ARLINGTON, VA, 2014—The quirky assignment handed down by CJR’s editors—to imagine the future as though observing the past—brings to mind an old joke about the man who went to a psychologist complaining of strange dreams.
One night, he woke up having dreamed that he had turned into a teepee. The next night’s dream was even more vivid: He had turned into a wigwam. The psychologist furrowed his brow. Then he announced: “I have figured it out. You are two tents!”
As the editor and a co-founder of Politico, I am not too tense. Since our publication launched online and in print in January 2007, we have prospered far beyond our early expectations. Fueled by intense interest in the 2008 presidential campaign, our traffic soared and we were regularly in the top dozen of Editor & Publisher’s monthly listing of most-trafficked newspaper Web sites. Politico is growing by every measure that counts to me: newsroom size, traffic, ad revenue, journalistic reputation, and impact. Our strategy is to be in the top tier of news organizations covering Washington and national politics, and to do so as a self-sustaining, profit-generating business.
Complete access to this article will soon be available for purchase. Subscribers will be able to access this article, and the rest of CJR’s magazine archive, for free. Select articles from the last 6 months will remain free for all visitors to CJR.org.
Interesting, Mr. Harris. If it weren't for the dishonesty of your inflammatory headlines designed solely to garner a Drudge link, where the story doesn't deliver on the promise, and the bad journalism that is little more than baseless rumor-mongering, I would wish you and your innovative organization well. I realize that, as a news junkie outside of Washington, I'm not your immediate target audience, but I certainly do try to discredit you when I think you deserve it. Persistence, I think, is the key to that.
Sad to say, as successful as you are in garnering links, Politico hasn't made a substantial positive contribution to journalism. You are all about insider gossip, and that's about it. That's fine, nothing wrong with that, but don't try to pretend it's something more than that.
Cheers,
Tom
Posted by Tom on Wed 25 Mar 2009 at 02:28 PM
So there is not a scenario in which Obama is NOT in his second term? Just another instance of the narrow focus and institutional bias that is dooming old media. Sorry to see that new media is falling into the same trap.
Posted by Kit on Wed 25 Mar 2009 at 02:42 PM
Uh, Kit.
I don't think Obama's "second term" is the point of that column. He's... uh... guessing. You're searching for media bias in the wrong place. Get on point.
Posted by Jonathan Cribbs on Wed 25 Mar 2009 at 02:49 PM
Politico has deliberately sucked up to power brokers on both sides and kept some voices out of the conversation. The strategy sometimes seems to have provocative headlines but no punchlines. I certainly would miss many traditional publications long before I would shed a tear for an absent Politico.
Posted by Thoughtful 1 on Wed 25 Mar 2009 at 09:42 PM
Politico is like the old National Enquirer, except for political junkies. The model is sensationalism and fabricated stories coupled with celebrity gossip, some true, some not. That model isn't new. There are lots of examples of that in the British press. Is it successful? Sure it is. People love sensationalized gossip, and Politico delivers that. Harris and his crew is capitalizing on the Villagers' love of gossip but has amped it up using big money and web technology. He's telling us right here that he wanted to be less constrained by conventional journalism standards, and certainly has achieved that. Is that a model for people who value journalism? That answer is less clear.
Posted by James on Thu 26 Mar 2009 at 07:16 AM
I rely on Politico for intelligent, well-written, information on politics, policy and governance from reporters and editors who are thinking, caring, committed human beings. Passionate and patriotic with a sophisticated understanding of journalistic neutrality.
You have earned my trust. Keep "pulling back the curtain" and providing insights on the major issues confronting our country (and world). Keep asking the important questions. Keep practicing the art of editorship (I've seen some amazing stuff), and you will prosper. I don't have a lot of time. Politico is worth it.
Posted by Roger on Thu 26 Mar 2009 at 08:10 AM
Are you hiring?
I appreciate Politico and what it does. I like the entrepreneurial spirit approach to journalism and (as a journalist just starting my career) see it as the best opportunity for me to prosper in the industry. The first tent does not seem outside the ream of possibility to me. Maybe a little exuberant but something to be hoped for. To accomplish this you will need the drive that young journalists have to offer, those of us fresh out of graduate school are going to be the ones who help shape and mold the industry in the coming years because, really, we have no other choice. It is either that or I could go back to being a cook, which I really do not want to do.
Politico has a chance to be a leader in this new era. A staff of 80 motivated journalists who all know how to take photographs, video, blog and run websites could run circles around the legacy publications who are resistant to such change.
Nominally, I cover sports and love it. But, if Politico was serious about pursuing the entrepreneurial nature of the first tent, I would sign on in a second just so I could help drive the model that will help save our industry.
Best,
A poor Boston journalist
Posted by Boston on Thu 26 Mar 2009 at 10:38 PM
I say, Fuck the Drudge Report and Fuck You, too.
Have a lovely day.
Posted by Fugga Luggi Dugg on Wed 7 Oct 2009 at 01:05 PM