Huffington Post Launches in DC

The Huffington Post launched its latest local site for original and aggregated content in Washington, D.C., on Thursday – a move that could strengthen the region’s network of Patch sites. Both are owned by AOL.

HuffPost DC is the Internet newspaper’s sixth local site, with online publications already established in New York, San Francisco and other cities.

“With a combination of original reporting, comprehensive curation, and a group blog that will function as a virtual public square for the city's diverse voices, HuffPost DC will cover both sides of this dynamic yet divided city and allow our reporters and bloggers to stay on the local and regional stories that matter most to Washingtonians and their neighbors,” Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief of AOL Huffington Post Media Group, wrote in an introductory blog post.

“HuffPost DC will also offer comprehensive local coverage of the glittering aspects of life in our nation's capital -- from fundraisers, food, and fashion to sports, business, culture, and real estate. And to ensure the most comprehensive coverage of stories of regional interest, the HuffPost DC team will be showcasing stories from the surrounding Patches in Maryland and Virginia.”

Patch has more than 50 professional journalists in the greater Washington area, giving HuffPost DC “a large footprint” in the metropolitan region, the site’s editor, Michael Grass, stated in his inaugural column.

Grass co-founded DCist.com and has worked at Roll Call, the Washington City Paper and the Washington Post’s Express.

HuffPost DC featured a story from the Silver Spring, Md., Patch on its front page on the day of the kickoff.

The launch was generally well-received by district-centric news sites and blogs, with the Washington City Paper remarking, “It’s nice to see the city we love get some more attention.”