Legal Commentary

The Importance Of Froomkin And Greenwald

By Big Tent Democrat

Below, Jeralyn notes that the Huffington Post has hired Dan Froomkin. We are all pleased for Froomkin and HuffPo, if HuffPo lets Froomkin be Froomkin. Very few on the Left will note this important part of the story, but Glenn Greenwald will:

While this pairing is, in some ways, a natural one . . . there are also potential sources of tension. As a practitioner of what he calls "accountability journalism" -- "explaining how Washington works; pulling no punches" -- Froomkin has been a vehement critic of the Obama administration for the last several months, while The Huffington Post frequently trumpeted (some might say "cheerleading") the Obama campaign and even his presidency . . . Will Froomkin's harsh criticisms of Obama alienate an Obama-loving HuffPost readership?

[MORE . . .]

And given the central importance of Arianna Huffington's personal relationships with key media figures and those in power, will Froomkin's unrestrained criticisms of many of those same people undermine a key aspect of The Huffington Post's business and promotional strategies? . . .

Of the new professional class of bloggers, only Glenn Greenwald (and to some extent, Eric Boehlert) will present and address issues like these when it implicates so called progressives or Left blogs. It easy enough for me to do so - I do not make a living blogging. I do not need to roll any logs. But people like Froomkin and Greenwald make their living at this. Their work is indeed courageous and must be supported. It is critical.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on July 07, 2009 (boomark / email).