Rhode Island Tip Sheet: AOL buys HuffPo
STATE OF THE MEDIA: In a case of unusual bedfellows, one-time Internet giant AOL has acquired liberal fave Huffington Post for $315 million, most of it in cash, as the NYT reports: “The deal has the potential to create an enterprise that could reach more than 100 million visitors in the United States each month. For The Huffington Post, which began as a liberal blog with a small staff but now draws some 25 million visitors every month, the sale represents an opportunity to reach new audiences. For AOL, which has been looking for ways to bring in new revenue as its dial-up Internet access business declines, the millions of Huffington Post readers represent millions in potential advertising dollars.” . . . . Arianna takes control of all AOL content . . . . Huffington and AOL’s chief say the partnership will boost the latter’s local news initiative, Patch, which has steadily expanded in RI, amid questions of long-term fiscal viability.
ON THE MOVE: Christine Hunsinger, former executive director of the Moderate Party of RI, and campaign manager for main Mod Ken Block’s 2010 gov run, is poised to become legislative director for the Chafee administration.
ON THE MOVE II: Emilie Aries, formerly RI state director for Organizing for America, is signing on as lead organizer for Ocean State Action.
CHAFEEISMS: Mike Stanton offered the inner circle story on Sunday, with a characteristic eye for some great telling details . . . . During the 10 News Conference broadcast yesterday, Governor Chafee says talks are ongoing about the possibility of lowering and broadening the sales tax, although he still prefers his campaign concept of a temporary one percent tax on previously exempt items.
ESSERMAN: Much wondering about what the future holds for the Providence police chief following a blow-up last week . . . . Mayor Angel Taveras has remained non-committal about Esserman’s future.
SUPER BOWL: Joey Ramone crushed on Maria Bartiromo, but how would he feel about Rupert Murdoch using his version of “What a Wonderful World,” in a Super Bowl spot, to promote the Daily?
MEDIA: Joseph R. Paolino Jr. tells David Scharfenberg that he’s put in a bid, as part of a larger investment group, for WLNE-TV, Channel 6.
IN THE DISTRICT: Congressman David Cicilline holds his first “In the District with David,” community office hours event this evening, 6-8 pm, at the Cumberland Public Library . . . . Asked about the Esserman issue by John DePetro this am, Cicilline says he’s not going to comment on his successor’s administration.
THE RACE TO 2012: The Fix wonders whether the GOP nomination is worth having . . . . Politico says President Obama plays the media like a fiddle . . . . David S. Bernstein’s ranking of GOP hopefuls: 1): Pawlenty; 2) Barbour; 3) Romney; 4) Thune; 5) Perry . . . .
GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Bill to restore Carcieri’s executive order on immigration on for a committee hearing tomorrow . . . . same-sex marriage protest and committee hearing on Wednesday . . . . House Finance to hold a series of budget briefings, starting Wednesday, at the rise, in Room 35 . . . . Karen Lee Ziner on the other problems of Rep. Leo Medina . . . . ProJo today profiles four freshmen, including new BFFs Doreen Costa and Chris Blazejewski.
HEF’S WORLD: NYT Mag profiles Hugh Hefner, a virgin until he was 22 who has outlasted most of the so-called lad mags, is engaged to a 24-year-old, and plan to find eternal rest near Marilyn Monroe; Hef’s bedroom “looks less like a love nest than the cave of a hoarder unable to let go.”
BIRTHDAY: Wendy Lawton; Miriam Weizenbaum.
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