Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

HuffPost

HuffPost, originally launched as The Huffington Post, is an American digital news and opinion platform established on May 9, 2005, by , , , and , focusing on aggregating posts and commentary alongside news coverage across politics, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. The outlet pioneered a model blending professional with , rapidly gaining prominence as a counter to perceived conservative dominance in traditional media following the 2004 U.S. presidential election. In 2011, AOL acquired HuffPost for $315 million, integrating it into a broader digital portfolio before subsequent ownership shifts to Media and, in 2020, , under which it continued operations amid industry challenges, including staff reductions and a pivot toward contributor-driven content. Despite achieving milestones such as multiple regional awards, including three Los Angeles Press Club honors in 2025, HuffPost has faced persistent for its left-biased editorial slant, with analyses rating it as strongly favoring viewpoints in story selection and framing, often critiquing conservatives while downplaying similar of left-leaning figures or policies. This perspective aligns with broader patterns of ideological skew in mainstream , where empirical assessments highlight selective reporting that prioritizes narrative over balanced factual presentation, contributing to polarized public discourse. HuffPost's influence peaked in the through viral aggregation and opinion-driven content but has been hampered by accusations of , reliance on unpaid contributors, and inconsistent factual rigor, as evidenced by mixed reliability ratings from media watchdogs.

Founding and Early Development

Establishment and Initial Launch (2005)

The Huffington Post was founded on May 9, 2005, by , , , and as an online platform designed to aggregate progressive blogs and opinion pieces, explicitly aiming to challenge the influence of conservative-leaning media outlets in the wake of Democrat John Kerry's defeat in the U.S. . The site's launch capitalized on dissatisfaction among liberal commentators with mainstream coverage, positioning itself as a hub for unfiltered, user-contributed content that emphasized partisan critique over neutral analysis. From its inception, the platform prioritized political commentary targeting the George W. Bush administration's policies, including sharp opposition to the Iraq War—framed by early contributors as an unnecessary and mismanaged conflict—and advocacy for Democratic policy alternatives, which helped it quickly amass a dedicated readership through email sharing and early social media virality. Within months of launch, the site drew millions of unique visitors, fueled by its model of soliciting free posts from prominent left-leaning bloggers and celebrities, which bypassed traditional gatekeeping and amplified echo-chamber dynamics in online discourse. This approach reflected a first-mover strategy in digital aggregation, where volume of opinion trumped depth of verification, setting it apart from established news organizations. Technically, the early Huffington Post operated on a rudimentary akin to blogging tools like , enabling easy aggregation of external links, embedded videos, and short-form posts rather than investing in original investigative reporting or robust infrastructure. This lightweight setup facilitated rapid scaling but relied heavily on volunteer contributors, with initial content comprising curated snippets from progressive sources and Huffington's own syndicated columns, establishing the aggregation model that defined its first year.

Key Founders and Early Contributors

Arianna Huffington served as the primary driving force behind HuffPost's creation, co-founding the site on May 9, 2005, alongside , , and , with her role evolving to until 2016. Originally a conservative commentator in the , associated with figures like , Huffington shifted leftward in the late , opposing the and running as an independent candidate in California's 2003 gubernatorial , which informed her vision for a liberal-leaning aggregator challenging conservative outlets like the . She leveraged her celebrity network to secure high-profile endorsements and contributors, prioritizing visibility through fame over traditional journalistic credentials. Kenneth Lerer provided business acumen, drawing from his advertising background to structure the site's early operations and revenue model. contributed expertise in viral content mechanics, informed by his prior work on experiments like the sweatshop email that gained traction, later applying similar principles at after departing HuffPost shortly after launch. , a conservative operative with experience at the , handled early aggregation and syndication efforts but departed around 2007 to found , citing the site's increasing marginalization of conservative perspectives amid its pivot toward commentary. Huffington recruited an initial cadre of unpaid celebrity bloggers to amplify reach, including , , , and , establishing a content model reliant on star power for traffic rather than compensated professional reporting. This approach, which eschewed payments to contributors, drew early criticism for prioritizing aggregation and opinion from influencers over rigorous sourcing, setting a precedent for HuffPost's growth through high-visibility, ideologically aligned voices.

Ownership and Corporate Evolution

AOL Acquisition and Integration (2011)

On February 7, 2011, AOL announced its acquisition of The Huffington Post for $315 million, consisting of approximately $300 million in cash and the remainder in stock, marking the site's transition from independent operation to corporate ownership. This deal valued the site at 6.3 times its projected 2011 revenue of about $50 million, reflecting AOL's strategy to leverage HuffPost's audience growth amid its own declining traditional user base. Arianna Huffington was retained as president and editor-in-chief of the newly formed Huffington Post Media Group, which integrated HuffPost with AOL's existing content properties, including Engadget and Moviefone, to consolidate editorial oversight under her leadership. The integration sought to capitalize on digital traffic synergies, with HuffPost's engaged readership—averaging longer session times and more page views per visitor—expected to enhance 's overall portfolio metrics by adding substantial incremental usage. aimed to diversify beyond by expanding HuffPost's sections into , , and other non-political verticals, aligning with corporate goals for broader advertiser appeal and streams rather than the site's original aggregation-focused model. This shift injected significant capital for scaling operations and international growth but prioritized 's profit-oriented structure, which emphasized programmatic content and traffic optimization over the unpaid, contributor that had built the site's initial value. The acquisition prompted immediate backlash from HuffPost's unpaid bloggers, who argued it exemplified , as the $315 million proceeds accrued primarily to Huffington and investors despite years of free labor driving traffic and content volume. Critics, including former contributors, launched petitions and public accusations of "greed and ," highlighting how the site's of volunteer-driven aggregation had enabled without compensating those who generated its core appeal, a tension unresolved by the deal's terms. Subsequent legal challenges by bloggers seeking a share of the sale failed, underscoring the corporate prioritization of ownership equity over contributor equity in the integration process.

Subsequent Changes Under Verizon and BuzzFeed (2010s–2020s)

In June 2015, Verizon Communications acquired AOL, HuffPost's owner since 2011, for $4.4 billion in cash, placing the site under the telecom conglomerate's Verizon Media division. This shift introduced corporate oversight from a non-media entity focused on telecommunications and advertising synergies, with Verizon aiming to leverage AOL's properties—including HuffPost—for programmatic ad sales and audience data integration amid rising mobile traffic demands. However, the arrangement highlighted tensions between editorial independence and telecom-driven monetization priorities, as Verizon's broader media portfolio faced scrutiny over content costs and investment needs. By November 2020, amid mounting losses in its media assets, Media sold to in an all-stock transaction for an undisclosed sum, retaining a minority stake in the acquiring company. The deal, which closed amid digital ad market disruptions from regulations and shifts, resulted in a $119 million impairment charge for in the fourth quarter of 2020. Under 's ownership, integrated into a emphasizing viral content and partnerships, including ongoing content distribution across 's properties to sustain traffic. This move aligned with 's scalable, audience-optimized model but exposed it to the parent's vulnerabilities in a contracting landscape. Post-acquisition, BuzzFeed implemented cost-cutting measures, including 47 U.S. layoffs at HuffPost and the closure of its Canadian edition in March 2021, less than four months after the deal. Further reductions followed, with BuzzFeed's April 2023 shutdown of its unprofitable division leading to 180 company-wide layoffs, though HuffPost absorbed select roles while achieving profitability that year through streamlined operations. In early 2025, additional cuts targeted HuffPost specifically, including 30 editorial positions announced in January and a 5% reduction in February projected to save $4 million annually, reflecting persistent pressures from declining programmatic ad rates, changes, and advertiser pullbacks. Despite these challenges, HuffPost marked its 20th anniversary in May 2025 with a refreshed , volunteer initiatives like "HuffPost Helps Day," and public emphasis on its in digital-first journalism. Operating under BuzzFeed's umbrella, the site continued prioritizing opinion-driven aggregation and syndication, though financial sustainability remained strained by broader industry contractions in traffic-dependent revenue models.

Editorial Practices and Content Production

Blog Aggregation to Professional Journalism Shift

In its formative years, HuffPost primarily functioned as an aggregator of syndicated blog posts and opinion pieces from a network of contributors, emphasizing volume and diverse viewpoints over in-depth original reporting. This model relied on curating external content to drive traffic, with minimal initial investment in professional verification processes. The 2011 acquisition by for $315 million catalyzed a partial , prompting HuffPost to build original teams and expand into structured sections, blending aggregation with staff-produced articles to appeal to broader advertiser interests. Despite this evolution, the platform retained its aggregation foundation, frequently intermingling unvetted contributor opinions with summaries, which prioritized rapid content output for engagement metrics over rigorous . Such practices inherently risked factual inconsistencies, as the hybrid approach often subordinated verification to the demands of high-volume publishing. Arianna Huffington's editorial philosophy further shaped this shift, advocating for content that maximized "impact" by challenging what she termed "false neutrality" in , instead favoring assertive truth-telling aligned with empirical realities over balanced . This directive encouraged a focus on provocative, audience-resonant pieces, sustaining an opinion-heavy ecosystem even as professional elements were incorporated. By the mid-2010s, the site generated over 1,200 posts daily, reflecting a production model where scale often eclipsed depth, contributing to documented challenges in maintaining consistent accuracy amid the aggregation-news fusion.

