Politico

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For other uses, see Politico (disambiguation).

Politico
IndustryNews media
FoundedJanuary 23, 2007; 12 years ago (2007-01-23) (as The Politico)
Headquarters
Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
Key people
Robert L. Allbritton (executive chairman)[1]
Joyce Lui (CFO)[1]
John F. Harris (publisher & editor-in-chief)[1]
Carrie Budoff Brown (editor)
Poppy MacDonald (President, US)[1] Bobby Moran (CRO)
ProductsPolitico (newspaper)
Politico Magazine (bimonthly magazine)
Politico.com (website)
Politico Europe (newspaper)
Politico.eu (website)
OwnerCapitol News Company
Number of employees
500 (2017)[2]
Websitepolitico.com

Politico, known originally as The Politico, is an American political journalism company based in Arlington County, Virginia, that covers politics and policy in the United States and internationally. It distributes content through its website, television, printed newspapers, radio, and podcasts. Its coverage in Washington, D.C., includes the U.S. Congress, lobbying, the media and the presidency.[3]

History[edit]

Origins, style, and growth[edit]

John F. Harris and Jim VandeHei left The Washington Post to become Politico's editor-in-chief and executive editor, respectively. With the financial backing of Robert L. Allbritton, the pair launched the website on January 23, 2007.[4][5] Their first hire was Mike Allen, a writer for Time,[6] and Frederick J. Ryan Jr. served as its first president and chief executive officer.[7]

From the beginning, journalists covering political campaigns for Politico carried a video camera to each assignment,[8] and they were encouraged to promote their work elsewhere.[9] By 2008, Politico received more than three million unique visits per month.[10]

In September 2008, The New York Times reported that Politico would expand its operations following the 2008 presidential election: "[A]fter Election Day, [Politico] will add reporters, editors, Web engineers and other employees; expand circulation of its newspaper edition in Washington; and print more often."[11] Between the 2008 and 2012 elections, Politico's staff more than tripled in size.[12] Notable additions included two political commentators, Michael Kinsley and Joe Scarborough, as opinion writers.[13]

In 2009 the web pages shortened their name from The Politico to more simply just Politico.

In 2011, Politico began to focus more on long-form journalism and news analysis.[4][14] This shift in coverage received further support in June 2013 with the hiring of Susan Glasser to oversee "opinion from prominent outside voices" and "long-form storytelling."[15] In September 2014, Glasser was tapped to serve as Politico's new editor, following the resignation of Richard Berke the previous month.[16]

VandeHei was named Politico's new chief executive in October 2013.[17] Under his leadership, Politico continued to grow: in 2014 alone, it expanded revenues by 25%.[18] By 2016, Politico had nearly 500 employees worldwide.[19]

Amidst reports of tensions, VandeHei and Allen announced that they would leave Politico after the 2016 presidential election.[4][20] Allbritton was named as CEO in Vandehei's stead.[20] In April 2017, Politico announced that investment banker Patrick Steel would succeed as Allbritton as CEO, effective May 8.[21]

Politico Playbook[edit]

On June 25, 2007,[22] Mike Allen launched Playbook, a daily early-morning email newsletter.[23][24] Within a few years, the newspaper had attained a large readership amongst members of the D.C. community.[6] By 2016, over 100,000 people – including "insiders, outsiders, lobbyists and journalists, governors, senators, presidents and would-be presidents" – read Playbook daily.[25] Multiple commentators credit Allen and Playbook with strongly influencing the substance and tone of the rest of the national political news cycle.[6][25][26]

Daniel Lippman joined Politico in June 2014, in large part to assist Allen with Playbook.[27] Upon Allen's departure in July 2016, Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman joined Lippman to assume Playbook-writing duties.[28] In March 2017, Politico announced the creation of a second, mid-day edition of Playbook – entitled "Playbook Power Briefing" – written by the same people who authored the morning edition.[29]

As of 2017, a weekly sponsorship of Playbook costs between $50,000 and $60,000.[30][31]

Politico Pro[edit]

