Matt Drudge

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Matt Drudge
Born October 27, 1966 (1966-10-27) (age 41)
Takoma Park, Maryland, U.S.
Occupation Internet News Editor
Ethnicity Caucasian
Religious belief(s) Jewish
Salary $800K (2003)
Notable credit(s) Reporting Political Scandals
Drudge Report - Official website
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Matthew Nathan Drudge (born October 27, 1966) is the proprietor and editor of the Drudge Report website.

Contents

Early years

Matthew Drudge, raised in Takoma Park, Maryland, near Washington, DC, is an only child. His parents are Jewish liberal-Democrats who both worked for the federal government.[1] His father Robert Drudge, a former social worker who owns the reference site www.refdesk.com [1] and his mother, a former staff attorney for Ted Kennedy,[2] divorced when he was six. Drudge went to live with his mother.[1] He had few friends but was an avid news reader and radio talk show fan.[1][3] In his book Drudge Manifesto, Drudge reports that he "failed his Bar Mitzvah", and graduated 341st out of a class of 355 from Northwood High School in 1984, thus giving himself, in his words, a "more than adequate curriculum vitae for a post at 7-Eleven".[1]

He was arrested at age 15, on June 18, 1981, for making harassing telephone calls.[2] After the arrest, Drudge went to live with his father on a farm on the eastern shore of Maryland. But before long his father sent Drudge back to Washington to live with his unemployed mother. Drudge was then placed in psychiatric treatment with Jewish Social Services.[2] It was recommended that the boy be sent to a boarding school, "and if not the last choice will be a foster home" (from court papers).[2]

Drudge Report

Main article: Drudge Report

Drudge was unknown before he began the Drudge Report. For many years, he took odd jobs such as night counterman at a 7-Eleven convenience store, telemarketer for Time/Life books, McDonald's manager, and sales assistant at a New York City grocery store. In 1989, he moved to Los Angeles where he took up residence in a small Hollywood apartment. He took a job in the gift shop of CBS studios, eventually working his way up to manager. It is here that he was apparently privy to some inside gossip, part of the inspiration for founding the Drudge Report. Worried about his son’s aimlessness, Drudge's father had insisted on buying him a Packard-Bell computer in 1994.[2] The Drudge Report began as an e-mail sent out to a few friends. The original issues of the Drudge Report were part gossip and part opinion. They were distributed as an e-mail newsletter and posted to alt.showbiz.gossip Usenet forum where they were both loved and ridiculed. In 1996, the newsletter transitioned slowly from entertainment gossip to political gossip and moved from e-mail to the Web as its primary distribution mechanism.

In March 1995, the Drudge Report had 1,000 e-mail subscribers and by 1997 Drudge had 85,000 subscribers to his e-mail service. Drudge's website gained in popularity in the late 1990s after a number of reports in which he beat the mainstream media by reporting first. Drudge first received national attention in 1996 when he broke the news that Jack Kemp would be Republican Bob Dole's running mate in the 1996 presidential election. In 1998, Drudge gained notoriety when he was the first outlet to break the news which later became the Monica Lewinsky scandal.[4]

Andrew Breitbart helps run the Drudge Report website. Drudge met Breitbart in Los Angeles the 1990s when Breitbart was a self-described "untrained D student."[5] Drudge mentored Breitbart until 2005, when he left to work for The Huffington Post website.[6] Breitbart stated that he was "amicably leaving the Drudge Report after a long and close working relationship with Matt Drudge."[7] He now runs Breitbart.com, but still helps run Drudge's website from Los Angeles. Drudge frequently links to Breitbart's site, but does not get paid for this service, although it does provide Breitbart with income.[6] Drudge has said that he holds no financial stake in Breitbart.com nor does he receive any compensation from its founder.[6]

Fox News television show

From June 1998 to November 1999, Drudge hosted a short-lived Saturday night television show called Drudge on the Fox News Channel. The show ended abruptly when the two parties agreed to part ways. Drudge had refused to go on air, charging Fox News with censorship when the network prevented him from showing photos of surgery on the fetus of Samuel Armas. Drudge, who is pro-life, wanted to use a picture of a tiny hand reaching out from the womb to dramatize his argument against late-term abortion, but Fox's John Moody decided that that would be misleading because the tabloid photo dealt not with abortion but with an emergency operation on the fetus for spina bifida.[8] Fox News charged him with breach of contract, but, after Drudge issued an apology,[9] Fox issued a statement calling the parting "amicable".[9] His contract was originally set to run through February 2001.[10]

Radio talk show

Drudge hosted a Sunday night talk radio show—"The only time anyone will let me on the air," he claimed. The show, which was also named the "Drudge Report," was syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks. He guest hosted for the conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh. Drudge gained radio notoriety in the early 2000s by becoming a constant reference for news material on Limbaugh's radio show. He was often acknowledged by conservative Michael Savage as a source of topics for The Savage Nation.