Contributor Network and Compensation Model

HuffPost's contributor network expanded rapidly, reaching over 100,000 participants by , comprising bloggers from , , and , including both celebrities and non-professional amateurs. The operated with minimal , relying on basic submissions that included outlines, working headlines, and bios rather than rigorous credential checks or fact-verification protocols. This low-barrier entry scaled content production and traffic—contributors generated about 15% of the site's monthly audience—but causally linked to quality dilution, as the volume of amateur submissions overwhelmed editorial resources, enabling unchecked biases and to proliferate alongside professional output. Prior to the 2011 AOL acquisition, contributors received no compensation, even as their posts drove the site's value to a $315 million sale price. This unpaid model sparked multiple lawsuits alleging labor , including a 2011 class-action suit by bloggers seeking $105 million in proceeds from the AOL deal, which a federal court dismissed in 2012 on grounds that contributions did not confer ownership rights. Ethically, the practice drew criticism for profiting from unremunerated work under the guise of exposure, highlighting a broader dynamic where platforms extracted value from volunteer labor without reciprocal payment. After the purchase, HuffPost hired more paid staff to bolster professional journalism, yet the contributor and freelance model endured, with many posts remaining unpaid until the network's shutdown in 2018, when the site committed to compensating all submissions. Freelance rates stayed modest, often starting at $150 per for certain sections, which, relative to production costs and market standards, fostered contributor churn as writers migrated to higher-paying outlets. Low per-piece incentives structurally encouraged rushed, volume-oriented content over depth, perpetuating superficiality and editorial inconsistencies even as the model transitioned toward partial professionalization.

Business Model and Revenue Strategies

Clickbait and Sensational Headlines

HuffPost extensively utilized SEO-optimized headlines designed to evoke strong emotions or curiosity, such as forward-referencing formats like "You'll Never Believe What Happens Next," to capitalize on algorithms and sharing dynamics. This approach propelled the site to extraordinary traffic levels, achieving 1 billion pageviews in August 2011 alone, with 37 million unique visitors and over 5 million comments that month. Such provocative titling re-packaged aggregated content with enticing hooks, prioritizing virality over depth to generate shares and clicks across platforms. Analytics-driven strategies further refined this model, with HuffPost employing to test and iterate headlines for maximum initial , as evidenced by internal optimizations that correlated specific phrasing with surges. Third-party tools like Chartbeat, used by the outlet for audience metrics, highlighted how sensational formats outperformed neutral ones in click-through rates, though sustained reading times lagged on less pieces. This disparity underscored a focus on volume over retention, directly fueling ad through elevated and CPMs in a display advertising reliant on scale. Critics, including media analysts, lambasted these tactics as akin to , arguing they misled audiences and eroded public trust by promising revelations that often underdelivered substantive value. HuffPost leadership conceded the pitfalls, with executives noting that while yielded short-term traffic gains—instrumental in the site's $315 million sale to in February 2011—it risked long-term reputational damage and advertiser alienation amid perceptions of low-quality content. The strategy's emphasis on high-volume, low-depth output thus maximized programmatic ad yields but invited scrutiny for compromising journalistic integrity in pursuit of metrics.

Advertising and Traffic-Driven Growth

HuffPost's expansion in the was significantly propelled by programmatic advertising and native sponsorships, which integrated seamlessly into feeds to maximize user and revenue. Native ad formats, introduced as early as 2010 through sponsored posts, saw explosive growth, with revenues increasing 347% from Q2 2013 to Q2 2014, often combining custom articles with display ads from sponsors. This model capitalized on high traffic volumes, particularly from social platforms like , where shares and interactions drove page views essential for ad impressions; publishers including HuffPost derived substantial portions of their audience from such referrals during peak years. The 2018 Facebook algorithm shift, prioritizing personal interactions over content, precipitated a sharp decline in referral traffic for ad-dependent outlets like HuffPost, undermining the viability of traffic-reliant streams. This change reduced visibility in feeds, with referrals to sites dropping nearly 50% by 2023 compared to 2020 levels, compelling diversification into and content to sustain ad dollars through broader appeal. Despite these efforts, unique visitor metrics eroded post-2020 amid rising competition from podcasts, newsletters, and algorithmically altered search behaviors; for instance, HuffPost's monthly visits fell 23% year-over-year to 44 million by September 2025, per traffic analytics. This ad-centric approach inherently favored quantifiable metrics like click-through rates over substantive , fostering sensational headlines and to boost , which critics argue normalized left-leaning exaggerations under the guise of . Empirical analyses highlight HuffPost's pattern of inflammatory framing in headlines, prioritizing virality for ad revenue over balanced inquiry, a causal where short-term profitability eroded long-term amid audience fragmentation. Such practices, while effective for growth in traffic-saturated eras, amplified biases inherent in metric-driven incentives, as outlets chased impressions rather than empirical rigor.

Political Orientation and Bias

Documented Liberal Slant and Empirical Evidence

AllSides rates HuffPost as having a Left media bias, with high confidence affirmed by multiple blind bias reviews conducted as of October 2025. Media Bias/Fact Check classifies it as Left-Biased due to consistent story selection and editorial positions favoring liberal perspectives, while assigning a Mixed factual reporting rating based on numerous failed fact checks, use of unverified sources, and promotion of misleading narratives. Ad Fontes Media positions HuffPost on its Media Bias Chart with a left bias score in the negative range (indicating strong left-leaning tendencies) and moderate reliability, derived from analyst ratings of article language, sourcing, and factual accuracy across hundreds of samples. Audience demographics further evidence this slant. A 2014 study determined that 59% of HuffPost readers exhibit consistently or mostly political values, compared to just 12% who are consistently or mostly conservative. More recent data from 2025 confirms that individuals regularly consuming HuffPost content are disproportionately and Democratic, with minimal crossover to conservative or identifiers. Content analyses highlight systematic framing biases. AllSides evaluations document HuffPost's frequent employment of and negative descriptors in coverage of conservative politicians and policies, appearing in the majority of such articles reviewed, alongside sensational headlines designed to amplify interpretations. These patterns manifest as selective omission of empirical counter-evidence, such as downplaying data challenging dominant narratives on topics like or impacts, prioritizing ideological alignment over comprehensive causal examination of outcomes. Independent raters like and , which employ diverse reviewer panels to mitigate subjective bias, underscore these tendencies as deviations from neutral reporting standards.

Coverage of Major U.S. Elections and Events

In July 2015, HuffPost announced it would cover Donald 's presidential campaign primarily through its entertainment section, framing it as a "sideshow" rather than legitimate , with an editor's appended to related articles describing Trump as a "serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther." This approach persisted until Trump's election on November 8, 2016, after which HuffPost discontinued the editor's and shifted coverage toward portraying his administration as a to institutions, often emphasizing "resistance" narratives and policy reversals on issues like and environmental regulations. Prior to the Mueller report's release on March 24, , HuffPost published extensive content alleging coordination between the campaign and interference in the 2016 , including articles on potential scandals involving campaign figures like and , often citing anonymous sources and intelligence assessments. The special counsel's findings, however, stated there was insufficient evidence that the campaign conspired or coordinated with to influence the , though it detailed efforts to interfere via and . Critics from conservative outlets argued this pre-report emphasis amplified unverified claims, contributing to partisan polarization, while defenders maintained it reflected of foreign meddling substantiated by U.S. intelligence agencies. During the 2020 election cycle, HuffPost coverage of reports on Hunter Biden's laptop, first detailed by the on October 14, 2020, focused on questioning the story's provenance, suggesting it stemmed from disinformation operations, and highlighting ties between the reporting and allies like . This aligned with a public letter from over 50 former intelligence officials on October 19, 2020, who described the laptop narrative as having "all the classic earmarks of a ," though subsequent FBI confirmation of the laptop's authenticity in 2022 raised questions about premature dismissal. Such framing has drawn accusations of selective scrutiny, downplaying potential conflicts involving Democratic figures while amplifying those tied to Republicans, fostering perceptions of uneven accountability. Analyses of broader media patterns, including outlets like HuffPost, indicate that post-2016 coverage often prioritized narrative consistency over balanced sourcing, with empirical data showing U.S. trust in media falling to a record low of 28% by September 2025 per Gallup polling, driven largely by Republican distrust dropping to single digits after the election. Proponents of the coverage style contend it serves as a check on executive overreach, citing Trump's 30,573 false or misleading claims tracked by The Washington Post during his presidency as justification for adversarial reporting. Detractors, including media watchdogs, view it as reinforcing ideological echo chambers, where empirical verification lags behind advocacy, evidenced by the Mueller report's non-finding on collusion despite years of intensive promotion.

