Arianna Huffington to Launch Site for Blacks

Post-Divorce, HuffPo chief partners with BET co-founder for new vertical

Arianna Huffington is set to launch a new website section that will focus on the black community.

The site — dubbed "HuffPost Global Black" — will purportedly offer “news, politics, culture, opinion, and video through the lens of the black experience.”

Huffington is partnering with BET co-founder Sheila Johnson on the launch, and will dedicate some of her Huffington Post resources to the venture. “This a two-way partnership,” Huffington said in making the announcement, “with HuffPost GlobalBlack content and vision informing all of HuffPost’s coverage, and HuffPost’s editorial and reporting team covering stories shaping the black community.”

Huffington said she hopes the site “will become a go-to destination for both the African-American community and everyone who cares about these deeply important issues — in America and across the world.” Derek Murphy, HuffPo’s former SVP of business development, will serve as COO.

The company did not set a specific launch date for the site, though it’s expected to debut in early March. HuffPost Global Black will be a vertical on the Huffington Post (à la “HuffPost Politics” and “HuffPost Sports” or the 23 other verticals HuffPo operates) and Huffington is said to be planning a Latino-focused site, too.)

More from Thursday’s release:

HuffPost GlobalBlack will focus on current events and cultural trends from a black perspective from across the globe — from politics and economics to music and sports — and will feature content ranging from dynamic storytelling to investigative reporting. The section will feature culturally and topically relevant news and views, information, exclusive interviews, compelling original and curated content, and a group blog with leading thinkers, newsmakers, personalities and provocateurs. HuffPost GlobalBlack will serve as both destination and viral launching pad for web and mobile users.

In November, Arianna and co. launched a divorce verticalHuffPost Divorce — inspired by Nora Ephron, the author and Huffington Post editor-at-large “who knows a thing or two about the subject.”

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