Drudge left his position as radio host with Premiere effective September 30, 2007. He was replaced by WLW's Bill Cunningham.[11]

Book

Drudge wrote a book with Julia Phillips in 2000 titled Drudge Manifesto.[12] The book features a transcript of a Q&A session conducted at the National Press Club on June 2, 1998, which lays out Drudge's raison d'être. It also contains copies of e-mails sent to Drudge by his readers, dialogues between Drudge and his cat, and extensive descriptions of parties Drudge has attended and how the celebrities there reacted to him. A review by G. Beato of the Washington Post summarised the book as follows:[13][14]

Indeed, while Drudge Manifesto runs 247 pages, it takes a lot of filler to reach that length: 40 blank pages; 31 pages of fan mail; 24 pages of Drudge Report reruns; 13 pages of a Q & A that Drudge did at the National Press Club three years ago; 10 pages of titles and other book boilerplate; six pages of quotes from Drudge's favorite philosophers (Monica, Madonna, etc.); four pages of a chat transcript; three pages that include nothing but a large zero; two pages that include nothing but a large numeral 1; one page that includes nothing but a tiny zero; and one page that includes Drudge's favorite Web sites. Which leaves, in the end, 112 pages of new material, including nine pages of poetry.

Influence

In their 2006 book The Way To Win, Mark Halperin and John Harris report that Ken Mehlman, the Republican Party chairman, kind of brags (as CNN host Howard Kurtz puts it) about utilizing the Drudge channel.[15] They also write that:

"Drudge, with his droll Dickensian name, was not the only media or political agent whose actions led to John Kerry's defeat. But his role placed him at the center of the game -- a New Media World Order in which Drudge was the most potent player in the process and a personifications of the dynamic that did Kerry in."[16]

In 2006, TIME Magazine named Drudge one of the 100 most influential people in the world,[17] describing the Drudge Report as:

"A ludicrous combination of gossip, political intrigue and extreme weather reports ... still put together mostly by the guy who started out as a convenience-store clerk."

ABC News concluded that the Drudge Report sets the tone for national political coverage.[18] The article states that:

"Republican operatives keep an open line to Drudge, often using him to attack their opponents."

In October 2006, Washington Post editor Len Downie, speaking at the Online News Association's annual convention in Washington, D.C., stated "Our largest driver of traffic is Matt Drudge."[19]

On October 22, 2007, New York Times reporter Jim Rutenberg wrote that Republican and Democratic presidential candidates including Hillary Clinton were cooperating with Drudge and "working harder than ever to get favorable coverage for their candidates — or unfavorable coverage of competitors — onto the Drudge Report’s home page, knowing that television producers, radio talk show hosts and newspaper reporters view it as a bulletin board for the latest news and gossip."[20] Rutenberg stated that Nielsen/NetRatings shows that the Drudge Report gets three million unique visitors over the course of a month, or approximately 1% of the population of the United States.

Persona and criticism

Income and lifestyle

A story by Business 2.0 magazine from April 2003 estimated that Drudge's website received $3,500 a day in advertising revenues. Subtracting his relatively minor server costs, the magazine estimated that The Drudge Report website grossed $800,000 a year. [21] An article in The Miami Herald from September 2003 said Drudge estimated he earns $1.2 million a year from his website and radio show. During a April 30, 2004 appearance on C-SPAN, Drudge confirmed that he earns over $1 million. For many years, Drudge was based out of his one-bedroom apartment in Hollywood. Today, Drudge maintains the website from his two properties in Miami — his $1.4 million Mediterranean-style stucco house on Rivo Alto Island,[2] and his $1-million-plus condominium in Miami's Four Seasons hotel.[5] In updating the site, he reportedly monitors multiple television news channels and a number of websites on several computers in his home office.

