The Blaze (blog)
Encyclopedia
The Blaze is a conservative news and opinion website launched on August 31, 2010, by American media personality and former Fox News host Glenn Beck
's Mercury Radio Arts
, three days after Beck's widely publicized Restoring Honor rally
at the Lincoln Memorial
in Washington, D. C. Beck has promoted The Blaze as an alternative
to "mainstream media outlets," which Beck says are "distorting facts to fit rigid agendas." Beck was quoted saying that The Blaze will feature "breaking news, original reporting, insightful opinions and engaging videos about the stories that matter most" and that "we will examine our culture, deal with matters of faith and family, and we won’t be afraid of a history lesson." The site is reportedly modeled after The Huffington Post
, and has been compared to that site by Matt DeLong of the Washington Post and Steve Krakauer of Mediaite
.
Beck's production company, Mercury Radio Arts
, launched news segments branded The Blaze on the live streaming video network GBTV on September 12, 2011.
, with its associate editor/video producer Pam Key and with Jon Seidl and Meredith Jessup as reporters. Key is known for her blog, Naked Emperor News: Smoking Gun Video and Images. Baker is a former Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, broadcast journalist who previously worked at The Huffington Post
and Breitbart TV. Seidl, of the Manhattan Institute, previously worked at the American Spectator. Jessup previously worked at Townhall.com
. Journalists joining The Blaze later included S. E. Cupp, David Harsanyi
and Billy Hallowell.
On its opening morning, the site featured advertisements for Dick Armey
's new book and for Goldline International
, and its lead story dealt with allegations that Education Secretary Arne Duncan
encouraged Education Department employees to attend Al Sharpton
's counter-rally in Washington, which took place on the same day as the Restoring Honor rally and at which Duncan spoke. Another story, criticizing Feisal Abdul Rauf
, featured the headline "Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the man behind the Ground Zero mosque, claims to be a Jew, Christian, and a Muslim. But some say that’s impossible."
In January 2011, Betsy Morgan became president and Kraig Kitchin director of sales. Morgan had helmed the Huffington Post until 2009. Kitchin had formerly been the president of Premier Radio
.
In March 2011, the site was noted for its critique of James O'Keefe's NPR sting video.
for Glenn Beck's Priemier Radio network radio talk show and his GBTV streaming Internet talkshow. Anchor for the radio program is Robyn Walensky and for the Internet program is Amy Holmes
. Various Blaze's broadcast segments contain reporting by Raj Nair and Erick Stakelbeck, commentary by S.E. Cupp and humor by Brian Sack
.
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
's Mercury Radio Arts
Mercury Radio Arts
Mercury Radio Arts is media personality Glenn Beck’s fully integrated production company and media platform. Mercury produces all Glenn Beck related properties including The Glenn Beck Program, America’s third highest-rated radio show, books authored by Beck and other authors Mercury Radio Arts is...
, three days after Beck's widely publicized Restoring Honor rally
Restoring Honor rally
The Restoring Honor rally was held on August 28, 2010 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. and was organized by Glenn Beck to "restore honor in America" and to raise funds for the non-profit Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Billed as a "celebration of America's heroes and heritage,"...
at the Lincoln Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial is an American memorial built to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The architect was Henry Bacon, the sculptor of the main statue was Daniel Chester French, and the painter of the interior...
in Washington, D. C. Beck has promoted The Blaze as an alternative
Alternative media
Alternative media are media which provide alternative information to the mainstream media in a given context, whether the mainstream media are commercial, publicly supported, or government-owned...
to "mainstream media outlets," which Beck says are "distorting facts to fit rigid agendas." Beck was quoted saying that The Blaze will feature "breaking news, original reporting, insightful opinions and engaging videos about the stories that matter most" and that "we will examine our culture, deal with matters of faith and family, and we won’t be afraid of a history lesson." The site is reportedly modeled after The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
, and has been compared to that site by Matt DeLong of the Washington Post and Steve Krakauer of Mediaite
Mediaite
Mediaite is a news and opinion blog covering politics and entertainment in the media industry as well as other issues. It is the flagship blog of Abrams Media, a ring of blogs run by ABC legal analyst Dan Abrams and also featuring Gossip Cop, Geekosystem, Styleite, Sports Grid, The Mary Sue and...
.
Beck's production company, Mercury Radio Arts
Mercury Radio Arts
Mercury Radio Arts is media personality Glenn Beck’s fully integrated production company and media platform. Mercury produces all Glenn Beck related properties including The Glenn Beck Program, America’s third highest-rated radio show, books authored by Beck and other authors Mercury Radio Arts is...