International Expansion

Launch of Local and Global Editions

HuffPost initiated its expansion into U.S. local editions in the late 2000s, beginning with HuffPost in June 2007, followed by HuffPost in June 2009 and HuffPost in September 2009. These editions aimed to deliver hyper-local content infused with the site's progressive editorial voice, targeting urban audiences through aggregated blogs and opinion pieces tailored to regional issues. The international rollout commenced in 2011 under the direct involvement of founder , with HuffPost UK launching on July 6 and HuffPost Canada earlier that year. This was followed by Le Huffington Post in on January 23, 2012, in partnership with local publisher Les Nouvelles Editions Indépendantes, and subsequent editions in and that year. The strategy emphasized localization by collaborating with established regional media partners to adapt the U.S. model's blend of news aggregation, contributor-driven commentary, and emphasis on themes to appeal to liberal-leaning demographics abroad. By 2015, the network had grown to editions in 14 additional markets, prioritizing content that mirrored the parent site's focus on , , and from a progressive lens. Adaptations faced hurdles, including cultural and political mismatches; for instance, the appointment of —former television host and wife of disgraced politician —as editorial director for the French edition in January sparked debate over her selection amid her personal scandals, potentially alienating audiences expecting journalistic detachment. Outcomes varied, with inconsistent growth exposing limits in scaling the opinion-heavy internationally; several editions, such as (closed March 2019), and (November 2020), and others including the national operation (2021), were shuttered due to financial underperformance and post-acquisition restructuring by and . This pattern underscored challenges in transplanting a U.S.-centric, -reliant model to diverse regulatory and reader environments.

Challenges in Non-U.S. Markets

In November 2020, shortly after BuzzFeed's acquisition of HuffPost, the company closed its editions in and , citing operational restructuring and the need to focus resources on core markets. These closures followed years of expansion efforts but highlighted persistent financial underperformance, with international sites generating insufficient revenue to sustain independent operations amid declining ad markets and platform algorithm changes. By March , further cuts included the full shutdown of , affecting 23 Canadian staff, alongside reductions in the UK and , where national news teams were merged or downsized to cut costs. metrics underscored these issues; for instance, HuffPost UK's audience of approximately 11 million monthly unique users in 2017 was disproportionately urban and London-based, reflecting limited penetration into rural or conservative demographics compared to the U.S. site's broader reach. Local competitors, such as established broadcasters and outlets tailored to regional priorities, captured higher loyalty and traffic, exacerbating sustainability gaps. Efforts to impose U.S.-centric progressive editorial standards on local issues often triggered resistance, as content prioritizing global ideological frames over context-specific realities alienated audiences outside liberal enclaves. In South Africa, for example, HuffPost's coverage of farm attacks emphasized national crime rates and rejected narratives of targeted violence against white farmers, framing concerns as exaggerated rather than addressing empirical data on disproportionate rural victimization rates. This approach, consistent with the outlet's documented left-leaning bias, clashed with local stakeholders' perceptions, contributing to lower trust and engagement in markets where such topics demanded nuanced, evidence-based handling without preconceived dismissal. Similarly, in the UK, post-Brexit coverage aligned with Remain-leaning critiques faced skepticism from Leave voters, limiting appeal amid a polarized populace less receptive to imported sensationalism. These dynamics revealed the model's dependence on ideologically aligned bubbles, with causal factors including unadapted content strategies that prioritized viral U.S.-style advocacy over local causal analyses of issues like economic inequality or security threats.

Major Controversies

Unpaid Labor and Blogger Exploitation Claims

In February 2011, acquired The Huffington Post for $315 million, prompting backlash from unpaid contributors who argued their gratis labor had generated the site's value. On April 12, 2011, freelance writer Tasini filed a class-action in U.S. District Court in on behalf of thousands of uncompensated bloggers, seeking over $105 million in damages for alleged "unjust enrichment" and unfair profiting from their without compensation or equity. Tasini likened the operation to a " of bloggers" under Arianna Huffington's control, claiming contributors' work—estimated at thousands of posts from over 9,000 individuals—drove traffic and ad revenue that underpinned the lucrative sale. The site's model exemplified early 's reliance on extractive unpaid labor, where contributors provided aggregating to roughly 15.6 million weekday views by early , to over 35 million monthly visitors by mid-year, primarily through and viral sharing rather than paid editorial. This volunteer-driven aggregation masked profit motives behind an "underdog" narrative of , yet economically, it captured asymmetric value: bloggers bore production costs without shares in the $315 million payout, while the monetized their output via display ads yielding high multiples on . Huffington defended the practice as a "passion project" offering exposure and access in lieu of pay, asserting contributors knowingly participated for visibility to broader audiences, a form of non-monetary exchange common in ideological blogging. Critics, particularly from libertarian and conservative perspectives, highlighted anti-capitalist in a left-leaning outlet profiting from unremunerated IP akin to "digital ," arguing it undermined fair labor markets by devaluing professional . defenders countered that such volunteerism mirrored unpaid in causes like or civil rights, where exposure amplified influence beyond financial gain, though showed minimal reciprocal back to bloggers' own sites. The lawsuit was dismissed on March 30, 2012, with Judge ruling that contributors had accepted the unpaid terms explicitly, lacking enforceable expectations of compensation despite the site's . This outcome reinforced the model's viability but underscored causal realism in media economics: unpaid inputs scaled low-cost content farms, enabling rapid growth but fostering claims where value extraction favored owners over creators.

Promotion of Alternative Medicine and Anti-Vaccination Views

HuffPost has published numerous articles defending , a practice involving highly diluted substances claimed to treat ailments through like-cures-like principles, despite systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrating its effects indistinguishable from . For instance, a 2010 contributor piece titled "The Case FOR Homeopathic Medicine" argued for its historical and purported , while a 2011 article highlighted Nobel Luc Montagnier's endorsement of homeopathic dilutions retaining biological activity, ignoring critiques that such claims lack replication in rigorous, blinded studies.67878-8/fulltext) Similarly, articles like "Disinformation Campaign Against Homeopathy" (2011) and "Homeopathy: A Healthier Way to Treat Depression?" (2010) framed as biased propaganda, prioritizing anecdotal reports and selective historical interpretations over meta-analyses, such as the 2005 aggregating 110 trials showing no efficacy beyond .67878-8/fulltext) In vaccine-related coverage, HuffPost hosted blogs and op-eds from figures promoting anti-vaccination narratives, including 's pre-2016 contributions linking thimerosal-containing to , despite large-scale epidemiological studies, such as a 2004 Institute of Medicine report reviewing 14 studies and finding no causal connection. , a vocal vaccine skeptic, also penned pieces asserting personal anecdotes of vaccine-induced over studies like the 2014 of 1.26 million children confirming safety and no risk. These publications aligned with contributor freedoms under HuffPost's model, allowing unvetted opinions that amplified doubts amid from bodies like the CDC, where RCTs and post-licensure surveillance data affirm ' role in eradicating in high-vaccination populations. Such content contributed to a broader environment correlating with hesitancy; during the 2014-2015 U.S. outbreaks affecting over 1,200 cases, primarily in under-vaccinated communities influenced by anti-vax messaging, platforms hosting unrefuted claims faced scrutiny for eroding thresholds (95% coverage needed for ). HuffPost defended these as fostering "open debate," but empirical data from outbreak analyses link hesitancy hotspots to exposure of anecdotal-driven narratives rather than causal evidence of harm. In June 2019, following internal review, HuffPost removed dozens of anti-vaccine blogs, acknowledging they perpetuated unfounded risks, yet this addressed only legacy content, highlighting a prior pattern of elevating personal testimonies over probabilistic evidence from surveillance systems tracking adverse events at rates far below disease risks. This contrasts with conservative critiques of pharmaceutical overreach, which often demand cost-benefit scrutiny grounded in trial data, whereas HuffPost's earlier indulgence favored alternatives lacking such validation.

Epstein Scandal Involvement and Editorial Decisions

Arianna Huffington, co-founder of HuffPost, maintained social connections within elite circles that intersected with and , including attendance at events where Epstein was present and photographs of Huffington with Maxwell. Epstein's presence at gatherings hosted or associated with Huffington underscored these ties, though no evidence places Huffington on Epstein's flight logs or directly implicates her in his criminal activities. Prior to Epstein's July 6, 2019, arrest on federal sex trafficking charges, HuffPost published contributor articles that portrayed Epstein favorably, emphasizing his philanthropy and scientific support while omitting his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. These pieces, part of Epstein's broader effort to rehabilitate his image through placed content in outlets including HuffPost, were removed following a New York Times inquiry in July 2019, highlighting an editorial lapse in vetting contributor submissions that aligned with Epstein's narrative. Post-arrest coverage by HuffPost in 2019 and subsequent years emphasized Epstein's associations with , including event attendance and past social interactions, while giving comparatively less prominence to Bill Clinton's documented 26 flights on Epstein's plane between 2001 and 2003, as revealed in unsealed flight logs. Critics, including media watchdogs and commentators, have highlighted this pattern as selective outrage, contrasting HuffPost's aggressive #MeToo-era scrutiny of figures like with muted exploration of Democratic-linked networks despite evidentiary parallels in Epstein's documented elite entanglements. Such decisions reflect broader accusations of framing in , where compartmentalization of allies' ties prevailed over uniform application of investigative rigor.

