Does anyone know what the story is with Media Whores Online?

[ProfessorPlum]

The Horse, along with Bob Somerby, really did outstanding work in opening my eyes to the duplicity and emptiness of today's media. It was also a wonderful place to complain about and record the atrocities committed on a day to day basis by the media. The Horse is out to pasture now. Does anyone know what happened to (him, her, them)?

They are/were an important voice for truth, and it is a shame to not be able to read the reporting on that site, especially as we enter the sprint of the campaign season. Is the person (people?) responsible for the site posting in another venue?

Rumors, facts, and reminiscence about the glory days of MWO are welcome. I especially remember with fondness their St. Ralph series, where they exposed the truly evil antics of Nader in swing states in 2000.

[trotsky]

1. One theory I have heard

is that MWO was run by David Brock, who now runs MediaMatters.org, which IMO is far more effective at doing the same kind of thing MWO was doing - namely, debunking media spin.

[bryant69]

3. The Best Two Media watchdogs

in my opinion are MediaMatters.com and DailyHowler.com. Both provide really solid analysis of where the news is coming, and their approachs differ enough that they are both valuable.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[ProfessorPlum]

5. Yep

Somerby, especially, is a treasure.

[ProfessorPlum]

4. I like that theory

But MWO had a few articles on Brock's book when it came out, mostly positive, but tinged with some caveats based on his past. It didn't read like self-promotion, but maybe it was cleverly hidden. I seem to recall the Horse also "interviewed" Brock, but again, that is certainly possible.

MediaMatters is a valuable resource, but they I don't get that sense of urgent and vital outrage, and the clarity of logic, that the Horse had. Plus, they are focused (rightly) on the real nasty wingers, with less emphasis on the "mainstream" outlets.

I'm not saying it isn't possible, but it would surprise me a bit. Thanks!

[Bunny]

6. MWO was run by two women.

I'm pretty sure I saw their names on the site at the very beginning - we're going back to 2001 here. It's not Brock, nor Carville, nor Begala (as some have speculated). It was two women, that's what I remember seeing.

[ProfessorPlum]

9. interesting . . . n/t

[BurtWorm]

15. I remember that the editor in chief was a woman

named Jennifer something. Very pretty, probably in her 20s or 30s. There were two others, one guy at least, who gave false names and had their photos blurred because of the sensitivity of their "real jobs." Leading me to think they were either political campaign veterans or were writers, editors or reporters who worked with national political desks.

[Bunny]

18. Yes! I thought I remembered the name Jennifer, but I didn't

want to post it because I wasn't sure. I don't remember a guy, but your memory on that sounds pretty good. I think they were somehow involved in campaigns or reporting, or something along those lines.

:hi: BurtWorm!

[meegbear]

2. I been wondering myself ...

but they keep the page "open" and they have the links up, so maybe they'll return - I hope they do.

Media Matters is a great substitute, though.

[AlCzervik]

7. about a month after they first went offline

they posted a message saying it was very hard to keep things going but that they plan on coming back before the election.

[ProfessorPlum]

8. That would be great

I really really hope that they do. They were a terrific resource.

[ProfessorPlum]

10. No other MWO fans out there, huh?

Weird. They were/are such a great resource.

[Krupskaya]

11. I am a huge horse fan.

..And not just because they ran a letter I sent them. ;)

[NeoConsSuck]

19. I used to post there before I came here..

In fact, I heard about this place from a poster there.

[carolinayellowdog]

12. Florida environmental activist was named in reports

IIRC Jennifer Kelly is her name and an early story about MWO named her as the founder. It's where I discovered DU and I miss it a lot.

[rocktivity]

13. Hire the Media Whores, Dave Brock!

Problem solved.

:headbang:
rocknation

[stewert]

14. I Heard........

They were not making enough money to fund the web site. I have the same problem with oreilly-sucks.com. I do not get enough in donations to pay my expenses. And the big ad companies refuse to let me join them because I have a political web site. Even though I get double the hits needed to qualify. Both fastclick and google adsense denied my web site.

I get 1000 to 2000 unique hits a day yet most days I do not get any donations. I have been running a 3rd quarter fund drive on my site just like DU.com is, I started it on 8-18-04 and I have not had any donations. I get 1000 hits a day and not one person has made a donation in 3 days.

I think MWO just got frustrated by not making any money so they shut the site down. I have thought of doing it myself to my site, it's frustrating to see 1000 to 2000 people a day use your web site but never make any donations. Frankly I am shocked I have not had any donations in 3 days. It almost makes me want to give up and just say "Cheney" it.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

17. MHO didn't take donations

I offered once, they didn't accept them

[Chovexani]

16. I miss the Horse

It was a great resource and it was the first political blog I read. Whenever something big would happen, I always went to the Horse to get its take on it.

Much like Bartcop, it was informative AND rip-roaringly funny at the same time. I really miss that site. :(