A $15 Million Challenge To The Huffington Post [Arianna Huffington]

Divorced of context, meme aggregator BuzzFeed’s announcement today that it raised $15.5 million to fund “real reporting” seems a little absurd; the site’s current front page includes the stories “This Cat Is Planning Something Evil,” “30 Choice Hotties Of 1999,” and “Panda Vs. Stuffed Toy Dragon,” don’t betray expensive, investigative ambitions. BuzzFeed’s new direction is better understood as part of a battle over the direction of online media, led by principals trying to best with what the Huffington Post has become. More »