Other Notable Incidents (e.g., Apologies and Personnel Appointments)

In January 2012, the launch of Le Huffington Post, HuffPost's French edition, named as editorial director, igniting debates over conflict-of-interest risks in personnel appointments. Sinclair, a former prominent television journalist and wife of —who had resigned as IMF managing director amid sexual assault allegations in and subsequent prostitution scandal involvement in —faced scrutiny for her capacity to oversee unbiased coverage of domestic . Critics, including outlets like and , argued that her close ties to Strauss-Kahn, a key Socialist figure and erstwhile presidential contender, could skew reporting on left-leaning politicians or related scandals, potentially prioritizing personal affiliations over journalistic detachment. Sinclair defended the role, asserting no compromise to editorial integrity and that significant stories would receive standard treatment regardless of personal connections. Despite internal assurances, external observers highlighted the hire as emblematic of broader challenges in international expansions, where selections influenced by ideological or relational networks prompted calls for stricter safeguards against perceived echo-chamber influences. Proponents within HuffPost framed it as leveraging experienced talent for market adaptation, while detractors advocated systemic reforms to prioritize in leadership roles.

Reception, Awards, and Journalistic Assessments

Awards and Recognitions

HuffPost has garnered multiple awards for its digital innovation and multimedia content. In 2012, it achieved a milestone as the first commercially operated online-only U.S. news outlet to win a in National Reporting, awarded to senior military correspondent David Wood for his series Beyond the Battlefield, which detailed the physical and psychological toll on wounded veterans from and through extensive interviews and . The , recognizing excellence on the internet, honored HuffPost several times, including for Best Politics Blog in 2006 and 2008, and Best News & Politics for HuffPost Live in 2013, 2014, and 2015, emphasizing its early adoption of video streaming and interactive formats. Additional recognitions include a National Magazine Award for digital reporting, as well as recent honors from journalism associations such as three 2025 Los Angeles Press Club Journalism Awards for general news, feature writing, and online , and two New York Press Club awards in the same year for investigative and spot news reporting. These prizes predominantly celebrate multimedia experimentation and opinion-driven content over traditional straight news, with the 2012 Pulitzer standing as a rare exception for empirical investigative work. Awarding institutions like the Board and press clubs, drawn largely from and academic circles, have faced from conservative media watchdogs for exhibiting left-leaning institutional biases that correlate with audience demographics and alignment rather than rigorous factual or causal depth in reporting. Such critiques highlight limitations in these recognitions for evaluating truth-seeking, as empirical analyses show prizes often favor outlets with slants, potentially overlooking distortions in coverage of politically charged topics.

Criticisms of Reliability and Bias from Independent Raters

Independent media bias rating organizations have consistently classified HuffPost as left-leaning in its editorial perspective. AllSides assigns it a "Left" bias rating based on multi-partisan reviews of content selection, wording, and framing that favor progressive viewpoints while applying negative spin to conservative figures and policies. Media Bias/Fact Check similarly rates it as left-biased, citing story selection that promotes left-leaning narratives and occasional use of emotionally charged language. Ad Fontes Media places HuffPost in the "Skews Left" category on its bias chart, with average bias scores reflecting a strong tilt toward liberal interpretations, derived from analyst evaluations of hundreds of articles for political positioning. On reliability, these raters highlight recurring issues with factual accuracy stemming from opinion integration into news reporting and selective emphasis. awards HuffPost a "Mixed" factual reporting score, pointing to instances of poor sourcing, failed fact checks, and promotion of unverified claims alongside loaded terminology that blurs with . rates its reliability as "Generally Reliable/ OR Other Issues," indicating that while much content avoids outright fabrication, it frequently incorporates interpretive through omitted or hyperbolic phrasing, leading to scores below full reliability thresholds in empirical assessments. Such patterns suggest a causal link between ideological alignment and reduced rigor, where alignment with progressive priors enables normalization of incomplete narratives without balancing counter-evidence. Public trust surveys underscore disparities in perceived . Gallup's 2024 polling shows overall U.S. trust in at a record low of 31% expressing a "great deal" or "fair amount" of confidence, with Republicans at just 12%—well under 20%—compared to 70% among Democrats, a attributed by respondents to prioritization of over . This low conservative trust correlates with critiques of outlets like HuffPost for embedding unexamined assumptions in coverage of issues, such as underemphasizing causal factors like outcomes in favor of ideological framing, thereby eroding cross- confidence in empirical grounding. entities have occasionally intervened on HuffPost-amplified viral stories, correcting exaggerated or contextually misleading assertions that gained traction due to emotive presentation rather than comprehensive verification.

Current Status and Broader Impact (as of 2025)

Operational Developments Post-2020

Following BuzzFeed's acquisition of HuffPost in 2020, the outlet faced immediate integration hurdles, including the of 47 U.S. employees and the of its Canadian edition in March 2021, as the parent company streamlined operations amid overlapping newsroom functions. By 2022, HuffPost achieved profitability for the first time under ownership, attributed to a pivot toward newsletters, audience aggregation, and reduced reliance on original reporting, reversing prior annual losses exceeding $20 million. However, broader company-wide challenges persisted, exemplified by 's April 2023 shutdown of its Pulitzer-winning news division, which laid off about 180 staffers and redirected residual traffic toward HuffPost, exposing vulnerabilities in social media-driven models as platform algorithms curtailed viral distribution. In response to evolving landscapes, HuffPost has leaned into formats like video and podcasts, though these remain secondary to its core opinion and aggregation content, with limited evidence of aggressive integration for production—unlike some peers experimenting with generative tools for efficiency. Traffic metrics reflect mixed adaptation: U.S. monthly visits stabilized around 38.8 million as of September 2025 per data, buoyed by domestic search referrals, but global rankings lagged at #1,561 overall via , hampered by a 40% drop in referral traffic following Google's -enhanced search updates, as reported by . These shifts underscore an overreliance on algorithmic intermediaries, where causal disruptions in referral flows directly eroded audience reach without diversified owned channels. Marking its 20th anniversary in May 2025, HuffPost highlighted its "groundbreaking digital-first " in official statements, yet operational realities included fresh cuts of 30 editorial roles announced January 7, 2025, citing "growing challenges in the media landscape" and flat segment revenues within BuzzFeed's projected $195–210 million annual range. continues to emphasize pieces, sustaining a pronounced : a 2025 Pew Research analysis found regular HuffPost news consumers disproportionately and Democratic-leaning, correlating with narrower appeal in a fragmenting media environment where silos limit cross-ideological growth. This empirical concentration, while bolstering loyalty among core users, constrains broader monetization amid advertiser preferences for demographically diverse outlets.

Influence on Media Landscape and Public Discourse

HuffPost's aggregation model, launched in , democratized news access by curating links and opinion pieces from diverse sources, fostering early viral sharing mechanisms that influenced platforms like and in prioritizing audience-driven content over traditional gatekeeping. This bottom-up approach expanded readership to millions, enabling rapid dissemination of stories that might otherwise remain niche, and inspired SEO-optimized formats emphasizing emotional engagement to compete in fragmented digital markets. Empirical analyses, however, link such tactics to accelerated norms, with HuffPost's headlines frequently employing and negative framing of conservative figures, contributing to broader declines in journalistic standards and reader trust. Studies of content confirm that digitally native outlets like HuffPost amplified "soft" structures prioritizing drama over substance, correlating with increased propagation during events like the 2016 U.S. election. On public discourse, HuffPost has deepened silos, as its audience skews overwhelmingly liberal and Democratic—per 2025 data, regular users exhibit heightened ideological alignment compared to general populations, widening gaps in cross- fact-sharing and fueling affective . outlets commend its role in mobilizing activism on social issues, yet content audits reveal homogeneity in viewpoints, contradicting narratives of "diverse voices" and aligning instead with dynamics documented in algorithmic . Conservative assessments highlight its causal role in eroding shared realities, evidenced by correlations between left-leaning and reduced willingness, amid overall trust hitting 53-year lows in 2025. Thus, while innovating distribution, HuffPost's practices have empirically hastened a low- , prioritizing engagement-driven narratives over consensus-building .

