly Beast

Revamped Sarah Ferguson documentary to air on Four Corners after initial version sparked complaints. Plus: the Australian’s own goalFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastHours before Lachlan Murdoch... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-21 04:27:06 UTC ]
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Orbit Launches New Imprint, Orbit Works

Spearheaded by Orbit executive editor Brit Hvide and editor Stephanie Clark, the imprint will focus on science fiction and fantasy titles in digital formats. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Hilary Mantel was working on ‘mashup’ of Jane Austen novels before her death

Wolf Hall trilogy author remembered at memorial service at Southwark cathedral on ThursdayHilary Mantel, the celebrated author of the Wolf Hall trilogy, was working on a “mashup” of Jane Austen novels when she died suddenly, her literary agent told a packed memorial service at Southwark... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-20 17:46:20 UTC ]
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A Dancer’s Life: Chita Rivera on Working Hard and Learning From the Best

A new memoir traces the three-time Tony Award winner’s life and career working with Balanchine, Robbins and Fosse. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-04-19 09:00:33 UTC ]
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Betr ‘crossed the line’ with illegal ads in News Corp media encouraging gambling, regulator says

Company denies breaking the law but agrees to pay $210,000 penalty imposed by Liquor & Gaming NSWFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe News Corp-backed wagering company Betr has been fined a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-14 02:39:52 UTC ]
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Lachlan Murdoch knew Fox News claim of stolen US election was false, Crikey will argue in defamation trial

Publisher’s defence in case brought by News Corp co-chairman relies in part upon Dominion’s US suit against media giantFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastLachlan Murdoch allowed Fox News hosts to... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-12 07:32:45 UTC ]
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Apple’s 'Tetris' movie trades real-life drama for spy fantasies

No, the origins of Tetris didn't involve a high-speed car chase, but the true story behind the game still reads like a spy novel. There's corporate intrigue, nefarious government agencies and an envious amount of globe-trotting. But the reality wasn't enough for the creative minds behind Apple's... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-03-30 12:30:20 UTC ]
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