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ALP launches online news website the Labor Herald, 15 months after idea was first mooted

The Australian Labor Party has finally launched its new “Crikey-style” news website the Labor Herald, well over a year after the political party first floated the idea.

Screen Shot 2015-07-21 at 1.55.39 pmSoft launched yesterday, the move comes after a recent fundraising pushed by the publication which received $38,000 from public donors ahead of the launch.

The website contains a number of piece which by senior ALP politicians and covers key policy areas, including health, education environment and the economy. 

Among the authors at launch are also advertising and Labor strategist Dee Madigan who had reviewed the top 10 politicians on social media.

The website is edited by Alex Brooks who is a former editor of parenting website Kidspot and Ross Caldwell who is a former Labor staffer.

The editorial approach of the website has already been questioned with news website Crikey today criticising the launch content of the site, noting that an opinion piece by shadow parliamentary secretary to the shadow treasurer Ed Husic criticises recent piracy laws which were passed the parliament but fails to acknowledge Labor voted in favour of the laws.

At the time Labor first floated the idea, the ability of Labor to fairly report on politics was questioned by many who suggested that there was a risk the site would be used merely to push Labor’s policies.

The website does not carry any paid advertising.

Nic Christensen 

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