References

  1. [1]
    Huffington Post (HuffPost) - InfluenceWatch
    Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, Jonah Peretti, and Andrew Breitbart founded The Huffington Post on May 9, 2005. The site was originally started “in implicit ...
  2. [2]
    HuffPost Celebrates 20 Years Of Groundbreaking Digital-First ...
    May 9, 2025 · Launched in New York City by Arianna Huffington, Jonah Peretti, Kenneth Lerer, and a team of forward-thinking journalists and technologists, ...
  3. [3]
    A brief history of the Huffington Post - Los Angeles Times
    Feb 7, 2011 · Started in May 2005, the Huffington Post was co-founded by Arianna Huffington and former AOL executive Kenneth Lerer.
  4. [4]
    HuffPost Wins Three LA Press Club Journalism Awards - BuzzFeed
    Jun 23, 2025 · HuffPost, the award-winning online news organization steeped in fair and fearless reporting, has been awarded three 2025 LA Press Club Journalism Awards.Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
  5. [5]
    Huffington Post (HuffPost) - Bias and Credibility
    We rate HuffPost Left-Biased based on story selection and editorial positions that favor the left. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting.
  6. [6]
    HuffPost - AllSides
    Coverage was consistently critical of Republicans and right-leaning issues, often omitting viewpoints or framing conservatives in a negative light.
  7. [7]
    HuffPost Bias and Reliability - Ad Fontes Media
    Ad Fontes Media rates HuffPost in the Skews Left category of bias and as Generally Reliable/Analysis OR Other Issues in terms of reliability.
  8. [8]
    2 Dems: Huffington stole our idea - POLITICO
    Nov 16, 2010 · Huffington Post has emerged as a juggernaut since its launch on May 9, 2005. The site's front page offers a leftward tilt on political news ...<|separator|>
  9. [9]
    https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2011/02/ariana-huffington-201102
  10. [10]
    Why I Was Right About Iraq - HuffPost
    Mar 24, 2008 · Being against the Iraq War wasn't hard -- it was easy. The Iraq War made no sense, even as a wish. To wish for a war on someone else's soil ...
  11. [11]
    HuffPo to celebrate 5th with profit ... eventually - NBC News
    Apr 26, 2010 · As the site, co-founded by Arianna Huffington and launched on May 9, 2005, marks the anniversary, its proclaimed mission to be an "Internet ...
  12. [12]
    Six degrees of aggregation - Columbia Journalism Review
    Apr 16, 2012 · But Huffington Post had evolved into something more than the Web's beast of traffic, blogging, and aggregation. These days, Arianna Huffington ...
  13. [13]
    How The Huffington Post Works (In Case You Were Wondering)
    Feb 10, 2011 · Now, another big portion of the everything else is "content aggregation." Let me explain how that works. First of all, we run AP and Reuters ...Missing: early setup
  14. [14]
    Arianna Huffington to leave Huffington Post for startup Thrive
    Aug 11, 2016 · Her departure comes just over a decade after she founded the Huffington Post with Kenneth Lerer, Jonah Peretti and Andrew Breitbart, who ...
  15. [15]
    Arianna Huffington | Biography, Books, & Facts - Britannica
    Oct 13, 2025 · Arianna Huffington (born July 15, 1950, Athens, Greece) is a Greek American author and commentator, best known for creating The Huffington Post.<|separator|>
  16. [16]
    https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/09/why-arianna-huffington-left-the-huffington-post
  17. [17]
    How Buzzfeed CEO Jonah Peretti Built His Digital Media Empire
    Jun 1, 2017 · Starting the Huffington Post with Andrew Breitbart, Arianna Huffington and Ken Lerer, and what it was like to work with Breitbart. andrew ...
  18. [18]
    How Andrew Breitbart Helped Launch Huffington Post
    Mar 1, 2012 · BuzzFeed founder Jonah Peretti, a HuffPo cofounder, recalls their brief partnership on the record for the first time.
  19. [19]
    Andrew Breitbart | Research Starters - EBSCO
    Breitbart went on to cofound the equally influential Huffington Post but left almost immediately when it became a forum for the liberal left. In 2005, Breitbart ...
  20. [20]
    Splash Mountain: An Oral History Of The Headlines That Made ...
    this was her style always — she would ...
  21. [21]
    HuffPost Turns 20 This Year. Here's A Look Back At Our Most Iconic ...
    May 9, 2025 · Early writers included Lawrence O'Donnell, Nora Ephron, Larry David, Diane Keaton and Alec Baldwin.
  22. [22]
    Huffington to Launch Celebrity 'Blog' - Los Angeles Times
    Huffington said she planned to open the Internet “group blog,” the Huffington Post, next month. ... Larry David and his wife, political activist ... Nora Ephron and ...Missing: early | Show results with:early
  23. [23]
    Out of Print | The New Yorker
    Mar 24, 2008 · Surrounding the news articles are the highly opinionated posts of an apparently endless army of both celebrity (Nora Ephron, Larry David) and ...
  24. [24]
    AOL to Buy The Huffington Post - The New York Times
    Feb 7, 2011 · AOL will pay $315 million, $300 million of it in cash and the rest in stock. It will be the company's largest acquisition since it was separated from Time ...
  25. [25]
    AOL buys Huffington Post for $315M - POLITICO
    Feb 7, 2011 · In a deal worth $315 million, Internet pioneer AOL agreed Sunday to buy sprightly startup-turned-power-player The Huffington Post, ...
  26. [26]
    Huffington Deal Raises Question: What Site Will Be Sold Next?
    Feb 7, 2011 · The price is 6.3 times The Huffington Post's projected revenue of about $50 million for this year. ... If one uses AOL's projections for revenue ...
  27. [27]
    AOL to buy The Huffington Post for $315 million - Reuters
    Feb 8, 2011 · AOL Inc will buy Arianna Huffington's influential website for $315 million, looking to the high-profile liberal pundit to rescue it from the dustbin of ...
  28. [28]
    Arianna Huffington | Research Starters - EBSCO
    Arianna Huffington is a prominent media entrepreneur, author, and political commentator, best known for co-founding the Huffington Post in 2005.
  29. [29]
    Audience Analysis: Behind the AOL/Huffington Post Deal - Nielsen
    Based on average visitor January figures, each Huffington Post reader adds almost 12 minutes of time and 18 pages to the AOL portfolio – a total of 155 million ...
  30. [30]
    AOL Agrees To Acquire The Huffington Post | HuffPost Latest News
    Feb 7, 2011 · AOL has agreed to purchase The Huffington Post for $315 million, approximately $300 million of which will be paid in cash funded from cash on ...
  31. [31]
    Insight - AOL banks on HuffPost to turn profitable next year | Reuters
    Dec 23, 2013 · AOL executives are betting on international sales to increase profits at The Huffington Post next year. AOL bankrolled the site's expansion ...
  32. [32]
    Arianna Huffington's AOL deal sparks accusations of a political sell-out
    Feb 26, 2011 · ... Arianna Huffington: one HuffPo blogger has accused her of "greed and exploitation". Photograph: Getty. Arianna Huffington: one HuffPo blogger ...
  33. [33]
    Huffington Post bloggers lose legal fight for AOL millions
    Apr 1, 2012 · ... Huffington Post calling for compensation for exploitation of its army of unpaid commentators. ... sale to AOL for $315m. The bloggers ...
  34. [34]
    Why Media Pros Are the Only Ones Feeling 'Exploited' by Huffington ...
    Feb 26, 2011 · ... Exploit the idea that Huffington Post was created on the back of poor exploited bloggers and Arianna was sharing none of the bounty. What ...
  35. [35]
    News in Brief: HuffPost Bloggers Threaten Boycott Over AOL Merger ...
    Feb 10, 2011 · A blog post from the Adbusters web site claims that The Huffington exploited thousands of indie and liberal bloggers and is now cashing in by ...
  36. [36]
    Huffington Post's unpaid bloggers lose bid for share of AOL sale
    Apr 1, 2012 · ... Huffington Post calling for compensation for exploitation of its army of unpaid commentators. The ruling, slipped out relatively unnoticed ...
  37. [37]
    Verizon Now Officially Owns AOL After Closing $4.4 Billion Deal
    Jun 23, 2015 · AOL acquired TechCrunch in 2010. A year later, it purchased The Huffington Post for $315 million. By 2013 -- the year online video ad sales ...
  38. [38]
    Verizon To Buy AOL In $4.4 Billion Deal | HuffPost Impact
    May 12, 2015 · Verizon announced Tuesday morning that it plans to buy AOL for $4.4 billion. The all-cash deal between the telecom giant and the owner of ...
  39. [39]
    AOL CEO: Verizon Deal Will 'Extend The Tarmac' For ... - HuffPost
    NEW YORK -- AOL CEO Tim Armstrong said Tuesday morning that the company's $4.4 billion acquisition by Verizon would bolster AOL's hope of dominating the ...
  40. [40]
    AOL Has Been in Talks to Spin Off HuffPost as Part of Verizon ... - Vox
    May 12, 2015 · AOL Has Been in Talks to Spin Off HuffPost as Part of Verizon Acquisition Deal. Content costs a lot and needs a lot of investment. Enter new ...
  41. [41]
    BuzzFeed acquires HuffPost from Verizon - CNBC
    Nov 19, 2020 · Peretti co-founded the site in 2005 with Andrew Breitbart, Arianna Huffington and Kenneth Lehrer. HuffPost gained prominence in the early ...Missing: Lerer | Show results with:Lerer<|separator|>
  42. [42]
    Verizon goes 180 on HuffPost, sells it to BuzzFeed | The Verge
