Huffington Post shuts down outdated contributors platform

The Huffington Post is closing down its contributors platform in the US, acknowledging that its once-groundbreaking gateway to the web has been overtaken by “noise” — as well as by the sheer volume of commentary across newer social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter.

HuffPo sent an email to many of its contributors Thursday.

In a note to staffers, editor-in-chief Lydia Polgreen said HuffPo will introduce two new sections, Opinion and Personal. Writers for those sections will be selected and assigned stories — and be paid.

HuffPo was criticized by writers’ groups because many of the contributors who helped the website get its footing in the early days weren’t being paid.

“As we roll out these changes, we are ending the HuffPost contributor platform,” Polgreen said. “The platform, which launched in May 2005, was a revolutionary idea at the time: give a megaphone to lots of people, ― some famous, some completely unknown ― to tell their stories.”

At that time, social networks barely existed, she noted.

In an email to past contributors, HuffPo said it has had more than 100,000 contributors to its site since 2005.

“The quantity and volume of noise means truly being heard is harder than ever,” said an email to contributors. “Those who are willing to shout the loudest often drown out new, more-deserving voices. The same has proven to be true on our own platform.”