Huffington Post Engages its Readers

In all the fervor surrounding the stimulus package, let's not forget that the stimulus package is essentially tax payer money.  And while it may be dangerous to assume who pays taxes and who does not, given the recent spate of high profile busts, what better way to involve tax payers in protecting their self interests than giving them a voice and a platform to be heard.  It was precisely this potent combination of platform and voice that propelled Barack Obama to the Presidency. 

All generalizations are dangerous.  So here's one - adapted from The Medici Effect.  All value lies in intersections.  Huffpost's roots lie at the intersection of news and blogging.  It created value for itself and its readers through this simple and unique combination.  Fortunately, Ariana Huffington, Ken Lerer, and their management team didn't lose their appetite for innovation.  The Help Huffpost dig through the compromise stimulus bill initiative is innovative.  It lies at the intersection of reader collaboration (I replaced customer with reader) and democracy.

It helps individual diggers create unique value for themselves and for each other, by generating and sharing insights.  By intersecting customer-driven innovation thinking with public issues, and self-interest Huffpost has added a new dimension to the dynamics of democratization and citizen empowerment. Readers interested in learning more about this should turn to John Quelch and his book Greater Good: How Good Marketing Makes for Better Democracy. 

So let's thank HuffPost for engaging and encouraging the voice of the customer, or the reader in your case.  Let's hope companies still sitting on the fence can learn a thing or two from you!