    Nov 19, 2020 · Verizon sold HuffPost to BuzzFeed in an all-stock deal. It also took a minority stake in the company for an undisclosed sum.
  43. [43]
    Verizon Q4 Results Include $119 Million Loss on HuffPost Sale to ...
    Jan 26, 2021 · Verizon's sale of news and opinion site HuffPost to BuzzFeed resulted in the telco taking a $119 million charge for the fourth quarter of 2020.Missing: details | Show results with:details<|separator|>
  44. [44]
    BuzzFeed Acquires HuffPost, Expanding Its Slate Of World-Class ...
    Nov 19, 2020 · BuzzFeed will be able to syndicate content across Verizon's Media brands, including Yahoo - a huge driver of traffic for HuffPost - and more.
  45. [45]
    BuzzFeed lays off 47 HuffPost workers less than a month after ...
    Mar 9, 2021 · The news website BuzzFeed has laid off 47 HuffPost workers in the US, the majority of them journalists, and closed down HuffPost's Canadian operation.
  46. [46]
    BuzzFeed lays off 47 HuffPost workers weeks after acquisition.
    Mar 24, 2021 · On Tuesday, less than a month after the acquisition went through, BuzzFeed laid off 47 workers at HuffPost and closed the publication's Canadian edition.<|separator|>
  47. [47]
    BuzzFeed News Is Shutting Down, Company Laying Off 180 Staffers
    Apr 20, 2023 · The digital publisher is laying off 15% of its employees, or about 180 people, across BuzzFeed News and other divisions. Going forward, BuzzFeed ...
  48. [48]
    Why BuzzFeed News couldn't replicate HuffPost's business model
    May 1, 2023 · In April 2022, BuzzFeed Inc. reorganized its business team to have the staffers who helped HuffPost reach profitability in 2021 do the same for BuzzFeed News.
  49. [49]
    HuffPost to Lay Off 30 Editorial Staffers, Citing 'Growing Challenges ...
    Jan 7, 2025 · HuffPost is due to eliminate 30 editorial roles in the coming weeks, editor-in-chief Danielle C. Belton announced in a company email Tuesday.
  50. [50]
    BuzzFeed Inc. Sees $4m Annual Savings on HuffPost Cuts
    Feb 13, 2025 · BuzzFeed Inc. expects to save about $4 million a year pre-tax through the job cuts it announced at HuffPost in January. The job cuts of about 5 ...Missing: pressures 2020s
  51. [51]
    HuffPost Celebrates 20 Years Of Groundbreaking Digital-First ...
    May 9, 2025 · As part of HuffPost's 20th anniversary, HuffPost is holding the first HuffPost Helps Day on May 9th. ... BuzzFeed Studios Announces January 2025 ...
  52. [52]
    HuffPost Turns 20 — And Is Unveiling A New Look
    May 9, 2025 · We are marking the anniversary with a refreshed logo and look. We are returning to our roots and embracing a deep HuffPost green in our logo ...
  53. [53]
    HuffPost at 20: A Digital Media Milestone Amid Strategic Rebirth
    May 9, 2025 · As it marks its 20th anniversary in 2025, the outlet's journey—from a $315 million AOL acquisition to a key asset under BuzzFeed—offers ...
  54. [54]
    HuffPost to AOL: Leaving left behind? - POLITICO
    Feb 7, 2011 · Huffington Post was one of the earliest and still probably best example of how aggregation can have voice and build community, and drive ...
  55. [55]
    Huffington Criticizes 'False Neutrality' of Media - The New York Times
    Jun 23, 2008 · “Truth comes first.” But, she said, the old media has “given up the truth for pursuit of a fake neutrality.” As an example, she pointed to the ...
  56. [56]
    Case Study: Huffington Post
    By now, Huffington Post has more than 81 million monthly visitors, 13editions around the globe, and more than 1,200 daily posts. The site has also finally ...Missing: volume | Show results with:volume
  57. [57]
    HuffPost, Breaking From Its Roots, Ends Unpaid Contributions
    which has mushroomed to include 100,000 writers — ...
  58. [58]
    How To Pitch HuffPost
    The HuffPost Culture team is looking for freelancers who have compelling and unique pitches about TV, film, music, celebrity and internet culture, with an eye ...
  59. [59]
    Huffington Post faces a blogger backlash to its contributor play
    Dec 12, 2016 · The contributor network reportedly provides some 15 percent of the HuffPost's 75 million-plus monthly audience (U.S., comScore). But pursuing a ...Missing: size | Show results with:size
  60. [60]
    Bloggers take legal action over Huffington Post sale - The Guardian
    Apr 12, 2011 · Arianna Huffington faces $105m lawsuit from unpaid contributors over her sale of the Huffington Post to AOL.
  61. [61]
    Unpaid bloggers' lawsuit versus Huffington Post tossed - Reuters
    Mar 30, 2012 · AOL Inc on Friday won the dismissal of a lawsuit by unpaid bloggers who complained they were deprived of their fair share of the roughly $315 million that the ...
  62. [62]
    This Week in Review: HuffPo sued over pay, early NYT pay plan ...
    Apr 15, 2011 · This Week in Review: HuffPo sued over pay, early NYT pay plan results, and finding devotion on Facebook · Are HuffPo bloggers being exploited?Missing: pre- | Show results with:pre-
  63. [63]
    So now HuffPost decides to pay writers. Its effect on the industry still ...
    Jan 25, 2018 · Many freelance writers rejoiced last week when the web site HuffPost (formerly The Huffington Post) announced it would be paying for all written contributions.<|control11|><|separator|>
  64. [64]
    HuffPost Personal Freelance Market Guide
    Dec 12, 2024 · Fees: HuffPost Personal pays a minimum of $150 per story, though “we often pay more than that,” Michelson says. Most final pieces are 1,000 to ...
  65. [65]
    Will Huffington Post Syndrome Kill Paid Blogging?
    I'm afraid we're about to enter an ugly down cycle where the complaint isn't going to be that companies want you to blog for $10 or $15 a post.Missing: compensation turnover
  66. [66]
    HuffPost hits 1 billion page views | Reuters
    Oct 3, 2011 · HuffPost hits 1 billion page views. By Reuters. October 3, 20114:48 PM ... news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day.
  67. [67]
    HuffPo Hits 1 Billion Pageviews - ADWEEK
    Oct 3, 2011 · The Huffington Post has hit 1 billion pageviews for the first time, with 37 million unique visitors, and 5.1 million comments in August.Missing: sensational | Show results with:sensational
  68. [68]
    Inside Huffington Post's traffic machine: the algorithm that's killing ...
    Jul 9, 2012 · Frédéric goes into some detail about the way sites like the HuffPo find original journalism and re-wrap it with catchy headlines, quick ...<|separator|>
  69. [69]
    Innovation at Huffington Post: Data-Driven Headlines
    Oct 15, 2009 · And there is a real danger of optimizing for the wrong outcome. For example, including the word “sex” in this message might improve its traffic ...Missing: engagement | Show results with:engagement<|control11|><|separator|>
  70. [70]
    [PDF] INSIDE THE DATA-DRIVEN NEWSROOM - Squarespace
    of headlines that Huffington Post. CEO Jimmy Maymann refers to on p60. Nodes are sized according to prevalence – and the most prevalent tracker on HuffPost is.
  71. [71]
    HuffPost on clickbait: Short-term gain, long-term loss - Digiday
    Aug 19, 2014 · Data shows that certain headline formats work way better than others. How do you feel about clickbait? It's very tempting to put a flashy or ...Missing: criticism | Show results with:criticism
  72. [72]
    How the Media Came to Embrace Clickbait: An Internet History - KQED
    May 12, 2017 · The HuffPo's “news” was more provocative, more enticing—more clickable— than its competitors'; even for serious topics it managed to channel ...
  73. [73]
    How The Huffington Post Does Native | AdExchanger
    Sep 4, 2014 · Its creation helped native advertising skyrocket. From Q2 2013 to Q2 2014, The Huffington Post's native advertising revenue grew 347%. But ...Missing: sponsorships | Show results with:sponsorships
  74. [74]
    HuffPo's Twist on Sponsored Content - Digiday
    Feb 28, 2013 · While BuzzFeed gets all the press for “native” advertising, The Huffington Post was there first, rolling out sponsored posts back in 2010.Missing: sponsorships | Show results with:sponsorships
  75. [75]
    Facebook's Latest Algorithm Change: Here Are The News Sites That ...
    Mar 6, 2018 · The decline in Facebook-driven traffic to news sites in 2018 could very well already be the result of the company's latest algorithm change.
  76. [76]
    Facebook's Latest Changes Will Significantly Impact Small Publishers
    Jan 12, 2018 · Facebook's CEO wrote that “meaningful social interaction,” namely content produced by user's family and friends will take precedent over videos, ...
  77. [77]
    Social Referrals to News Sites Sliced Nearly in Half Since 2020
    Oct 17, 2023 · Social media referrals to news sites have been cut nearly in half over the past three years, at least partly because of changing algorithms and attitudes.Missing: visitors | Show results with:visitors
  78. [78]
    Top 50 news websites in the US in September - Press Gazette
    Oct 10, 2025 · Three other sites, Huffpost (44 million, down 23% year-on-year), US News (31 million, also down 23%) and Business Insider (59 million, down 20%) ...
  79. [79]
    How is the Huffington Post regarded, in terms of journalism ... - Quora
    Aug 7, 2016 · What used to be seen as a revolutionary and fresh way to get news and information now seems tired, sensationalist, and a little desperate.
