Punchbowl News
Punchbowl News is an online political news daily, in Washington, D.C., which debuted January 3, 2021 as "a membership-based news community," which focuses on the individuals "who power the US legislature." It intends to be non-partisan and non-judgemental, focusing on scoops and facts about Congress and the Washington power establishment, particularly core power-players.[1][2][3]
The initial products from Punchbowl included a free weekday-morning newsletter. Premium subscribers (annual subscription: $300[1]) also received afternoon and evening editions, and access to question-and-answer sessions with the authors, online via Zoom, and a Sunday conversation.[1][3] The team launched a podcast with Cadence13 in early February 2021,[1][3][4] and by early April 2021, it was available as The Daily Punch on Apple Podcasts Preview.[5] Conference calls and virtual events are also to be provided to subscribers.[1]
Concept and orientation
The publication gets its name from the codename used by the U.S. Secret Service for the U.S. Capitol.[1][2][3]
In a January 2021 interview with the Columbia Journalism Review, co-founder Jake Sherman indicated that Punchbowl's objectives were to:
- .) ...make news "a conversation between... audience and... reporters."[3]
- .) "...chart power and... focus on the one hundred [persons in power who] matter... congressional leadership... people around [them], corporations that war in Washington, [along with] leadership at the White House."[3]
Sherman indicated that the publication would be non-partisan, and refrain from value judgments and commentary, focusing instead on identifying newsworthy facts.[1][3]
Washington insiders, as subscribers, were the Punchbowl's initial target market.[1] Sherman described his target market as "people who [must] exist in Washington, people who [must] exist in the government, or [people] who deeply care about it" — whether professionally or as a hobby.[3]
Sherman said that Punchbowl News would differentiate itself from other media by largely ignoring sensational stories about the declarations, posturing, and gaffes of individual politicians and officials — focusing, instead, on "power... exercise of power... people abusing power."[3]
History and organization
Founding
Punchbowl News was founded by 3 journalist-authors departing Politico: Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer (co-authors of Politico Playbook and the best-seller The Hill to Die On: The Battle for Congress and the Future of Trump’s America), and co-founder John Bresnahan, a then-recent Capitol Hill reporter for Politico,[1][2][3][4] along with Rachel Schindler, formerly with Facebook's news team.[1]
Initial funding, organized by the media banker Aryeh Bourkoff, of Kindred Media, was US$1million, which was small startup funding compared to the semi-rivals Politico and Axios. However, Sherman reported that they initially garnered far more subscribers than expected.[1]
Staff and leadership
Initial staffing involved only the four co-founders, with Palmer as CEO and Schindler running operations[1] — but Sherman indicated in January that they planned to expand and diversify the team.[1][3]
Events
Within 72 hours of the first publication of Punchbowl News on January 6, 2021, the Capitol was stormed and occupied by protestors in a violent insurrection. Sherman and Bresnahan were present behind a door on which protesters were banging.[4]
Controversy
In February 2021, Punchbowl News was sued by Punchbowl, Inc., a Massachusetts greeting card company, for trademark infringement—claiming that the Punchbowl News company name, logo and trademark color unfairly resembled theirs.[6] The suit was dismissed in Virginia for improper venue. Punchbowl, Inc., re-filed in California. Punchbowl News won on summary judgement and the case was dismissed.[7] Punchbowl Inc. filed an appeal to the Ninth Circuit, and Punchbowl News won again. [8]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "The Media Equation: They Seem to Think the Next Four Years Will Be Normal: A Beltway school of journalism wants to get back to just-the-facts-ma'am reporting..." The New York Times. January 3, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Punchbowl". Muckrack. 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Vernon, Pete (January 19, 2021). "Q&A: Punchbowl's Jake Sherman on Capitol coverage in the new Washington". Columbia Journalism Review. New York City: Columbia University. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c Johnson, Ted (February 1, 2021). "Media Startup Punchbowl News Launches Podcast As D.C. Spotlight Shifts To Capitol". Deadline. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "The Daily Punch: Punchbowl News and Cadence13". Apple Podcasts Preview. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ Beaujohn, Andrew (February 8, 2021). "Punchbowl News, the Tipsheets Founded by Three Politico Alums, Is Sued for Trademark Infringement". The Washingtonian. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "Punchbowl News Wins Trademark Infringement Case". The Washingtonian. July 20, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
- ^ George, Chloe. "9th Circuit Applies Rogers Test to "Punchbowl" Case". www.msk.com. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