In 2003, Drudge faced criticism for describing ABC reporter Jeffrey Kofman as "openly gay" in the headline "ABC News Reporter Who Filed Troops Complaint Story — Openly Gay Canadian" after Kofman interviewed anti-war soldiers in Iraq.[22][23][24][25] Drudge's critics, like gay American writer and national talk radio host Michelangelo Signorile,[26][27] point to the allegations of homosexuality levelled at Drudge himself by David Brock of Media Matters in his memoir Blinded by the Right,[28][29] and by columnist Jeannette Walls in her book Dish.[30][31][32][33] However, Drudge denied Walls's claim that he is gay, telling the Miami New Times in 2001 that "I go to straight bars, I go to gay bars. [Walls] never said there was sex; she said there was dating. She never had enough to go that far."[34] Drudge also discussed suing actor Alec Baldwin with his lawyer, after Baldwin claimed, during a Howard Stern interview, that Drudge had propositioned him.[35][36][37] In 2005, Drudge told The Sunday Times "No, I’m not gay. I was nearly married a few years ago."[38]

Political views

Drudge frequently champions himself as an independent populist, free from the influences of corporations, advertisers and editors.

When his site reached the one billion page view mark during 2002, Drudge summarized his activities in these broad terms: "In every state and nearly every civilized nation in the developed world, readers know where to go for action and reaction of news -- at least one day ahead... Free from any corporate concerns, there are simply too many to thank since the site's inception in 1994. This new attempt at the old American experiment of full freedom in reporting is ever exciting. Those in power have everything to lose by individuals who march to their own rules."[39]

In 2001, Drudge told the Miami New Times that:

“ ... I am a conservative. I'm very much pro-life. If you go down the list of what makes up a conservative, I'm there almost all the way.[40] ”

Drudge pointed out differences between his political beliefs and those of the Republican party, arguing that his politics more accurately reflect libertarianism.[41] In a 2005 interview with The Sunday Times Drudge described his politics:

“ I’m not a right-wing Republican,” he replies without batting an eye. “I’m a conservative and want to pay less taxes. And I did vote Republican at the last election. But I’m more of a populist.[42] ”

Comments by journalists

Drudge has been called "the Walter Cronkite of his era" by Halperin and Harris, [16] "an idiot with a modem" by Keith Olbermann,[43] "the country's reigning mischief-maker" by Todd Purdum of the The New York Times, [44] and "the kind of bold, entrepreneurial, free-wheeling, information-oriented outsider we need far more of in this country," by Camille Paglia.[45] Michael Isikoff of Newsweek said "Drudge is a menace to honest, responsible journalism. And to the extent that he's read and people believe what they read, he's dangerous."[46]