  80. [80]
    The Political Gap in Americans' News Sources - Pew Research Center
    Jun 10, 2025 · People who regularly get news from The Atlantic, HuffPost, NPR, The Guardian and Axios, among others, are particularly liberal and Democratic.Missing: analysis | Show results with:analysis
  81. [81]
    A Note About Our Coverage Of Donald Trump's 'Campaign' - HuffPost
    Jul 17, 2015 · Donald Trump gestures while speaking surrounded by people whose families were victims of illegal immigrants on July 10, 2015 while meeting ...
  82. [82]
    The Huffington Post is moving its Donald Trump coverage to the ...
    Jul 17, 2015 · We have decided we won't report on Trump's campaign as part of The Huffington Post's political coverage. Instead, we will cover his campaign as part of our ...
  83. [83]
    Report: Huffington Post to drop editor's note labeling Trump a racist
    Nov 9, 2016 · After months of openly calling Donald Trump a "serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther," the Huffington Post has ...
  84. [84]
    The Huffington Post ending editor's note that called Donald Trump ...
    Nov 9, 2016 · The Huffington Post's editor's note calling Donald Trump as a 'racist' and 'xenophobe' is gone, a source in the newsroom tells POLITICO.
  85. [85]
    Making Sense Of The Trump-Russia Mess | HuffPost Latest News
    Aug 3, 2017 · The beginning of Donald Trump's presidency has been clouded by an ever-evolving scandal around potential collusion between his campaign and ...
  86. [86]
    The Mueller Investigation, Explained. Here's Your Guide To The ...
    Jul 27, 2018 · A whole bunch of indictments and several guilty pleas. Mueller's team has been involved in indicting 32 people and three Russian companies.
  87. [87]
    Mueller finds no collusion with Russia, leaves obstruction question ...
    Mar 25, 2019 · Special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation did not find sufficient evidence that President Donald Trump's campaign coordinated with Russia.
  88. [88]
    Questions Surrounding The New York Post's Hunter Biden Story
    Oct 15, 2020 · The series of events laid out by the conservative tabloid and pushed by Trumpworld strain credibility and suggest a crude political hit.Missing: downplaying | Show results with:downplaying
  89. [89]
    More Than 50 Former Intel Officials Say Hunter Biden Smear Smells ...
    Oct 20, 2020 · If we are right,” the group wrote in a letter, “this is Russia trying to influence how Americans vote."
  90. [90]
    Trust in Media at New Low of 28% in U.S. - Gallup News
    Oct 2, 2025 · For Democrats, the narrowest of majorities (51%) now express trust in the media, which is a repeat of the low previously seen in 2016.
  91. [91]
    Media Confidence in U.S. Matches 2016 Record Low - Gallup News
    Oct 19, 2023 · Americans' trust in the mass media's reporting matches its lowest point in Gallup's trend, largely because of Democrats' decreased trust.<|control11|><|separator|>
  92. [92]
    There's An Obvious Reason Why Trump Has Gotten 'Negative' Press
    Mar 7, 2017 · Recent media analyses have argued that President Donald Trump has received lots of negative news coverage since being sworn into office.
  93. [93]
    HuffPost - Wikipedia - Index of /
    Local editions[edit]​​ In approximately June 2007, the site launched its first local version, HuffPost Chicago. In June 2009, HuffPost New York was launched, ...
  94. [94]
    HuffPost Denver Launches, With Axelrod's Son as Editor - ADWEEK
    Sep 15, 2009 · “We're delighted to launch HuffPost Denver as our third local version ... Chicago and New York are the other two local versions. And after the ...
  95. [95]
    Huffington Post going local, coming to Denver
    Jun 22, 2009 · Not too long ago, the site launched its first local foray with the Chicago edition of the Huffington Post (around the same time that ESPN ...
  96. [96]
    Huffington Post launches British edition - Phys.org
    Jul 6, 2011 · The Huffington Post launched a British edition on Wednesday, in the first expansion outside North America for its news and opinion website.
  97. [97]
    Huffington Post launches UK edition - BBC News
    Jul 6, 2011 · The US blog-led news site The Huffington Post is launching its UK edition on Wednesday, which will be its first site outside North America.
  98. [98]
    Le Huffington Post Debuts In France | HuffPost Latest News
    Jan 23, 2012 · The Huffington Post debuted its first foreign language edition Monday with the launch of Le Huffington Post, a French language site published in partnership ...
  99. [99]
    The Huffington Post Heads to France - ADWEEK
    Oct 10, 2011 · The Huffington Post UK and The Huffington Post Canada both launched this year. Les Nouvelles Editions Indépendantes is the holding company ...
  100. [100]
    The Huffington Post guide to international expansion - Digiday
    Feb 16, 2015 · The Huffington Post launched its first international edition, HuffPost Canada, in 2011, and has since then expanded its footprint to 13 other markets.
  101. [101]
    Anne Sinclair to Edit Huffington Post in France - The New York Times
    Jan 18, 2012 · Anne Sinclair, the wife of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, will edit the French version of The Huffington Post.
  102. [102]
    'Le Huffington Post' launches in Paris - France 24
    Jan 23, 2012 · But US media gossip website Gawker was scathing about Sinclair's appointment, arguing that she was not hired because she was an experienced ...
  103. [103]
    Huffington Post to shutter German edition – DW – 01/11/2019
    Jan 11, 2019 · Germany's BurdaForward publishers announced Friday that its Huffington Post Deutschland online news site will close on March 31.
  104. [104]
    Following its acquisition by BuzzFeed, HuffPost shuts down its Brazil ...
    Nov 24, 2020 · BuzzFeed acquires HuffPost. “We confirm that HuffPost has closed its editions in India and Brazil with immediate effect,” Verizon Media said in ...
  105. [105]
    HuffPost UK staff face redundancy as national news operation ...
    Mar 12, 2021 · BuzzFeed has told the UK staff of its recently acquired HuffPost website that it is shutting down its national news operation, leaving more than half its ...Missing: shuttered | Show results with:shuttered
  106. [106]
    BuzzFeed lays off 70 HuffPost staffers in massive 'restructuring' less ...
    Mar 9, 2021 · HuffPost officially merged with BuzzFeed on February 16. Less than a month later, the site's staff is being dramatically cut.
  107. [107]
    HuffPost's flagship role at the heart of the new media behemoth Oath
    Nov 9, 2017 · One challenge she faces is that HuffPost UK's audience – of around 11 million monthly users – is heavily London-skewed, with a sizeable number ...
  108. [108]
    What You Need To Know About Attacks On White South African ...
    Mar 15, 2018 · Yes, there is a problem with farm attacks and murders in South Africa. There's also a problem with violence and murder in the country as a ...Missing: apology 2015
  109. [109]
    Unpaid Blogger Hits 'Slave Owner' Huffington With $105M ... - WIRED
    Apr 12, 2011 · AOL and Huffington have laid off more than 200 editorial staffers and freelancers over the last month, including some veteran journalists.
  110. [110]
    AOL, Huffington Post sued by unpaid blogger | Reuters
    NEW YORK, April 12 (Reuters) - The Huffington Post unfairly pocketed more than $100 million from its unpaid bloggers when AOL Inc bought the ...
  111. [111]
    The Real Value of the Huffington Post's Blogs - Forbes
    9,000 is the number that gets thrown around, though the number of active current contributors ...
  112. [112]
    The Economics of Blogging and The Huffington Post - U.S. Politics
    Feb 12, 2011 · The Huffington Post receives huge amounts of traffic: about 15.6 million page views per weekday, according to Quantcast. But it also has a huge ...
  113. [113]
    The Huffington Post Passes The New York Times in Traffic
    Jun 9, 2011 · While our source could not confirm the numbers, a report from Twitter claims that HuffPost bested The Times with 35.5 million unique visitors to ...Missing: bloggers | Show results with:bloggers
  114. [114]
    About That Lawsuit... | HuffPost Latest News
    Apr 13, 2011 · In the case of the unpaid bloggers versus Huffington Post, the bloggers clearly received reasonable consideration in the form of publicity ...
  115. [115]
    Here's Why the Unpaid Bloggers Suing Arianna Huffington for $105 ...
    Apr 12, 2011 · Arianna Huffington's lawsuit over unpaid bloggers raises questions about compensation and ethics in digital media.
  116. [116]
    Huffington Post's Unpaid Bloggers Are Suing Arianna - The Atlantic
    Apr 12, 2011 · Arianna Huffington vehemently defended her right not to pay bloggers from day one, but it may now up to a judge to decide.
  117. [117]
    In Defense of FREE: Why I Don't Care That Arianna Doesn't Pay Me
    Sep 16, 2009 · But what's probably most infuriating to Arianna's critics is the fact that she simply doesn't have to pay her bloggers. When former generals, ...Missing: unpaid passion project
  118. [118]
    The Case FOR Homeopathic Medicine: The Historical and Scientific ...
    Apr 12, 2010 · Because skeptics of homeopathy today indulge in spreading misinformation about homeopathy, this blog aims to set the record straight, and is ...Missing: promoting | Show results with:promoting