Politico Pro launched in 2010.[32] With roughly 100 reporters at its disposal, Politico Pro provides in-depth coverage of over a dozen major topic areas.[32][33] The service charges its readers by topic area, with the costs running well over $1,000 per topic per year.[24][32] Despite the paywall in place, Politico Pro has a 93% subscription renewal rate, and it provides one fourth of Politico's overall revenue.[4][24] Access to the main site and the Playbook remained free of charge.[32]

Politico Magazine[edit]

The Politico, February 15, 2007

In November 2013, Politico launched Politico Magazine (ISSN 2381-1595), which is published online and bimonthly in print.[34][35] In contrast to Politico's focus on "politics and policy scoops" and breaking news, Politico Magazine focuses on "high-impact, magazine-style reporting", such as long-form journalism.[34][36] The first editor of Politico Magazine was Susan Glasser, who came to the publication from Foreign Policy magazine.[15][36][37]

After Glasser was promoted to become Politico's editor, Garrett Graff was named as editor, followed by Stephen Heuser. In December 2016, Blake Hounshell was named the new editor-in-chief of the magazine.[38]

Along with a targeted free audience of roughly 30,000 readers, Politico Magazine is available via subscription for $200 per year.[39] Content from Politico Magazine is also accessible online.[40]

State editions[edit]

In September 2013, Politico acquired the online news site Capital New York, which also operated separate departments covering Florida and New Jersey.[41] In April 2015, Politico announced its intention to rebrand the state feeds with the Politico name (Politico Florida, Politico New Jersey, and Politico New York) to expand its coverage of state politics.[42] In September 2018, Politico announced it would launch Politico California Pro[43].

Global expansion[edit]

In September 2014, Politico formed a joint venture with German publisher Axel Springer SE to launch its European edition, based in Brussels.[44] In December 2014, the joint venture announced its acquisition of Development Institute International, a leading French events content provider, and European Voice, a European political newspaper, to be re-launched under the Politico brand. Former Wall Street Journal editorial board member Matthew Kaminski is the executive editor of the European edition.[45][46] Politico Europe debuted in print on April 23, 2015.[47]

Website redesign[edit]

On March 27, 2018, Politico revealed that it had redesigned its website for the first time since 2014.[48] Changes included a redesigned and more mobile-friendly home page, a different typeface (with Din replacing Proxima Nova), and a new "Quick Pops" feed of breaking news stories.[48][49]

Controversies[edit]

Politico editor Michael Hirsh resigned in November 2016 after publishing the home address of white nationalist Richard B. Spencer on Facebook.[50][51]

Politico Magazine published an article in April 2017 purporting to show long-term links between U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Jewish outreach organization Chabad-Lubavitch.[52] The article was widely condemned, with the head of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt, saying that it "evokes age-old myths about Jews".[53][54][55]

Cambridge Analytica micro-targeted pro-Trump and anti-Clinton with native advertising and sponsored or branded content on Politico.[56][57][58]

Distribution and content[edit]

As of 2017, Politico averaged 26 million unique visitors a month to its American website, and more than 1.5 million unique visitors to its European site.[59]

The print newspaper has a circulation of approximately 32,000, distributed for free in Washington, D.C. and Manhattan.[60] The newspaper prints up to five issues a week while Congress is in session and sometimes publishes one issue a week when Congress is in recess.[61] It carries advertising, including full-page ads from trade associations and a large help-wanted section listing Washington political jobs.

Politico is a partner with several news outlets that co-report and distribute its video, print and audio content. Partners include CBS News,[62] Allbritton Communications's ABC station WJLA and cable channel NewsChannel 8,[8] radio station WTOP-FM,[9] and Yahoo! News election coverage.

