GigaOM broke the news about TechCrunch getting a CEO - a former FOX executive, Heather Harde.
Tony at Deep Jive Interests started a discussion about blogs becoming so big that they need managers, CEO’s, CFO’s and other types of suits usually reserved for big media publications and corporations.
To me, this is the expected course of events. Blog was always, and still is, a loosely defined category. It ranges from personal rants which were never meant for anyone to see except the blogger’s closest friends, to a full featured media publication, not all that different from NYTimes. Anyone who’s ever worked in a “real” newspaper knows that you need managers, marketing people, journalists, and editors to make it work. You can only go so far on your own.
People who are yelling “why does a blog needs a CEO” - and I’ve seen several comments like that - would probably have a hard time defining what a “blog” is - just like everyone else. To me, it’s simple: when your audience, reach, authority, and income become such that you aren’t able to take care of the business side of things, you should hire a professional to handle it for you. As far as TechCrunch goes, I’m surprised Mike didn’t do this earlier.
On the flipside of this coin, I wonder why there aren’t more headhunters/investors trying to invest in a good blog while it’s still young. There are tons of good ideas and content out there, but not many bloggers know much about marketing, promotion and the business side of publishing (hint: FranticIndustries). Sure, there are blog networks, but I don’t see them actively searching for good blogs to include in their roster (or maybe they do, but I just don’t know about it? feel free to give examples if you know any). In any case, someone should make a business out of it.
It makes sense for Arrington to hire a CEO because it will allow other areas of the website to progress while he focuses on editorial (which is how the site came to be so popular in the first place).
With crunchnote, the forums,and other region-specific sites forming, it can be a daunting task to keep all areas afloat while continuing to provide high quality content from all the startup activity in industry.
I think that going forward Michael and gang are gonna go into VC stuff. If you read the post it speaks of
“Heather’s job will be to leverage the opportunities that we have sometimes let slip by, and to manage our organic and acquisition growth going forward.”
As her previous job is very much related to that field.
What better way to cement himself in the valley by building a VC firm, getting all the top news firsthand and putting it up on his blog.
I think there is more the Michael than meets the eye. Personally he has made some really really stupid posts in the past, some of which have even been leaning favorably towards companies he likes or is a part of, Edgeio being an example.
I prefer mashable and gigaom more. Can’t wait till they also go corporate.
@Ali: I think your prediction might be right. In any case, TechCrunch has a huge influence in the Web 2.0 field and they definitely should be trying to make the best of it.
BlogBurst seems to be doing a nice job of creating a network of quality blogs (TechCrunch is a member) for their publishing/distribution network, which includes Reuters, USA Today, Gannett, etc. Cheers, Casey.