References and notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Matt Drudge and Julia Phillips (2000). Drudge Manifesto, Chapter one online (html). Denver Post. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Philip Weiss (2007). Watching Matt Drudge (html). New York Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
  3. ^ Howard Kurtz (1999). It's 10 past Monica, America. Do you know where Matt Drudge is? (html). The Washington Post. WNN Archives. Retrieved on 2006-12-15.
  4. ^ Drudge, Matt (1998-01-17). Newsweek Kills Story On White House Intern. The Drudge Report. Retrieved on 2006-10-05.
  5. ^ a b Joel Sappell (2007-08-04). Hot links served up daily (html). Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2007-08-04.
  6. ^ a b c Greg Sandoval (2005-11-30). Breitbart.com has Drudge to thank for its success (html). c. Retrieved on 2007-08-07.
  7. ^ Andrew Breitbart (2005-04-26). April 26, 2005: Breitbart Statement (html). Retrieved on 2007-08-07.
  8. ^ Howard Kurtz (1999-11-15). The Going Gets Tough, and Matt Drudge Gets Going (html). The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2007-07-29.
  9. ^ a b Photo Drudges Up Cries of Doubles Standard (html). National Catholic Register (1999). Retrieved on 2007-07-29.
  10. ^ Byrne, Gridget; Ryan, Joal (1999-11-18). Fox Drops Drudge. E!. Retrieved on 2006-10-01.
  11. ^ Kiesewetter, John. Cunningham Goes National. Cincinnati Enquirer. 5 September 2007.
  12. ^ Drudge, Matt (2001-09-05). Drudge Manifesto. NAL Trade. ISBN-13: 978-0451204912. 
  13. ^ G Beato (2000-10-09). Drudge Manifesto (html). The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2007-08-09.
  14. ^ G. Beato (2000-10-09). Drudge Manifesto review (html). Retrieved on 2007-08-09.
  15. ^ CNN RELIABLE SOURCES : Coverage of the Mark Foley Scandal (html). CNN (2006-10-15). Retrieved on 2007-08-05.
  16. ^ a b Halpernin, Mark; John F. Harris (2006). The Way To Win. Random House. ISBN 1-4000-6447-3. 
  17. ^ Cox, Ana Marie (2006-04-30). Matt Drudge; Redefining What's News. Time.com. Retrieved on 2006-10-01.
  18. ^ "Drudge Report Sets Tone for National Political Coverage", ABC News, 2006-10-01. Retrieved on 2006-10-01. 
  19. ^ Hirschman, David S. (2006-10-06). 'Wash Post' Editor Downie: Everyone in Our Newsroom Wants to Be a Blogger. Editor & Publisher. Retrieved on 2006-10-08.
  20. ^ Rutenberg, Jim (2007-10-22). Clinton Finds Way to Play Along With Drudge. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2007-10-22.
  21. ^ Keighley, Geoff (2003-04-01). The Secrets of Drudge Inc. How to set up a round-the-clock news site on a shoestring, bring in $3,500 a day, and still have time to lounge on the beach.. CNNMoney.com. Retrieved on 2006-10-01.
  22. ^ Canadian reporter 'smeared' over Iraq coverage (html). Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) (2003-07-18). Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
  23. ^ Drudge, Matt: "ABC News Reporter Who Filed Troops Complaint Story — Openly Gay Canadian", Drudge Report, July 16 2003
  24. ^ Antonia Zerbisias (2003). TV Man Is (Shock) Gay, And (Horror) Canadian (html). commondreams.org. Retrieved on 2007-07-27. The original article in the Toronto Times contained the quote "Drudge has some nerve, since he's a gay man himself" but they later retracted this.
  25. ^ Lou Chibbaro (2003). White House disavows 'smear' of gay reporter (html). Washington Blade. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
  26. ^ Mike Signorile (2002-05-22). Spreading Drudge’s Sludge (html). New York Press. Retrieved on 2007-07-31.
  27. ^ Mike Signorile (2004-01-13). Rapture, genocide and the Washington Times. (html). New York Press. Retrieved on 2007-08-05.
  28. ^ Brock, David. Blinded by the Right: The Conscience of an Ex-Conservative. Three Rivers Press. ISBN-13: 978-1400047284. 
  29. ^ Kerry Lauerman (2002). The apostate (html). salon.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
  30. ^ Walls, Jeannette (2000). Dish: The Inside Story on the World of Gossip. William Morrow & Company. ISBN-13: 978-0380978212. 
  31. ^ Jennifer Cox (2000). In gossip wars, Jeannette Walls wails: I've been Matt-slammed (html). Media Life Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
  32. ^ Amy Reiter (2000). Egg on his chest? (html). salon.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
  33. ^ Doug Thompson (2004). Homophobia and the Republican Party (html). Capitol Hill Blue. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
  34. ^ Brett Sokol (2001). The Drudge Retort (html). Miami New Times. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
  35. ^ Baldwin-Drudge spat may lead to lawsuit (html). Media Life Magazine (2002). Retrieved on 2007-08-26.
  36. ^ Howard Stern Show Archives (html). MarksFriggin.com (2002-08-05). Retrieved on 2007-08-26.
  37. ^ Richard Johnson, 2002-08-06, Page Six, New York Post
  38. ^ Cosmo Landesman (2005-04-17). The world is his laptop (html). The Sunday Times Online. Retrieved on 2007-07-31.
  39. ^ Drudge, Matt (2002-11-12). Over 1 Billion Served. editorial. The Drudge Report. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  40. ^ Sokol, Brett (2001-06-28). The Drudge Retort. Miami New Times. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.
  41. ^ Scheer, Robert (1998-07-16). Dinner With Drudge. Online Journalism Review. Retrieved on 2006-09-27.
  42. ^ Landesman, Cosmo (2005-04-17). The World is his Laptop. Times Online. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
  43. ^ Kurtz, Howard. "MSNBC Pundit Rises With Clinton Crises", Washington Post, 1998-09-15, pp. E1. Retrieved on 2006-10-01. 
  44. ^ Purdum, Todd (1997-08-17). The Dangers of Dishing Dirt in Cyberspace. New York Times. Retrieved on 2006-10-30.
  45. ^ Paglia, Camille (1998-09-01). Ask Camille. Salon.com. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  46. ^ Drudging up news on the Web (html). CNN.com (2002). Retrieved on 2006-12-15.

External links

Praise

Criticism


Persondata
NAME Drudge, Matt
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Drudge, Matthew Nathan
SHORT DESCRIPTION American Internet journalist and a talk radio host
DATE OF BIRTH October 27, 1966
PLACE OF BIRTH Takoma Park, Maryland, U.S.
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH