Ben Smith (journalist)

Ben Smith
Smith in 2012
Born Benjamin Eli Smith
1976
New York City, U.S.
Alma mater Yale University
Occupation
  • Journalist
Years active 1999–present
Spouse(s)
Liena Zagare (m. 2002)
Children 3
Parent(s) Robert S. Smith

Benjamin Eli "Ben" Smith (born 1976) is an American journalist. He is currently editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed News.[1]

Early life

Smith was born and raised in New York City, his father is attorney Robert S. Smith, who served as an associate judge on the New York Court of Appeals, and his mother is Dian G. Smith. He graduated with a B.A. summa cum laude from Yale University in 1999 [2]

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).[3] 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) [4] 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 2008 to 2011, joining as that site expanded and became frequently cited during the 2008 presidential election. He became one of its most prominent writers, bloggers, and political journalists.

In December 2011, he was named editor-in-chief of Buzzfeed News.[1] Smith explained that he would be leaving his Politico blog but he would still write for the publication weekly.[5]

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[6] and conspiracy theories about Obama's citizenship[7] and Barack Obama religion conspiracy theories.[8] Smith reported erroneously during that 2008 campaign that John Edwards would be dropping out of the race[9] before the press conference at which Edwards announced that his wife Elizabeth had cancer. Smith later posted an apology[10] and retracted the story. In 2010, he reported on a confidential Republican National Committee fundraising presentation counseling the party to capitalize on fear.[11]

Controversy

In January 2017, Smith, as Buzzfeed's editor, published a highly controversial 35-page dossier about Donald Trump, which major news organizations, including the New York Times and NBC News, refused to publish due to lack of credible evidence. Smith defended his decision by saying, "We have always erred on the side of publishing."[12]

Accomplishments

Since working at BuzzFeed, Smith has focused on strengthening the organization's investigative journalism unit.[13][14] In 2012, Fast Company placed Smith on its "100 Most Creative" list.[15] He and Buzzfeed co-founder Jonah Peretti were listed as two of the most powerful people in the media by The Hollywood Reporter.[13]

Smith interviewed Obama in early 2015 for Buzzfeed's first presidential interview.[16]

Personal life

Smith married Latvian publisher Liena Zagare in 2002.[17][18] He and Zagare have three children and currently live in Brooklyn.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 Stelter, Brian (12 December 2011). BuzzFeed Adds Politico Writer, The New York Times
  2. ↑ (6 January 2011). Yalies start 2012 campaign for Mitch Daniels Archived March 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine., Yale Daily News (notes Smith's Yale graduation year as 1999)
  3. ↑ Rothstein, Betsy. (11 November 2011). FishbowlDC Interview with Politico's Ben Smith, FishbowlDC
  4. ↑ (3 January 2007). Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, The New York Sun (reporting that Smith was leaving the Sun to join Politico)
  5. ↑ Smith, Ben (December 12, 2011). "Home News". Politico. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  6. ↑ Smith, Ben (February 22, 2008). "Obama once visited '60s radicals". Politico. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  7. ↑ Smith, Ben (March 1, 2009). "Culture of conspiracy: the Birthers". Politico. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  8. ↑ Smith, Ben; Jonathan Martin (October 13, 2007). "Untraceable e-mails spread Obama rumor". Politico. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ Smith, Ben (March 22, 2007). "Getting It Wrong". Politico. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  11. ↑ Smith, Ben (March 3, 2010). "Exclusive: RNC document mocks donors, plays on 'fear'". Politico. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  12. ↑ BuzzFeed Defends Publishing Unverified Allegations About Donald Trump's Russia Ties, The Huffington Post.
  13. 1 2 3 "Jonah Peretti and Ben Smith". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  14. ↑ "» Mark Schoofs leaves ProPublica to head BuzzFeed:s investigative unit JIMROMENESKO.COM". Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  15. ↑ "29. Ben Smith". Fast Company. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  16. ↑ "BuzzFeed's Ben Smith to interview Obama". Politico. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  17. ↑ (6 October 2002). WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS; Liena Zagare, Benjamin Smith, The New York Times
  18. ↑ Bazilian, Emma (29 April 2011). Patch Hires Brooklyn Blogger Liena Zagare, Adweek
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