Ideology and influence[edit]

In a 2007 opinion piece, progressive watchdog group Media Matters for America accused Politico of having a "Republican tilt".[63] In contrast, in 2011 politically conservative The Daily Caller declaimed Politico as having a pronounced liberal bias.[64] A 2012 study found that the percentage of Politico readers that identify as Democrats—29%—is equal to that which identifies as Republicans.[65]

Multiple commentators have credited Politico's original organizational philosophy—namely, prioritizing scoops and publishing large quantities of stories—with forcing other, more-established publications to make a number of changes, such as increasing their pace of production and changing their tone.[4][30][6][66][67]

Among the journalists who have worked for Politico are the following:

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d About Politico: Leadership (accessed August 22, 2016).
  2. ^ Politico Facts, Politico.
  3. ^ "Mission Statement". Politico. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e Uberti, David (June 25, 2015). "Can Politico rise again?". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  5. ^ McPherson, Lindsey (2008). "Politico Animal". American Journalism Review. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d Leibovich, Mark (April 21, 2010). "Politico's Mike Allen, the Man the White House Wakes Up To". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  7. ^ Allen, Mike (May 4, 2007). "Politico Playbook: Mitt's moment". Politico. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  8. ^ a b Jaffe, Harry (January 22, 2007). "Politico Hopes To Rock Washington Media". Washingtonian. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012.
  9. ^ a b Seelye, Katharine Q. (January 8, 2007). "For journalists, it's not politics as usual". International Herald Tribune.
  10. ^ Pérez-peña, Richard (December 14, 2008). "Politico and Reuters Forge News-Distribution Alliance". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  11. ^ Pérez-Peña, Richard (September 22, 2008). "Politico Intends to Expand After Presidential Race Ends". The New York Times.
  12. ^ Peters, Jeremy W. (January 29, 2011). "Political News Sites See 2012 as Breakthrough Year". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  13. ^ Smith, Ben (September 8, 2010). "Kinsley, Scarborough to Politico". Politico. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  14. ^ Filloux, Frédéric (September 5, 2011). "Politico: what are the secrets of its success?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  15. ^ a b Kaufman, Leslie (June 3, 2013). "Politico Expands Coverage Areas and Adds an Editor of Note". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  16. ^ Somaiya, Ravi (September 18, 2014). "Politico Names New Overseer of Washington News Content". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  17. ^ Stelter, Brian; Kaufman, Leslie (October 13, 2013). "VandeHei, Politico Editor, Is Made Chief Executive". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  18. ^ Ingram, Mathew (September 28, 2015). "Can Politico save political journalism, not just in the U.S. but in Europe too?". Fortune. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  19. ^ Somaiya, Ravi (January 29, 2016). "Leaders Deny Strife Caused Departures From Politico". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  20. ^ a b Somaiya, Ravi (January 28, 2016). "Politico Will Lose Its Co-Founder and 4 Others". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  21. ^ Alpert, Lukas I. (April 25, 2017). "Politico Names Investment Banker as New CEO". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  22. ^ Allen, Mike (June 25, 2007). "Politico Playbook: Hijacked". Politico. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  23. ^ Allen, Mike; Lippman, Daniel (July 10, 2016). "Mike Allen's last Playbook: #3,304, a streak that started June 25, 2007 – Who'll Be First? Obama shops for a country club, and The Atlantic shops for an editor – B'Day: Julianna Smoot, Sam Stein". Politico. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  24. ^ a b c Mullins, Luke (July 17, 2016). "The Inside Story of the Politico Break-Up". Washingtonian. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  25. ^ a b Rutenberg, Jim (June 19, 2016). "Mike Allen, Politico's Newsletter Pioneer, Is Handing Over the Reins". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  26. ^ Somaiya, Ravi (January 15, 2014). "Washington Post and Politico Talk About a Rift". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  27. ^ Massella, Nick (June 2, 2014). "Politico Hires 'Citizen Journo' Daniel Lippman for Playbook". AdWeek. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  28. ^ Beaujon, Andrew (July 8, 2016). "Mike Allen's Last Playbook Is on Sunday". Washingtonian. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  29. ^ Mullin, Benjamin (March 20, 2017). "For a speedier D.C. news cycle, Politico is rolling out a second Playbook". Poynter Institute. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  30. ^ a b Wemple, Erik (January 28, 2016). "Politico implodes". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  31. ^ Watson, Libby. "Politico Playbook Can Fuck Right Off".
