Buzzfeed launched way back in 2009. Since, it has become a popular source for entertaining online content, such as 21 Precious Puppies Who Need To Be Protected At All Costs. The website is very user friendly, including interactive quizzes about everything from Beyoncé’s style to what kind of grilled cheese matches your personality.
Practices like these would leave the traditional journalist and reader laughing about its credibility. However, there is a growing community who believe Buzzfeed has a bit more to offer.
As far as content, Buzzfeed has received recognition for its quality. Their Buzzfeed Tasty series provides decadent recipes via video. It has been named Tubular’s Most Watched Overall Creators four months in a row, boasting 2.2 billon views in March 2016.
Buzzfeed News reports on stories akin to any
major paper. Recently their top stories included coverage on the Harriet Tubman $20 bill, the passing of Prince and the killings inOhio. The news is sectioned into business, world, politics, technology and science.
Advertorials are the main way Buzzfeed features ads. Content looks like a regular post by the company, but is marked as promoted. Advertorials tend to get under the skin of traditionalists—it is viewed as being sneaky to their readers. Online users haven’t raised too much fuss about it, though.
Earlier this month, they even created hype about blowing up a watermelon which generated 800,000 live views.
They are mixing the socially palatable with the traditionally newsworthy. This fresh look at journalism and their ad structure seem to be the secret to their success.
It is up to the reader to decide: Is Buzzfeed news or nonsense?
By Britney Witherspoon, Editorial Assistant