Few institutions in American journalism carry the historical prestige of The New York Times. Once dubbed “The Newspaper of Record,” the Times has long been associated with elite East Coast intellect, rigorous reporting, and careful editorial scrutiny. Its slogan, “All the News That’s Fit to Print,” implies sober impartiality, reasoned analysis, and dedication to truth.…
Media Hall of Shame Series: Quartz
Quartz, launched in 2012 as a business-centric digital publication, initially operated under the umbrella of Atlantic Media, a company historically aligned with center-left sensibilities. In 2018, Quartz was sold to Uzabase, a Japanese media and data firm, and then sold again in 2020 to Quartz’s co-founder and CEO, Zach Seward, who later sold it in…
Media Hall of Shame Series: Daily Kos
Daily Kos is not a traditional news outlet in any meaningful sense—it is an activist-driven blog and opinion platform designed to advance progressive Democratic causes. Founded in 2002 by Markos Moulitsas Zúniga, a self-described former libertarian turned “proud progressive,” Daily Kos was born in the early days of the blogosphere as a digital megaphone for…
Media Hall of Shame Series: Axios
Axios was founded in 2016 by former Politico journalists Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz, then launched to the public in 2017 with the mission of delivering snappy, bulleted news in 300 words or less. In 2022, Cox Enterprises acquired the outlet, tying it to a broader media conglomerate with substantial corporate partnerships. Though…
Media Hall of Shame Series: NowThis
NowThis is a digital media outlet that specializes in short-form video content targeting young, left-leaning social media users. Founded in 2012 by former Huffington Post co-founder Kenneth Lerer and former CNN executive Eric Hippeau, NowThis quickly gained traction for its mobile-first format and highly stylized, emotionally driven video news clips. Its hallmark is short, engaging…
Media Hall of Shame Series: The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States, founded in 1865 in the aftermath of the Civil War. Originally conceived as a classical liberal outlet focused on civil discourse, The Nation has undergone a radical transformation over the decades. Today, it functions as one of the most ideologically left-wing publications…
Media Hall of Shame Series: Huffpost
HuffPost—originally known as The Huffington Post—emerged in 2005 during the blogging boom as a kind of liberal response to the Drudge Report, but it quickly evolved into one of the most influential online news and opinion platforms on the Left. It was founded by Arianna Huffington, a political chameleon who shifted from center-right conservatism to…
Media Hall of Shame Series: Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera presents itself to the world as a global beacon of journalism—an independent voice from the Arab world, offering a fresh, critical perspective on Western imperialism, global inequality, and injustice. With its slick design, diverse correspondents, and sharp critiques of the West, it has gained a loyal audience among college students, anti-imperialists, and progressives…