Salem acquires Hot Air
One of my favorite websites, Michelle Malkin’s HotAir, has been sold. Glad for Michelle, but so, so sorry for the rest of us.
From the HotAir website:
“CPAC hasn’t even officially started and already its making news. Mediaite has learned that leading center-right web site Hot Air has been acquired by Salem Communications for an undisclosed sum. Sources close to the deal claim that Michelle Malkin, the conservative pundit and sole owner of Hot Air, has been in talks with Salem for some time, but the announcement was timed to coincided with the Conservative Political Action Conference, which opens tomorrow in Washington D.C. …”
Salem publishes Townhall.com which is why they push it so hard, and it is generating a growing part of their income. They seem to interact a lot with WorldNet Daily although I’m not aware of any direct tie between the two.
I wonder what they’re thinking… A radio show for Michelle?
My suspicion: Salem’s trying to buy the conservative blogosphere one piece at a time. I am very distrustful of that company. Don’t ask me why, but it’s a hunch.
Your instincts are right. Read my profile of them… Being a for-profit corporation running religious programming begging for money is my first concern. Would people think it odd if the Lutheran Church was bought and sold on NASDAQ?
I think they acquired this to get control of Malkin’s audience. My impression is that Malkin doesn’t base her political beliefs on religion, or at least doesn’t use religion to justify them.