Pitney: A Career in Digital Journalism and Media Innovation
From the early days of political blogging to leading global news brands, Pitney has carved a distinct path in the evolution of digital media. With a career spanning several high-profile roles at HuffPost and NowThis, he has consistently focused on the intersection of news, social media, and political advocacy.
Early Career and the Rise of ThinkProgress
Born in Tokyo and educated at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Pitney began his professional journey in the realm of policy and digital communication. He served as the Deputy Research Director at the Center for American Progress, a prominent public policy research institute. During his time there, he played a pivotal role in the founding of ThinkProgress, serving as its Managing Editor and helping establish it as a key voice in progressive digital discourse.
Leadership at HuffPost
Pitney joined HuffPost in 2007, where he ascended through several leadership positions. His versatility was evident as he served as the Politics Editor and DC Bureau Chief during the 2008 United States presidential election. He later took on the roles of National Editor, Executive Editor, and Managing Editor.
He gained significant international attention during the 2009 Iranian election protests. Pitney utilized liveblogging—the practice of providing real-time updates on a blog—to aggregate social media posts, tweets, and videos from Iranians on the ground. This effort generated immense engagement, with over 100,000 comments left on the blog.
This visibility led to a unique moment at the White House on June 23, 2009. The Obama administration asked Pitney to pose a question from an Iranian citizen during a press conference. He asked President Obama under what conditions the U.S. would accept the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The event sparked controversy, with critics like Dana Milbank of The Washington Post alleging improper collusion between the journalist and the White House. This tension later culminated in a heated debate on CNN's Reliable Sources, leading to the viral Twitter hashtag #Dickwhisperer.
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After leaving HuffPost in 2012 to travel the world with his wife, Karina Newton (the former new media director for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi), Pitney returned to the organization in 2013 to serve as the head of product.
Scaling NowThis and Global Engagement
In 2017, Pitney transitioned to NowThis, where he served as Senior Vice President and News and Politics Director. Under his leadership, NowThis became the most engaged news brand worldwide. According to data from Tubular Labs, the platform amassed approximately 2.6 billion monthly views across various social media platforms.
Beyond management, Pitney acted as the face of the newsroom, hosting videos and conducting interviews with high-profile political figures, including Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Hillary Clinton.
More Perfect Union and Modern Advocacy
In February 2021, Pitney co-founded More Perfect Union alongside Faiz Shakir. This nonprofit media and advocacy outlet is designed as a modern successor to ThinkProgress, focusing on the creation of graphics and videos to support labor issues. Shakir has described the venture as "ThinkProgress for a digital age."
Key Facts
- Education: University of California, Santa Barbara.
- Early Impact: Co-founded and managed the ThinkProgress blog.
- HuffPost Tenure: Served as DC Bureau Chief, National Editor, Executive Editor, and Managing Editor.
- NowThis Growth: Led the brand to 2.6 billion monthly views via social media.
- Current Venture: Co-founder of More Perfect Union, a nonprofit focused on labor issues.
| Organization | Key Role(s) | Notable Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Center for American Progress | Deputy Research Director | Helped found ThinkProgress |
| HuffPost | Managing Editor / DC Bureau Chief | Liveblogged 2009 Iranian protests |
| NowThis | SVP & News and Politics Director | Reached 2.6 billion monthly views |
| More Perfect Union | Co-founder | Launched nonprofit labor advocacy media |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Pitney's role during the 2009 Iranian election protests?
Pitney liveblogged the protests for HuffPost by aggregating tweets and videos from Iranians, resulting in over 100,000 comments on the blog.
Why was Pitney's interaction with President Obama controversial?
Critics, including Dana Milbank, alleged improper collusion because Pitney was called on second during a White House press conference to ask a specific question on behalf of an Iranian citizen.
How successful was NowThis under Pitney's leadership?
According to Tubular Labs, NowThis became the #1 most engaged news brand globally, reaching roughly 2.6 billion monthly views across social media.
What is More Perfect Union?
Launched in 2021 by Pitney and Faiz Shakir, it is a nonprofit media and advocacy outlet that uses video and graphics to support labor issues.
Who is Karina Newton?
Karina Newton is Pitney's wife and the former new media director for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.