  32. ^ a b c d Peters, Jeremy W. (October 25, 2010). "Politico Adds Subscription News Service". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  33. ^ "Politico Pro". Politico. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  34. ^ a b Kristen Hare, Politico magazine launches online, Poynter Institute (November 14, 2013).
  35. ^ About Us, Politico Magazine (accessed August 22, 2016).
  36. ^ a b Dylan Byers, Politico hires FP's Susan Glasser to head new long-form journalism, opinion divisions, Politico (June 2, 2013).
  37. ^ Biography: Susan B. Glasser, Politico (August 22, 2016).
  38. ^ O'Shea, Chris (December 2016). "Blake Hounshell Named Editor of Politico Mag". www.adweek.com.
  39. ^ Edmonds, Rick (April 20, 2017). "Politico is trying to turn the business model for magazines on its head". Poynter Institute. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  40. ^ Hare, Kristen (November 14, 2013). "Politico magazine launches online". Poynter Institute. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  41. ^ Politico buys Capital New York The Politico September 2013.
  42. ^ Somaiya, Ravi (April 15, 2015). "Politico to Expand Coverage of States, Starting With New Jersey". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  43. ^ "Politico Announces Expanded California Presence". Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  44. ^ Pallota, Frank (September 9, 2014). "Politico's next battleground: Europe". CNN.
  45. ^ Emmerentze Jervell, Ellen (December 10, 2014). "Politico, Axel Springer Buy European Voice". The Wall Street Journal.
  46. ^ Kaminski, Matthew; Harris, John F. (April 20, 2015). "The birth of a new publication". Politico Europe. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  47. ^ "Politico Europe". Professional.co.uk.
  48. ^ a b Brown, Carrie Budoff (March 27, 2018). "Editor's Note: Behind Politico's new look". Politico. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018.
  49. ^ Katz, A.J. (March 27, 2018). "In the Era of Trump, Politico Redesigned Its Website to Adapt to the Fast and Furious News Cycle". AdWeek. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018.
  50. ^ "Politico editor resigns after sharing addresses of white nationalist on Facebook". CNBC. November 22, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  51. ^ "Politico editor resigns after sharing home addresses of alt-right leader Richard Spencer". The Washington Times. November 22, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  52. ^ "The Happy-Go-Lucky Jewish Group That Connects Trump and Putin". Politico. April 9, 2017.
  53. ^ Zalman, Jonathan (April 10, 2017). "Politico's Dubious Chabad Story Receives Widespread Criticism". Tablet Magazine.
  54. ^ "Politico goes full 'Elders of Zion,' silenced by the college mob & other comments". New York Post. April 10, 2017.
  55. ^ "Politico says Chabad is Trump's partner in – something. Not so fast". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. April 10, 2017.
  56. ^ Uberti, David. "Politico Apparently Helped Make One of the Trump Campaign's Most Successful Ads".
  57. ^ "Sponsor-generated content: Ten inconvenient truths about the Clinton Foundation". www.politico.com.
  58. ^ Lewis, Paul; Hilder, Paul (March 23, 2018). "Leaked: Cambridge Analytica's blueprint for Trump victory". the Guardian.
  59. ^ "Politico Facts". March 27, 2017.
  60. ^ Wolff, Michael (August 2009). "Politico's Washington Coup". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  61. ^ "Editor sees room for Politico coverage". The Washington Times. January 22, 2007. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  62. ^ Johnson, Caitlin (January 21, 2007). "The Politico Roundtable". CBS News. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016.
  63. ^ Harris, John F. (March 6, 2007). "Media Matters Response". Politico. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  64. ^ "Under assault for liberal bias, Politico's traffic dives". dailycaller.com.
  65. ^ Sonderman, Jeff (April 30, 2012). "Many politics sites draw partisan audiences, but Politico strikes a perfect balance". Poynter Institute. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  66. ^ Douthat, Ross (August 10, 2013). "How the Post Was Lost". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  67. ^ Kraushaar, Josh (June 2009). "Online News Leads Presidential Campaign Cycle". Journalism Studies. 10 (3): 435–438. doi:10.1080/14616700902987256.
  68. ^ "About Us". Politico. Archived from the original on November 11, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2011.

External links[edit]

Media related to Politico (Newspaper) at Wikimedia Commons

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