Analyst's note: I think you will find this posting an intriguing story about the AOL-Huffington deal -- a virtual advertising machine -- which has placed Arianna Huffington on the fast track to global media mogul status with patch.com... possibly with federal funding. This story is worthy of being watched. Progressive, new world order, "capitalism" is a fascinating thing to watch. Like I've said before, I really don't make this stuff up.
"[....] Patch's potential to tap local markets served her political ends. At the National Press Club, Arianna [Huffington] beamed:
[....] the network promises to be used as a political weapon by supporters of the “progressive” establishments in Washington, D.C. The Obama administration's go-to news source, The Huffington Post, is now positioning its front-line of defense.
[...]In a February 10, 2011 interview with Charlie Rose, Tim Armstrong marveled at the Patch platform:
“Today, new media are arming tens of thousands of people around the world to bear witness to what is happening in their countries, to what is happening in their time. And, ultimately, bearing witness is the highest responsibility we have as journalists. Bearing witness is actually the highest responsibility we have as citizens.”
[....] Setting aside the national security implications of an information consumption study paid for by Russian or Iranian patsies, the natural profiteer of these studies is the hyperlocal Patch platform and the dozens of tech advertising firms under the direction of Ketchum's parent Omnicom – a group of companies led by one of the world's richest CEO's John Wren.
In the end, perhaps the most craven of the Armstrong-Huffington corruptions is the possibility of the U.S. Government subsidizing the activities of Patch and the Huffington Post. The recent Federal Trade Commission study, entitled “Potential Policy Recommendations to Support the Reinvention of Journalism” is tailor made for Patch and Huffington Post Media Group. In March of 2010, Patch.com set up a “Patch.org Foundation” according to the network's “About” page. The aim of the foundation was “...to improve the quality of life in underserved communities across the globe through access to trusted local news and information.” [....]"