Ben Smith (journalist)

Smith in 2012

Benjamin Eli Smith (best known as Ben Smith) (born 1976) is an American political journalist and blogger. He is currently editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed.[1]

Background

Smith's first professional reporting job was doing the crime beat for The Indianapolis Star. He then moved to Latvia to take a position at The Baltic Times, and also began reporting for Wall Street Journal Europe (until 2001).[2] Smith has also written for the New York Sun (2002-2003), the New York Observer (2003-2006) and wrote a political column for the New York Daily News (2006-2007) [3] Between 2004 and 2006, Smith also started three of the leading New York City political blogs, the Politicker, the Daily Politics, and Room Eight.

Smith wrote for the news outlet Politico from 2007-2011, joining as that site expanded and became frequently cited during the 2008 presidential election, and becoming one of its most prominent writers and bloggers.

In December 2011, he was named editor-in-chief of Buzzfeed.[1] Smith explained that, although he would be leaving his Politico blog, he would still write for the publication on a weekly basis.[4]

Politico

Joining Politico from the New York Daily News in 2007, Smith covered the Democratic presidential primary for POLITICO in 2008. He covered controversies including Barack Obama's contacts with former Weatherman Bill Ayers[5] as well as conspiracy theories about Obama's citizenship[6] and Barack Obama religion conspiracy theories.[7] Smith reported erroneously during that 2008 campaign that John Edwards would be dropping out of the race[8] before the press conference at which Edwards announced that his wife Elizabeth had cancer. Smith later posted an apology[9] and retracted the story. In 2010, he reported on a confidential Republican National Committee fundraising presentation counseling the party to capitalize on fear.[10]

Personal

Smith was born and raised in New York City and currently lives in Brooklyn. He graduated with a B.A. summa cum laude from Yale University in 1999,[11] and married Latvian writer Liena Zagare in 2002.[12][13]

Smith's father is attorney Robert S. Smith who served as an associate judge on the New York Court of Appeals. His mother is Dian G. Smith.[12] Smith is Jewish.[14]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Stelter, Brian (12 December 2011). BuzzFeed Adds Politico Writer, The New York Times
  2. ↑ Rothstein, Betsy. (11 November 2011). FishbowlDC Interview with Politico’s Ben Smith, FishbowlDC
  3. ↑ (3 January 2007). Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, The New York Sun (reporting that Smith was leaving the Sun to join Politico)
  4. ↑ Smith, Ben (December 12, 2011). "Home News". Politico. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  5. ↑ Smith, Ben (February 22, 2008). "Obama once visited '60s radicals". Politico. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  6. ↑ Smith, Ben (March 1, 2009). "Culture of conspiracy: the Birthers". Politico. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  7. ↑ Smith, Ben; Jonathan Martin (October 13, 2007). "Untraceable e-mails spread Obama rumor". Politico. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  8. ↑ Montopoli, Brian (March 22, 2007). "Don't Believe The Hype: John Edwards Doesn't Suspend Campaign". CBS News. Archived from the original on 6 February 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  9. ↑ Smith, Ben (March 22, 2007). "Getting It Wrong". Politico. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  10. ↑ Smith, Ben (March 3, 2010). "Exclusive: RNC document mocks donors, plays on 'fear'". Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  11. ↑ (6 January 2011). Yalies start 2012 campaign for Mitch Daniels, Yale Daily News (notes Smith's Yale graduation year as 1999)
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 (6 October 2002). WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS; Liena Zagare, Benjamin Smith, The New York Times
  13. ↑ Bazilian, Emma (29 April 2011). Patch Hires Brooklyn Blogger Liena Zagare, Adweek
  14. ↑ "Top 50 most influential Jews 2013: Places 21-30". Jpost. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.

External links