Politicker Network Explained

Politicker Network
Type:Political news
Language:English
Registration:No
Owner:The New York Observer

The Politicker Network, or Politicker.com, was a national network of fifty state-based political websites operated by the New York Observer.[1]

Origins

The network had its origins in journalist Ben Smith's New York Observer blog, "The Politicker," which focused on New York state politics.[2] Launched in 2005, the original blog became "the most widely read" blog among political circles.[3] [4] It was called the "Best Local Politics Blog" by The Village Voice, who noted the lively comment section.[5] In 2005, failed candidate for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of New York City, Christopher X. Brodeur, was arrested for leaving death threats on Smith's New York Observer voice mail, in retaliation for unflattering coverage in the Politicker blog.[6]

Growth and decline

James Pindell, formerly of The Boston Globe, was hired as National Managing Editor in January 2008.[7]

In December 2008, the network was reduced from 17 to 6 sites, with a focus on the northeast region.[8] By January 2009, the New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania websites were closed, leaving the network with sites remaining in New York and New Jersey.[9] Those closings effectively ended the national aspirations of the "Politicker" brand.[10]

State bureaus

The Pennsylvania bureau, called PolitickerPA.com, was cited as a source by the other news media, including the Philadelphia Daily News,[11] the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,[12] [13] [14] the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,[15] [16] [17] [18] the Pittsburgh City Paper,[19] The Beaver County Times,[20] The Citizens' Voice,[21] and the Lancaster New Era.[22]

Journalist Dan Hirschhorn worked as the Philadelphia-based correspondent for PolitickerPA.[23] PolitickerPA was closed in January 2009, causing one journalist to exclaim "Damn. One less source to do our work for us."[24] The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and the Lancaster Sunday News reported on local connections in PolitickerPA's "Power List 2008."[25] [26]

PolitickerPA is not to be confused with another Pennsylvania politics website, PoliticsPA.

Notes and References

  1. News: Stetler. Brian. A Plan to Offer 50 Sites on Politics in 50 States . The New York Times. New York, New York. February 18, 2008.
  2. News: Web suited for the Opinionated Eager To Get Their Words Out There. . The Times Union, Inc.. January 14, 2005. "The New York Observer officially launched its own blog this week, The Politicker, written by one of its staff writers, Ben Smith. The column focuses primarily on city politics, and readers can respond to Smith's items, adding their own two cents about all things political.".
  3. News: Archibold. Randal C. . Off The Trail: 2005 Mayor; The Season of the Blog. The New York Times . June 6, 2005.
  4. News: There's no passion in city politics and blogs. . Newsday Inc. . October 10, 2005. And The New York Observer's Politicker has become a clearinghouse for campaign news and a regular stop for politicians and other insiders..
  5. News: Best Local Politics Blog . The Village Voice . 50 . 41 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150512204704/http://www.villagevoice.com/bestof/2005/section/people-and-places-491621/ . 2015-05-12.
  6. News: Chiaramonte. Perry . Candidate Threatened Scribe: Cops. . November 3, 2005.
  7. News: James Pindell to serve as National Managing Editor of Politicker.com. Politicker. Maryland. January 4, 2008. September 29, 2009. https://archive.today/20090403080733/http://www.politicker.com/maryland/8970/james-pindell-serve-national-managing-editor-politickercom. April 3, 2009. dead.
  8. News: Calderone. Michael. Politicker cuts back nationwide. Politico. Washington, DC. December 12, 2008.
  9. News: Calderone. Michael. Politicker cuts back nationwide. Politico. Washington, DC. January 9, 2009.
  10. News: Kelly. Keith J.. A Web of Intrigue. New York Post. New York, New York. January 11, 2009.
  11. News: Warner. Bob. Matthews to stay on the 'Ball' . . January 8, 2009.
  12. News: McNulty. Timothy. Early Returns: Matthews demure. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). PG Publishing Co., Inc.. January 6, 2009. September 29, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20120419064023/http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/earlyreturns/archive/2009/01/06/matthews-demure.aspx. April 19, 2012. dead.
  13. News: McNulty. Timothy. Early Returns: Even more Rendell. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 4, 2008. September 29, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20120419064055/http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/earlyreturns/archive/2008/12/04/even-more-rendell.aspx. April 19, 2012. dead.
  14. News: Victor. Greg. Cutting Edge: New ideas / Sharp opinions. . July 13, 2008.
  15. News: Sen. Obama caught in double play. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.. October 26, 2008 .
  16. News: McNickle. Colin. The Age of Mindlessness. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. . November 16, 2008 .
  17. News: Senatus Interruptus . Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. . January 11, 2009 .
  18. News: Could Chris take Arlen?. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.. November 16, 2008 .
  19. News: Kaplan. Jonathan A. . US Congressional District 4: Jason Altmire (D) v. Melissa Hart (R) . Pittsburgh City Paper. Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh City Paper. October 23, 2008 .
  20. News: Prose. J.D.. OPINION: No rules? No problem! State senate fiasco prompts changes. Beaver County Times. Beaver, Pennsylvania. September 21, 2008.
  21. News: Sisak . Michael R. . GOP criticizes Kanjorski fundraiser . The Citizens' Voice. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. September 12, 2008 .
  22. News: Looking For Inaugural Tickets? Chances Mighty Slim . Lancaster New Era . . Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.. November 28, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121102043629/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-19398659.html. dead. November 2, 2012.
  23. News: Micek . John . John Micek. Check It Out . The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. April 26, 2009. "Dan Hirschorn, last seen as the Philly-based half of the late PolitickerPa.com, has re-emerged with a new Web site, pa2010.com -- a one-stop shop for the latest campaign news. In addition to news and analysis, Hirschorn said the site will include social-networking facets for campaign operatives and junkies..
  24. News: Prose. J.D.. Seen & Heard. Beaver County Times. Beaver Newspapers, Inc.. January 26, 2009. PolitickerPa.com has been closed by its parent company, the Politicker Network, which used to run political Web sites in several states. Damn. One less source to do our work for us..
  25. News: Bill Who?. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.. July 20, 2008 .
  26. News: Adams. Helen Colwell. Beiler, Bonusgate And A Bid For Auditor General. Sunday News. Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.. July 20, 2008. "Of the 50 most influential political people in Pennsylvania, only two have Lancaster County connections. That's according to the Power List 2008 compiled by new political Web site PolitickerPA.com (not to be confused with PoliticsPA.com, although there's a suspicious resemblance). Coming in at No. 20 is Franklin & Marshall College's Dr. G. Terry Madonna, the most quoted pollster/pundit in the Keystone State. At No. 45 is Erik Arneson, a legislative aide to state Senate Majority Leader Dom Pileggi. Arneson, who formerly worked for 48th District Sen. Chip Brightbill, was a deejay for Christian radio station WJTL-FM. ". dead. https://archive.today/20120711050218/http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/224753. July 11, 2012.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Politicker Network".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.