Whoa: Ben Smith Is Leaving Politico For BuzzFeed

by Alex Alvarez | 9:32 am, December 12th, 2011

» 9 comments

Innnneresting news: Politico’s Ben Smith is leaving the site within the next few weeks to take on a new position at… BuzzFeed. At BuzzFeed, Smith will be tasked with, in his words, “trying to help build the first true social news organization – that is, an outfit built on the understanding that readers increasingly get and share their news on Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms.”

BuzzFeed, as you may know, is an aggregation site (with occasional bits of original reporting) devoted to gathering the most newsworthy, interesting and viral bits of news and entertainment on the internet. They’ve also done much in the way of corgi promotion.

Dylan Byers will now act as primary author, with Smith continuing to contribute one-weekly content to Politico.

Update: Also, not for nothin,’ but two Gawkerites are also joining BuzzFeed. Jezebel’s Whitney Jefferson and Gawker’s Matt Cherette will be among Ben Smith’s new co-workers at the site.

h/t Politico

Ben Smith, Buzzfeed, Politico

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WH3ZLMM7CUKUHUIMK4TKXW6SQE John

Why write for the influential “Poliitico” when you can work at the well respected (by 16 year olds) “news” aggregator like BUZZFEED. Seems like a good career move.
Anonymous

Mark my words, this is all as a result of Ben Smith lobbying for Israel through the pages of Politico.
Anonymous

So if Smith is still working for Politico, he’s not “leaving” Politico. Weird choice of words, I’d think.
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

Never heard of the guy or where he’s going, but hey… good luck!!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WH3ZLMM7CUKUHUIMK4TKXW6SQE John

My favorite Ben Smith article was when he made up a story of Rand Paul “boycotting” Bibi Netanyahu. If Politico had any integrity they would have pushed Smith out along time ago.
Anonymous

This is the kind of “news” MSNBC broadcasts while FOX News is reporting on Solyndra, Fast and Furious and Bernanke’s thieving of over a billion dollars.
They call them “Cover Stories” which, at The GE Channel, really means covering up real news to protect Obama’s ass.
http://societyfordaintydamsels.wordpress.com/ fennel

Warmest congrats to Ben Smith on his move from Politico to Buzzfeed.
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http://twitter.com/adamhollandblog Adam Holland

Anonymous assertions regarding the evils of Israeli influence are always so reliable. Thanks.