Buzzfeed

BuzzFeed News was an American online news publication that operated under the BuzzFeed umbrella from 2011 until May 2023. It gained recognition for its investigative journalism and notable reporting on subjects like the FinCEN Files and the Steele dossier. The organization received several prestigious awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting, a George Polk Award, and a National Magazine Award.

Despite its journalistic achievements, BuzzFeed News faced significant criticism, particularly for its publication of the unverified Steele dossier. The site also experienced internal challenges, including staff reductions and leadership changes. Ultimately, BuzzFeed News ceased new hard news content in May 2023 as part of a company-wide restructuring, with its news operations refocusing on HuffPost.

The site's editorial stance was described as holding firm beliefs on issues like civil rights and LGBT equality, while also aiming for rigorous, neutral journalism. However, this approach drew criticism for perceived inconsistencies. BuzzFeed News was also noted for its coverage of social issues and its distinct approach compared to traditional news outlets.

Launched in December 2011 with Ben Smith as editor-in-chief, BuzzFeed News developed a significant investigative reporting unit, hiring notable journalists like Mark Schoofs. By 2016, it had expanded its team of investigative journalists. The British division was led by Janine Gibson. Notable early work included a collaboration with the BBC on match-fixing in tennis and reporting on the U.S. H-2 guest worker program, which earned a National Magazine Award. A 2017 study indicated that BuzzFeed News largely adhered to established journalistic standards, employing an inverted pyramid format and largely excluding personal opinions from articles. The publication primarily covered government and politics, utilizing similar sources to The New York Times, but also dedicated more attention to social issues such as protests and LGBT rights, and frequently quoted ordinary individuals.

BuzzFeed News published several high-profile and controversial stories. An extensive series by Chris Hamby detailed how international investors utilized investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) to potentially undermine environmental laws, earning a Pulitzer Prize nomination. In January 2017, BuzzFeed News published the unverified Steele dossier, which contained allegations about Donald Trump's connections to Russia. This decision drew widespread criticism and led to defamation lawsuits, although BuzzFeed News defended its publication as "undoubtedly real news." Another significant report exposed how Breitbart News solicited content from white supremacists and neo-Nazis, with Milo Yiannopoulos acting as an intermediary, a piece lauded for its thorough reporting. Additionally, BuzzFeed News broke the story of Anthony Rapp's accusation of sexual misconduct against Kevin Spacey.

Throughout its operation, BuzzFeed News underwent several organizational shifts. In January 2019, it experienced layoffs affecting 15% of its staff and the closure of its national news desk. In May 2020, with Ben Smith's departure, Mark Schoofs took over as editor-in-chief, and the Australia and United Kingdom news operations were also closed. By March 2022, further staff reductions were announced as the company sought profitability, leading to the departure of key editors. On April 20, 2023, BuzzFeed announced the gradual shutdown of BuzzFeed News, attributing the decision in part to changes in social media platform policies and company-wide layoffs. The news site discontinued new content on May 5, 2023, with efforts redirected towards HuffPost.