, launched news segments branded The Blaze on the live streaming video network GBTV on September 12, 2011.
Development
According to Beck, the site took two months to design. At launch, the site's chief editor was Scott BakerScott Baker (journalist)
Scott Baker is an American journalist, commentator, blogger, online talk show host, educator, and political campaign worker...
, with its associate editor/video producer Pam Key and with Jon Seidl and Meredith Jessup as reporters. Key is known for her blog, Naked Emperor News: Smoking Gun Video and Images. Baker is a former Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, broadcast journalist who previously worked at The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
and Breitbart TV. Seidl, of the Manhattan Institute, previously worked at the American Spectator. Jessup previously worked at Townhall.com
Townhall.com
Townhall.com is a web-based publication primarily dedicated to conservative United States politics. It was previously operated by the Heritage Foundation, but is now owned and operated by Salem Communications...
. Journalists joining The Blaze later included S. E. Cupp, David Harsanyi
David Harsanyi
David Harsanyi is an American journalist. He is a nationally syndicated columnist. Formerly an opinion columnist at The Denver Post, his writings on politics and culture have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Weekly Standard, Washington Post, National Review, Reason, Christian Science Monitor,...
and Billy Hallowell.
On its opening morning, the site featured advertisements for Dick Armey
Dick Armey
Richard Keith "Dick" Armey is a former U.S. Representative from Texas's and House Majority Leader . He was one of the engineers of the "Republican Revolution" of the 1990s, in which Republicans were elected to majorities of both houses of Congress for the first time in four decades. Armey was...
's new book and for Goldline International
Goldline International
Goldline International, Inc. is a retail seller of gold and silver coins, and other precious metals for investors and collectors. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Goldline has more than 350 employees and an estimated $737 million in 2010 revenues....
, and its lead story dealt with allegations that Education Secretary Arne Duncan
Arne Duncan
Arne Duncan is an American education administrator and currently United States Secretary of Education. Duncan previously served as CEO of the Chicago Public Schools.-Early years and personal:...
encouraged Education Department employees to attend Al Sharpton
Al Sharpton
Alfred Charles "Al" Sharpton, Jr. is an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist, and television/radio talk show host. In 2004, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. presidential election...
's counter-rally in Washington, which took place on the same day as the Restoring Honor rally and at which Duncan spoke. Another story, criticizing Feisal Abdul Rauf
Feisal Abdul Rauf
Feisal Abdul Rauf is an American Sufi imam, author, and activist whose stated goal is to improve relations between the Muslim world and the West...
, featured the headline "Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the man behind the Ground Zero mosque, claims to be a Jew, Christian, and a Muslim. But some say that’s impossible."
In January 2011, Betsy Morgan became president and Kraig Kitchin director of sales. Morgan had helmed the Huffington Post until 2009. Kitchin had formerly been the president of Premier Radio
Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
.
In March 2011, the site was noted for its critique of James O'Keefe's NPR sting video.
Radio and Internet broadcasts
The Blaze also provides the news deskNews bureau
A News bureau is an office for gathering or distributing news. Similar terms are used for specialized bureaus, often to indicate geographic location or scope of coverage: a ‘Tokyo bureau’ refers to a given news operation's office in Tokyo; foreign bureau is a generic term for a news office set up...
for Glenn Beck's Priemier Radio network radio talk show and his GBTV streaming Internet talkshow. Anchor for the radio program is Robyn Walensky and for the Internet program is Amy Holmes
Amy Holmes
Amy M. Holmes is a news anchor on Glenn Beck's GBTV. She formerly was an independent political contributor for CNN and has appeared on Fox News. She has also appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher several times. Holmes graduated from Princeton University with a BA in economics in 1994...
. Various Blaze's broadcast segments contain reporting by Raj Nair and Erick Stakelbeck, commentary by S.E. Cupp and humor by Brian Sack
Brian Sack
Brian Sack is an American writer and actor. He is currently employed to Glenn Beck's video network, GBTV.He is the author of The B.S. of A.: A Primer in Politics for the Incredibly Disenchanted , In the Event of My Untimely Demise and a contributing author to the New York Times bestseller Arguing...
.
External links
- The Blaze
- "Source of NPR 'Gotcha' Video Analysis Was Surprise" – Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism EducationRobert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism EducationThe Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education , is a nonprofit organization based in Oakland, California emphasizing diversity in journalism...