Not Everyone at IAC On Board With The Daily Beast

Unlike most online publishers, Tina Brown's Daily Beast has the luxury of a huge backer willing to let her site find its voice before having to worry about pesky things like turning a profit. But today, in a profile of Brown and friend/online news competitor Arianna Huffinton, The New York Times let slip that not everyone at Barry Diller's IAC is on board with the project, most especially the company's online wunderkind Michael Jackson:

"Michael Jackson, the head of online programming at IAC and a longtime lieutenant of the company’s chairman, Barry Diller, distanced himself from The Daily Beast. After being involved in its early formation, he raised questions about the cost, according to three people briefed on the matter who were willing to speak freely on the condition that they remain anonymous. Ms. Brown now reports directly to
Mr. Diller."

Brown mildly contests the Times' estimate that The Daily Beast cost $18 million to launch, but that number speaks to the most fervent critiques of Brown — that she makes it her job to spend other people's money. The fact that Jackson was on board with the project at one point gets to the biggest concern with Brown's new endeavor. Everyone knows she knows how to get attention (the press she got from Christopher Buckley endorsing Obama is a case in point), but can she curb her spending enough to make any money?

See Also:

• Daily Beast Don't Need No Stinking Advertising — For Now