Kara Swisher

Recent Posts by Kara Swisher

GPS for the Web Soul: Huffington Post and OWN Launch HuffPost OWN

The Huffington Post Media Group and the Oprah Winfrey Network are today launching a site the pair of media giants had announced in May, called — no surprise — HuffPost OWN.

The latest niche destination in a wide-ranging rollout for the AOL-owned HuffPost sites — there are almost 70 now — will focus on inspiration.

In a press release, the pair said the new section on the huge online publishing platform will provide “practical advice and ideas to help users find motivation, inspiration and fulfillment.”

For example, one featured story today is titled “Mantras to Get You Through a Hard Week,” while another advises “How To Find 7 More Hours In Your Day.” (If I found one more, I’d be happy.)

And, of course, my personal favorite: “When Holding a Grudge Can Be Good for Your Health.”

There’s a lot of wish fulfillment on HuffPost OWN, too, with Oprah’s Favorite Things — her gift giveaway efforts that turned into a phenom — as a major element on the site, including Favorite Things trivia and a video mashup of the best Favorite Things moments from “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

The dedicated version of the Oprah.com site on the Huffington Post platform has a range of social and interactive offerings, and has integrated access to the HuffPost audience, which is much larger.

The content is supplied by writers and producers of Oprah.com, which will continue to operate independently.

In a blog post, Winfrey waxed poetic on the concept for the site:

“These are fragile, turbulent, challenging, exciting and often frightening times. More than ever we need to be in touch with our internal GPS — the inner voice that knows right from wrong that’s always guiding us true North. I want to use this fantastic Web space to help point us there.”

Added Huffington, in her own blog post:

“Oprah was, in fact, made for the Internet. She was about engagement and authenticity and connection long before the Web discovered them. Oprah has always been about making connections, engaging her audience, and forming community — all central parts of the online and social media experience.”

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I’m a giant vat of creative juices.

— David Pogue on why he’s joining Yahoo