If anyone has not read it yet, read the Divide and Griftopia...

If they want to survive, FLM will need a different strategy other than "Throw more money at it" to fix their deficiencies...

I tried to tell DUers how this was going to turn out from the very first day it was announced, since I know how the industry operates...

Real news organization

Despite the hype and grandiose plans, it was always just a hastily built thatch hut so Greenwald could leave the Guardian and set up a new shop while keeping complete ownership and editorial control of the cache...

Even with the occasional leak story and exclusive insider access to the planet's most famous fugitive, the Intercept has been drawing next to zero traffic...

I don't know what promises they made, or how much money they threw at Taibbi for him to leave RS, but this is an immense embarrassment for a startup which claimed to be about journalistic freedom, transparency, and fearless reporting...First Look's remaining vestiges of credibility are quickly eroding...

Supposedly the rift was because Pierre wanted Taibbi to do something other than corporate/Wall Street investigative reporting -- Because let's be honest: Taibbi was going to turn his investigative eye to eBay or one of eBay's corporate partners sooner or later...

I've been screaming from the start that FLM has been nothing but a big con...I'm almost beginning to wonder if the primary reason Taibbi was hired was to silence the critics about Greenwald being owned by a billionaire...Because on Twitter all year, Greenwald got a lot of mileage out of his "Taibbi wouldn't come work for us if there wasn't total autonomy" -defense...

Because it seems that Greenwald can't hold a job longer than 6 months anymore.

Taibbi takes time out from First Look after “disagreements.” Can I publish our emails now, Matt?

http://pando.com/2014/10/28/taibbi-takes-time-out-from-first-look-after-disagreements-can-i-publish-our-emails-now-matt/

so what's your take on this article?

... who doesn't work well when someone else tries to control him. Rolling Stone left him alone. First Look apparently did not. By allowing him to be a lone wolf again, some other media organization (perhaps RS again?) will allow him to thrive.

I wonder if Rolling Stone would take him back or if he even has any thoughts of going back. I loved his work with RS. didn't know him before then but I also loved every interview I've ever seen him do, as well.

I'm also thinking his critics exude a bit of envy.. although I don't know how much of that is actually in play.. but having a little bit of experience and interactions with media divas that kind of thing always seem to muddy up the waters in a manner of speaking.

...trying exert control says it all.

And he just isn't up for it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024832738

When I first heard Matt was off to First Look at Me Media I felt he was making a mistake, that he didn't belong and would eventually be disappointed and leave. I think FLM is just a front, like a money laundering business, in a way. The real meat and money and influence and power that Omidyar loves are in those classified documents that Snowden ran off with and shared with whoever besides Greenwald.

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2014/10/matt-taibbi-leaving-first-look.html

Important Announcement

Pierre Omidyar October 28, 2014

I regret to announce that after several weeks of discussions, Matt Taibbi has left First Look. We wish him well.

Our differences were never about editorial independence. We have never wavered from our pledge that journalistic content is for the journalists to decide, period.

We’re disappointed by how things have turned out. I was excited by Matt’s editorial vision and hoped to help him bring it to fruition. Now we turn our focus to exploring next steps for the talented team that has worked to create Matt’s publication.

I remain an enthusiastic supporter of the kind of independent journalism found at The Intercept and the site we were preparing to launch. As a startup, we’ll take what we’ve learned in the last several months and apply it to our efforts in the future.

Above all, we remain committed to our team and to the First Look mission.