  119. [119]
    Luc Montagnier, Nobel Prize Winner, Takes Homeopathy Seriously
    Jan 30, 2011 · Dr. Luc Montagnier, the French virologist who won the Nobel Prize in 2008 for discovering the AIDS virus, has surprised the scientific community with his ...
  120. [120]
    The Disinformation Campaign Against Homeopathy | HuffPost Life
    Sep 14, 2011 · Just as opiate drugs of the 19th century gave the guise of healing, homeopaths contend that many modern-day drugs provide blessed short-term ...Missing: promoting | Show results with:promoting
  121. [121]
    Homeopathy: A Healthier Way to Treat Depression? | HuffPost Life
    Sep 29, 2010 · For over 200 years homeopaths have observed the ability of many conventional drugs to suppress acute illness into more deep chronic illness.Missing: promoting | Show results with:promoting
  122. [122]
    HuffPost Published Anti-Vaccine Articles by Celebrities
    Jun 21, 2019 · HuffPost continues to host articles, some written by celebrities like Jenny McCarthy and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., that link vaccines to ...
  123. [123]
    Letter From The Editor: Why We Are Removing Anti-Vaccine Blogs
    Jun 21, 2019 · After a monthslong review, HuffPost has decided to remove dozens of blogs that perpetuate the unfounded opinion that vaccines pose a health risk to the public.Missing: coverage | Show results with:coverage
  124. [124]
    Jeffrey Epstein's High Society Contacts - New York Magazine
    Jul 22, 2019 · At film screenings and store openings and fashion shows, at Tina Brown's home and Arianna Huffington's and the Time 100 Gala. For years ...
  125. [125]
    The 'Lady of the House' Who Was Long Entangled With Jeffrey Epstein
    Jul 15, 2019 · Soon she was on the rise with the help of her new boyfriend, Jeffrey Epstein, a rich financier. It was the beginning of a mutually beneficial ...
  126. [126]
    Jeffrey Epstein Pitched a New Narrative. These Sites Published It.
    Jul 21, 2019 · In flattering news releases and promotional articles in National Review, Forbes and HuffPost, the disgraced financier tried to rehabilitate ...
  127. [127]
    Forbes, HuffPo, National Review Delete Pro-Epstein Propaganda
    Jul 22, 2019 · Several media outlets quickly removed old posts about Jeffrey Epstein this week, after The New York Times highlighted them.<|control11|><|separator|>
  128. [128]
    Jeffrey Epstein Pilot Recalls Flying Trump, Bill Clinton And Prince ...
    Nov 30, 2021 · Jeffrey Epstein Pilot Recalls Flying Trump, Bill Clinton And Prince Andrew. Larry Visoski, who worked for the disgraced financier for nearly ...<|separator|>
  129. [129]
    Charlamagne Tha God Calls Out Liberals Over Clinton-Epstein Ties
    Jul 29, 2025 · Radio Host Scolds 'Liberal Media' For Slamming Trump-Epstein Relationship, Overlooking Bill Clinton's Ties. "Burn it all down,” Charlamagne tha ...Missing: minimizing | Show results with:minimizing
  130. [130]
    Bias Alert: Trump Responds to Epstein Controversy - AllSides
    Jul 16, 2025 · President Donald Trump responded to the question “Why do you think your supporters in particular have been so interested in the Epstein ...
  131. [131]
    Huffington Post names Strauss-Kahn's wife as French site editor
    Jan 18, 2012 · The launch of a French edition of the Huffington Post has been marred by controversy over its choice of editorial director, Anne Sinclair.
  132. [132]
    Anne Sinclair Takes Helm at French Huffington Post
    Jan 23, 2012 · She insisted that there would be no conflict of interest in carrying out her duties. “All important news will be treated normally, as it would ...Missing: hire Epstein
  133. [133]
    French in a huff over Le Huffington Post boss
    Jan 20, 2012 · THE launch of a French edition of The Huffington Post has been marred by controversy over its choice of editorial director, Anne Sinclair: ...Missing: hire Epstein
  134. [134]
    DSK's Wife to Edit Le Huffington Post - New York Magazine
    Jan 18, 2012 · But critics are already dismissing the move as all headline and no substance: “Anne Sinclair is no longer a journalist,” quipped a Le Monde ...
  135. [135]
    The Huffington Post | The Webby Awards
    Recognitions ; Webby Winner. Web Blog - Political 2008 ; People's Voice Winner. Web Blog - Political ; Nominee. Web Blog - Political 2008 ...
  136. [136]
    HuffPost Live Wins Its Third Consecutive Webby Award
    Apr 27, 2015 · HuffPost Live Wins Its Third Consecutive Webby Award ... The Webby Awards announced its 19th batch of winners on Monday, and among them was ...Missing: Pulitzer | Show results with:Pulitzer
  137. [137]
    HuffPost Celebrates 20 Years Of Groundbreaking Digital-First ...
    May 9, 2025 · As part of HuffPost's 20th anniversary, HuffPost is holding the first HuffPost Helps Day on May 9th. A day of community service in New York, ...
  138. [138]
    HuffPost Wins Two New York Press Club Journalism Awards
    May 21, 2025 · HuffPost, the award-winning online news organization steeped in fair and fearless reporting, has received two 2025 New York Press Club Journalism Awards.
  139. [139]
    The Huffington Post Wins Its First Pulitzer Prize - Forbes
    Apr 16, 2012 · Awarded to David Wood of The Huffington Post for his riveting exploration of the physical and emotional challenges facing American soldiers ...
  140. [140]
    Americans' Trust in Media Remains at Trend Low - Gallup News
    Oct 14, 2024 · After dropping precipitously to the trend low of 51% in 2016, Democrats' trust in the media ranged from 68% to 76% between 2017 and 2022 but ...
  141. [141]
    HuffPost turned profitable after BuzzFeed's acquisition
    Jun 1, 2022 · “BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti had said HuffPost's losses exceeded $20 million in 2020 and that it was on a similar trajectory for 2021.
  142. [142]
    BuzzFeed will lay off 15% of staff, shutter its news unit - CNBC
    Apr 20, 2023 · BuzzFeed will lay off 15% of staff and will shut down its news unit, BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti wrote in an email to staff Thursday.
  143. [143]
    huffpost.com Website Traffic, Ranking, Analytics [September 2025]
    huffpost.com is ranked #280 in US with 38.82M Traffic. Categories: . Learn more about website traffic, market share, and more!
  144. [144]
    huffpost.com Traffic Analytics, Ranking & Audience [September 2025]
    huffpost.com is ranked #30 in the News & Media Publishers category and #1561 globally in September 2025. Get the full huffpost.com Analytics and market ...
  145. [145]
    Top news sites suffer drastic drop in web traffic since Google added ...
    Jul 1, 2025 · According to new data published by Similarweb, 37 of the top 50 news domains saw year-over-year traffic declines.
  146. [146]
    BuzzFeed, Inc. Reports Q2 2025 Results and Delivers Strong ...
    Aug 7, 2025 · BuzzFeed, Inc. Reports Q2 2025 Results and Delivers Strong Revenue Growth ; Advertising revenue slightly declined to $22.6 million · $23.2 million ...Missing: anniversary | Show results with:anniversary
  147. [147]
    Bottom-up, audience-driven and shut down: How HuffPost Canada ...
    Mar 15, 2022 · From prioritizing diversity to a bottom-up editorial process to using traditional marketing practices to develop journalistic stories, ...Missing: polarization | Show results with:polarization
  148. [148]
    The Global Expansion of Digital-Born News Media
    Dec 11, 2017 · In this report, we analyse a sample of seven internationally oriented digital-born news media on the basis of interviews with senior editors ...
  149. [149]
    CQ Researcher - Changing Media Landscape
    Mar 8, 2024 · Is traditional journalism still effective in today's polarized media environment? ... The Huffington Post (now called HuffPost), an online ...
  150. [150]
    Six things you didn't know about headline writing: Sensationalistic ...
    This study examines the degree to which sensational forms appear in headline writing, including forward referencing, personalization, “soft” news structures ...
  151. [151]
    Partisanship, Propaganda, and Disinformation: Online Media and ...
    Aug 16, 2017 · In this study, we analyze both mainstream and social media coverage of the 2016 United States presidential election.
  152. [152]
    The consequences of online partisan media - PNAS
    We classify domains as liberal or conservative based on their audience ideology score (negative for liberal and positive for conservative), which was computed ...<|separator|>
  153. [153]
    Echo chambers, filter bubbles, and polarisation: a literature review
    Jan 19, 2022 · Content-analysis based research has in the past shown how, for example, news coverage of climate change is broadly based on the scientific ...
  154. [154]
    [PDF] How Partisan Media Influences Aversion to Political Compromise
    Aug 5, 2025 · This suggests that partisan media influences political attitudes and behaviors in a direction that increases ideological and affective gaps ...
  155. [155]
    https://www.demographyunplugged.com/p/media-trust-falls-to-a-53-year-low
  156. [156]
    HuffPo and the Loss of Trust - Digitopoly
    Sep 6, 2014 · You may not have noticed, but recently the Huffington Post has been the poster child for lack of journalistic integrity.Missing: legacy viral