TAM Goes Pro

Sean Hackbarth is going professional.

ALLENTON, Wis. and LOS ANGELES, Calif., Apri 1, 2007 - News Corporation’s Fox Interactive Media and blog publisher Sean Hackbarth today announced Hackbarth’s political blog The American Mind (http://www.theamericanmind.com) has been purchased for an undisclosed sum.

Fox Interactive Media will provide its MySpace blogging platform to Hackbarth to publish his political blog The American Mind along with the promotional opportunities to reach millions of MySpace users.

Along with continuing his cutting edge political commentary Hackbarth will consult with Fox Interactive Media and MySpace in building a vibrant political blogging community.

“Going pro is a webloggers dream,” said Hackbarth. “Starting in 1999 by hand coding and manually uploading my posts onto the web I didn’t imagine the blogosphere would become so important to politics. Now, I have the resources to go all Web 2.0 on politics and the blogosphere.”

“By consulting with Fox Interactive Media and MySpace my years of hands-on political communication and commentary will get millions of people interested and informed. I will be helping find new ways for Fox Interactive Media to become a force in the political blogosphere. Buying The American Mind is only a first step if I have any say in it,” said Hackbarth.

“This deal is the next step in our evolution as a significant interactive player,” said Ross Levinsohn, President of Fox Interactive Media. “Forming a strategic partnership with a blogging pioneer like Sean allows us to expand our business, add to the vibrant political discussion on the internet, and position us for the excitement of the 2008 elections.”

“What Fox News Channel did for cable news Sean’s The American Mind blog will do for the internet,” continued Levinsohn. “We’ve plucked someone with tremendous experience, years of insight, and a passion for politics to inject MySpace with blogging gravitas.”

Hackbarth will begin publishing The American Mind on MySpace immediately. Relocation plans calls for Hackbarth to move to Des Moines, Iowa.

Congrats, Sean!  Even if it is an April Fool’s joke .

1. I could smell that one a MILE away…...

   Posted by Pete Fanning on April 01, 2007 at 0655 hrs




2. That occurred to me, too, when I first read the short-version at BadgerBlogger.

   It was the DesMoines relo which made it clear…

   Posted by dad29 on April 01, 2007 at 0702 hrs




3. Anyone who knows the MySpace culture and audience would have redflagged it right away….

   Posted by Pete Fanning on April 01, 2007 at 0851 hrs




4. There isn’t enough egoboo or ad revenue to justify a move to Des Moines.  Unless, of course, you can get a sublet from TGT>

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 01, 2007 at 1102 hrs




5. I thought Fox Interactive Media was picking up the tab. It’s not like Des Moines is expensive or has many things to do.

   Time to go back to my lawyers; I smell a rat.

   Posted by Sean Hackbarth on April 01, 2007 at 1312 hrs