former Publisher, MediaNews Group
Media consultant and contributor to Harvard University's Nieman Journalism Lab; former publisher in the MediaNews Group
PROFILE
Martin Langeveld
Guest
FROM Martin Langeveld
Which Way, L.A.?
AOL, the Huffington Post and News in Southern California Internet-access pioneer AOL has been losing customers. Last year, it posed a net loss of almost $800 million. Now, AOL has purchased the Huffington Post . In just five years, the Post has become one of the top ten news sites on the web, with 20 million unique monthly visitors and profits of $30 million last year. The price was $300 million in cash and $15 million in AOL stock. But Arianna Huffington won't go away. She will be president and editor-in-chief of a new group inside AOL, overseeing some 700 editorial employees. The age of the Internet has been cruel to traditional newspapers, and it's caught up with the LA Times, the Orange County Register and suburban dailies including the Daily News. A group of hedge funds now owns most of their assets and the word in the business is "consolidation."
Recommended
To the Point
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
To the Point
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?
To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.