Posted on 04/26/2005 2:48:01 PM PDT by Zuben Elgenubi
Huffington Invites Celebs to Join Blog
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Political commentator Arianna Huffington will launch a news and opinion Web site next month including blogs written by more than 200 celebrities and leaders such as retired journalist Walter Cronkite, writer David Mamet and billionaire Barry Diller, CEO of IAC InterActive Corp.
"The two most interesting things happening online are the news and the blogosphere and what we're doing here is bringing them together," Huffington, a one-time candidate for California governor, told The Associated Press Monday.
One feature of the site, called The Huffington Post, will be breaking news drawn from Huffington's network of sources.
Huffington said more than 250 people have accepted her invitation to write blogs - or personal journals posted on her new Web site - on a variety of topics from politics to religion, sports, architecture and
She acknowledged that the participants already have access to newspaper opinion pages and other forums to air their thoughts in essay form. But they were attracted to a format where "a zippy one-off is enough to spark a flurry of impassioned replies.
"People are always drawn to any conversation that is passionate and authentic and unfiltered," Huffington said.
The site will not edit or censor opinions. Participants will include "Seinfeld" creator Larry David, Viacom Inc. co-president Tom Freston, former Colorado Sen. Gary Hart, DreamWorks co-founder David Geffen, director Rob Reiner, cable talk show host Bill Maher and actor John Cusack.
"It will be people's voices, including people's spelling mistakes and idiosyncratic punctuation," Huffington said. "Authenticity always draws people."
Huffington is starting the venture with Ken Lerer, former executive vice president of AOL Time Warner. The site, which launches May 9, will sell advertising. The venture has also signed a deal with Tribune Media Services to syndicate some of the content to newspapers and their Web sites.
Ping.
John Cusack? Agh Gawd. Another actor i liked that i'm gonna have to ax from the list.
Gary Coleman was a better candidate.
She will only launch a blog "when its going there anyway"
That's funny. During my career as a musician I've actually had people ask me for an autograph. I always make sure to put it in context, i.e., 'Spirit of Atlanta Contrabass 1986', 'USMC Beaufort SC 1991' or 'Sterling CO 1993', stuff like that.
Here comes the Air America-like MSM advertising blitz. Methinks that, like AA, it will crash and burn, the butt of many jokes as celebrity bloggers will likely say the stupidest (sic) things...
My my, what a wonderful birthday present for me.
/sarc
Ditzes of a feather flock together.
I wonder if ZsaZsa realizes the irony that spews from her mouth.
Hey, happy birthday to you.
You are right. She speaks utter nonsense. I missed it the first time around.
I guess AP hasn't figured out that Arianna is a waste of media space....
That makes them even more clueless than she is.
I am not impressed with her sources. It sounds boring.
Looking forward to DUFUing the DUmmie Celebs on May 9. Maybe I'll have several special DUFU editions that day for a DUmmiethon.
Does that mean anyone can post? If so I betcha the so-called celebrities skedadale fast once the peasants start weighing in. Either that or some moderator is going to be hyperbusy deleting comments.
I can see a lot of Viet vets calling Chronkite out. And if Hanoi Jane deigns to post, the responses will take the server off line. It would be really interesting if real life comments from regular folks are allowed. I'd welcome an opportunity to serve something up for the likes of Streisand and that idiot, Alec Baldwin.
Nah, it will be limited to the elites. They know they will get slammed if they let the peons post...
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