| MEET THE MAN BEHIND THE LIST A CANDID INTERVIEW WITH CRAIG FROM CRAIG'S LIST By Richard Livsey |
SAN FRANCISCO - It’s been over a decade since
Craig Newmark began posting notices on the
Internet regarding events and happenings around
San Francisco. By word of mouth, hard work and
a little luck his modest list grew into a monster
with more than 4 billion page views a month. And
although Craig’s List has become super successful
and extremely profitable, Newmark’s plan to
“provide a trustworthy, efficient, relative non-
commercial place for folks to find all the basics in
their local area” has not changed.
Richard Livsey: Do you use Craig's List? If so, what
have you used it for lately?
Craig Newmark: I use it a little, but hesitate, since it
feels like a bit of a conflict of interest, even if it's not. I
sold my old car, and buy and sell small electronics.
RL: What's an average day for you?
CN: Get up. Customer service. Coffee. Read the paper.
Office. Customer service. Lunch. Customer service.
Sometimes I go out early evening. Customer service.
Simpsons, Colbert Report, Daily Show, West Wing.
Craig Newmark began posting notices on the
Internet regarding events and happenings around
San Francisco. By word of mouth, hard work and
a little luck his modest list grew into a monster
with more than 4 billion page views a month. And
although Craig’s List has become super successful
and extremely profitable, Newmark’s plan to
“provide a trustworthy, efficient, relative non-
commercial place for folks to find all the basics in
their local area” has not changed.
Richard Livsey: Do you use Craig's List? If so, what
have you used it for lately?
Craig Newmark: I use it a little, but hesitate, since it
feels like a bit of a conflict of interest, even if it's not. I
sold my old car, and buy and sell small electronics.
RL: What's an average day for you?
CN: Get up. Customer service. Coffee. Read the paper.
Office. Customer service. Lunch. Customer service.
Sometimes I go out early evening. Customer service.
Simpsons, Colbert Report, Daily Show, West Wing.
RL: When people meet you for the first time, and they learn who you are, what's their initial
reaction? Do they believe you?
CN: Usually they react with disbelief and then surprise. Most people react with humor, although
when I drop in on NYC based apartment brokers, there's often panic.
RL: I heard that you are sort of a workaholic, that you haven't taken a vacation in years? Is
that true?
CN: Not workaholic, just very committed, and it's true.
RL: Alright then, what do you do for fun?
CN: What's "fun"?
RL: What would you like to see more of on the Internet?
CN: Better ways to figure out the most trustworthy versions of big news stories.
RL: One of my favorite sites is the DrudgeReport.com. Matter of fact, I have it set as my home
page. Have you ever checked out that site?
CN: I check it out a little, but prefer the media gossip sites
RL: What are some of your favorite websites? And why?
CN: A lot of sites both embody and accelerate the democratization of the 'net and our culture,
like instapundit.com, dailykos.com, buzzmachine.com, and some are fun, like theonion.com and
dilbert.com
RL: What do you hope to accomplish in the next ten years with Craig's List?
CN: More of the same, better customer service by turning over more control to the people who
use the site.
RL: It seems like everyone who's anyone is coming out with a record or reality show. Any
plans?
CN: We've been approached a lot regarding book or TV deals, not interested anytime soon.
reaction? Do they believe you?
CN: Usually they react with disbelief and then surprise. Most people react with humor, although
when I drop in on NYC based apartment brokers, there's often panic.
RL: I heard that you are sort of a workaholic, that you haven't taken a vacation in years? Is
that true?
CN: Not workaholic, just very committed, and it's true.
RL: Alright then, what do you do for fun?
CN: What's "fun"?
RL: What would you like to see more of on the Internet?
CN: Better ways to figure out the most trustworthy versions of big news stories.
RL: One of my favorite sites is the DrudgeReport.com. Matter of fact, I have it set as my home
page. Have you ever checked out that site?
CN: I check it out a little, but prefer the media gossip sites
RL: What are some of your favorite websites? And why?
CN: A lot of sites both embody and accelerate the democratization of the 'net and our culture,
like instapundit.com, dailykos.com, buzzmachine.com, and some are fun, like theonion.com and
dilbert.com
RL: What do you hope to accomplish in the next ten years with Craig's List?
CN: More of the same, better customer service by turning over more control to the people who
use the site.
RL: It seems like everyone who's anyone is coming out with a record or reality show. Any
plans?
CN: We've been approached a lot regarding book or TV deals, not interested anytime soon.