The Daily Beast is an American news website that covers politics, media, entertainment, and more. Founded in 2008, the website is owned by IAC Inc., a media and internet company that also owns brands such as Vimeo, Tinder, and Angie’s List. The Daily Beast has been characterized as a “high-end tabloid” by Noah Shachtman, the site’s editor-in-chief from 2018 to 2021.
What Makes The Daily Beast Different?
The Daily Beast prides itself on being “non-partisan, but not neutral”, meaning that it does not align itself with any political party, but it does take a stance on issues that matter. The website aims to provide a smart, speedy, and provocative take on breaking news and opinion in politics, media, entertainment, and more. The Daily Beast also features original reporting and investigations, as well as exclusive interviews and scoops.
Some of the notable stories that The Daily Beast has broken or covered include:
- The identity of the whistleblower who exposed President Donald Trump’s phone call with Ukraine’s president in 2019.
- The allegations of sexual misconduct against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein in 2017.
- The involvement of Saudi Arabia’s crown prince in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
- The links between Trump’s campaign and Russian interference in the 2016 election.
- The rise of the QAnon conspiracy theory and its followers.
Who Are The People Behind The Daily Beast?
The Daily Beast was founded by Tina Brown, a former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. Brown served as the editor-in-chief and CEO of The Daily Beast until 2013, when she left to launch Tina Brown Live Media, a company that produces live events and podcasts. Brown remains an adviser and contributor to The Daily Beast.
The current editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast is Spencer Ackerman, who took over from Noah Shachtman in August 2021. Ackerman is a veteran national security reporter who has worked for Wired, The Guardian, and The New Republic. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 2014 for his reporting on the NSA surveillance programs revealed by Edward Snowden.
The current CEO of The Daily Beast is Heather Dietrick, who joined the company in 2017. Dietrick was previously the president and chief legal officer of Gawker Media, where she led the company’s legal defense against Hulk Hogan’s lawsuit that resulted in its bankruptcy. Dietrick also oversees IAC’s publishing division, which includes Dotdash, Investopedia, and Verywell.
The Daily Beast has a staff of about 100 journalists, editors, producers, and designers, as well as a network of freelancers and contributors. Some of the prominent writers and columnists who work for or write for The Daily Beast include:
- Michael Tomasky, the political editor and a liberal commentator.
- Lachlan Markay, the senior investigative reporter who covers politics and corruption.
- Molly Jong-Fast, the editor-at-large and a satirist who mocks the right-wing media and politicians.
- Harry Siegel, the senior editor-at-large and a columnist who covers New York City and national politics.
- Kevin Fallon, the senior entertainment reporter who covers TV, movies, music, and pop culture.
- Tarpley Hitt, the Miami-based reporter who covers Florida politics and culture.
- Barbie Latza Nadeau, the Rome bureau chief who covers Italy and Europe.
- Asawin Suebsaeng, the White House reporter who covers Trump and his administration.
- Erin Banco, the national security reporter who covers foreign policy and intelligence.
How Popular Is The Daily Beast?
According to SimilarWeb, The Daily Beast had about 22 million monthly visitors in August 2021. About 60% of its traffic came from the United States, followed by Canada (6%), Australia (4%), India (3%), and the United Kingdom (3%). About 75% of its traffic came from direct visits or social media platforms, while about 25% came from search engines or other websites.
According to Alexa, The Daily Beast ranked as the 1,210th most popular website globally and the 308th most popular website in the United States as of September 2021. Its average daily time on site was about 4 minutes and 30 seconds per visitor.
According to Comscore, The Daily Beast had about 16 million unique visitors in July 2021. It ranked as the 17th most popular news website in the United States, behind CNN, Fox News, The New York Times, NBC News, and others.
According to Quantcast, The Daily Beast had about 14 million monthly unique visitors in August 2021. Its audience was mostly composed of adults aged 25 to 54 with college degrees and high incomes. Its audience was also more likely to be liberal, urban, and interested in news, politics, entertainment, and travel.
What Are The Challenges And Opportunities For The Daily Beast?
The Daily Beast faces a competitive and challenging media landscape, where it has to compete with other news outlets for attention, revenue, and credibility. The Daily Beast relies on a mix of advertising, subscriptions, and donations to fund its journalism. It also has to deal with the threats of misinformation, disinformation, and polarization that affect the public discourse and trust in the media.
However, The Daily Beast also has opportunities to grow and innovate in the digital era. The Daily Beast has a loyal and engaged audience that values its distinctive voice and perspective. The Daily Beast also has a reputation for breaking stories and holding power to account. The Daily Beast can leverage its strengths and assets to expand its reach, influence, and impact in the world of news and information.
