Ben Horowitz Declares War on Michael Moritz

A public dispute has erupted between tech investors Ben Horowitz and Michael Moritz, raising concerns about the editorial integrity of the SF Standard, a news outlet backed by Moritz. The conflict began when a reporter from the Standard contacted sources for a story involving Horowitz and his wife, Felicia. Horowitz took to social media, labeling the upcoming article a "cheap hit piece" orchestrated by Moritz, whom he accused of using the Standard to disseminate disinformation against him. Marc Andreessen, Horowitz's business partner, supported these claims with additional criticisms. In response, Jon Steinberg, Executive Editor of the SF Standard, confirmed that a story about the Horowitzes is in progress but refrained from commenting on its content before publication. The Standard has previously reported on both Horowitz and Moritz, including their investments in rural land near San Francisco. This incident highlights the potential conflicts of interest in media ownership and the challenges of maintaining journalistic independence in the tech industry.

- Ben Horowitz accused Michael Moritz of using the SF Standard to attack him.

- The SF Standard is backed by Moritz, raising questions about its journalistic independence.

- Horowitz labeled an upcoming article as a "cheap hit piece."

- Jon Steinberg confirmed a story about the Horowitzes is being prepared but did not disclose details.

- The incident underscores the complexities of media ownership in the tech sector.