Eric Hippeau, New HuffPost CEO: "I'm Not Here To Fix It; I'm Here To Grow It"

The New York Observer:

By many measures, Eric Hippeau, the man who was named the new CEO of the Huffington Post on Monday, just got a dream job. He has a Web site with tiny overhead that has only burned through about $12 million in its first three and a half years online....

"I don't think we really need to fix very much," said Mr. Hippeau. "I think the Huffington Post is doing quite well, and you can tell that by the metrics. I'm not here to fix it; I'm here to grow it."

Read the whole story: The New York Observer

Comments

[roger37]

I just posted a message with four short paragraphs regarding the ad hominem policy, and it got put in Pending. Bet it doesn't make it out.

[FabulousAt52]

See that number "1" up in the Pending Comments box? That's my comment. It's ALWAYS one
or two of my comments in there. I Posted to this thread yesterday; and in pending it still sits.
Yes! Please FIX a few things around here Mr. Hippeau, they do need fixin'.

What else needs fixing?
1. Eliminate all the links and stories coming through from trashy tabloids like The Daily Mail, The Sun and The Enquirer. Don't print stories if their sources are unreliable tabloid rags. We could wait until they come from legitimate sources.

2. Eliminate inflammatory and sensationalized headlines. (This is also connected to No. 1 above)

3. Streamline the censorship routine. Eliminate simple, unreliable word filters. State the rules of language and civility clearly and plainly for all to see and then ** Allow the readers to flag offensive posts **. Delete them only after verifying the flags are numerous and legit.

4. Lastly, I don't mind a marginal "Lefty" slant - to some extent. But let's keep it real and as factual as possible. There is no pride in being the Liberal / Lefty equivalent of FOXNEWS.

I wonder if this post will join my first one and sit in pending for days....

[daedelus]

We would all try to carry on somehow..

[Andyklah]

I don't think hardly any stories are lefty propaganda/disclaim when they are being liberal really, however, the headlines do sensationalize far too often. Huffpo's success relies on it's credibility, and real news. If you keep it, you won't lose your readership, don't sell its integrity for good advertisement (which might increase with gossip/celebrity links)

[zeezan]

Please fix the basic mechanics -- it's hard (and slow) to go back a screen, videos run jerkily, etc.

[FabulousAt52]

It is probably Internet Explorer if that's the browser you are using -- download and install Mozilla Firefox and you will see a huge difference when reading this site. Don't know why... but it's true.

I downloaded Firefox more than a year ago, and I hardly use Internet Explorer for anything anymore.
Everything seems to work better with the FireFox.
Give it a try!

[whydodemshate]

Fix it. Bring matches and gasoline. PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[MalloMel]

If being here is so painful for you, why are you here?

[letscutthebs]

I hope Mr. Hippeau starts some serious editing. Intelligent readers want a non partisan approach to journalism which befits the true value of its purpose. The editorial role of the press should be to hold the government's actions objectively to scrutiny; for better or for worst. The Huffington Post must not merely serve as an outlet to the White House talking points.
Here is a quote from Michael Wolff's critical July Vanity Fair article regarding this issue:
"The Huffington Post has become an ideal back door for the most partisan stuff. It's being used in a way that suddenly seems not all that dissimilar to how the Bush White House used Fox News. It's as obvious and as unfiltered­."
The Huffpo must rise above the level of being The White House propaganda outlet if it wants to earn any validity within its trade.

[letscutthebs]

P.S. : Mr Hippeau, if YOU are not fixing it, hire someone who does

[MalloMel]

It has plenty of validity. Just not among you right wingers.

[letscutthebs]

Meaning it ONLY has validity for the left wingers. You hit it right on the nail. What happens to those who prefer something other than fanatical mudslinging?

[american-dolt]

"Gentlemen, should we sell oven mitts? Or Blogs?"

[dinglebe]

I suggest the first thing Mr. Hippeau do is get rid of the entire Style section. It is a complete waste of money.

[MalloMel]

It's their money to do with as they please.

[Imzadi]

You have to fix it BEFORE you can grow it.

[spiritpony1]

what is YOUR "fix" might NOT be MY fix; frankly, I do not want ANY style or celeb. crap; we have "People" rat mag for that and a number of others for fashion-------

[binarystar]

Funny that this story is an external link.

I, like others, would like to see the comment system get overhauled. That's pretty much my biggest complaint. As it is now, it works better for trolls than it does for legitimate users. I think the line between moderation and censorship has been crossed.

[Charity]

hear, hear, including in this thread.

[Imzadi]

Copy that.

[spiritpony1]

listen, if folks want cutting edge, maybe they should think of Daily Kos and numerous others. I like Arianna; and, I think she is extremely bright; having said that, she has always been able to "take care of herself"; remember, she married what's his face/rich gay guy from Texas, and, I do believe, got the Getty family to pay for the wedding---­----------­-I am not dissing her------I actually respect her quite a bit------just trying to keep things in perspectiv­e;-------H­P is a biz--------

[LeeCalif]

Using AP propaganda articles will certainly not grow it.

Dump AP.

[alexa07]

or exert heavy pressure to stop pro-Israel slant of most AP stories, a few of which recently have been better. Am sick & tired of reading about how the Israelis are reacting to everything. How about how the rest of the world is reacting to what the Israelis are doing? AP coverage of the Gaza onslaught was "derelict of duty" to inform your readers.

[mofmars333]

Agree!

[Imzadi]

And reduce the TMZ-like stuff. If never hear about Amy or Angelina here again I would be ecstatic.

[OhComeOnNow]

Please post your email address, Eric, I have A LOT of feedback for you....

[theresedefarge]

“I think it’s more about how can we accelerate our expansion, and how can we monetize our traffic,” said [you-know-who], editor in chief of the [you-know-what].

Bingo.

[spiritpony1]

ok, ok------but she DID start a biz, you know-------and, helloooo, the purpose of biz is to make $$$-------are you so indoc. w/ the HP general "liberalism" that you don't get that------­----odd---­-maybe she should request TARP funding----

[NHBill]

I hope the HP finds a way to profitability but I am very skeptical. Ad blocking software is so effective i see very little advertising on the web. I am not alone.

[theresedefarge]

“I think it’s more about how can we accelerate our expansion, and how can we monetize our traffic,” said Arianna Huffington, editor in chief of the Huffington Post.

"monetize our traffic?" GAG ME.

[jimrs6]

He's already said he wants to make this a subscription site. Get ready.

[NHBill]

get ready to go elsewhere

[Charity]

i will never pay to visit a site where i can obtain the information elsewhere. until a web site becomes indispensable to me, i won't be paying.