THEGAYUK

Tag: Gawker

All the latest breaking news on the former news outlet, Gawker. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on Gawker.

  • Gawker down

    Gawker down

    Gawker, one of the world’s leading news sites is to close down.

    Gawker_LogoGawker is to cease operation from next week after nearly fourteen years of service. The news comes after Univision successfully bid $135m for Gawker’s six media sites a few days ago.

    It is believed that no staffers at Gawker will lose their jobs – as staffers will be assigned to other outlets in the portfolio or be adsorbed into Univision.

    In a memo to staff Nick Denton, the site’s founder said neither he or Gawker.com would be included in the new venture with Univision.

    “Sadly, neither I nor Gawker.com, the buccaneering flagship of the group I built with my colleagues, are coming along for this next stage.”

    Why is Gawker closing?

    Gawker filed for bankruptcy after a lawsuit, brought by the former wrestler Hulk Hogan, awarded $140m in damages to the TV star.

    The lawsuit, reportedly costing $10m was funded by Paypal co-founder, Peter Thiel. Mr Thiel, one of the world’s richest openly gay men said that he aided the lawsuit because he wanted to curtail the company’s “bullying”.

    The company published an article outing Mr. Thiel in 2007.

    What was the lawsuit about?

    Gawker was sued by Terry Bollea (Hulk Hogan) after they published a video of him having sex with the wife of a friend from 2007. The trial lasted 3 weeks and Gawker was ordered to pay $115m compensation and $25m in punitive damage.

    What will happen to Gawker.com?

    In the long-term nobody knows what will happen to the Gawker brand – however it’s six sister sites: Deadspin, Lifehacker, Gizmodo, Kotaku, Jalopnik, and Jezebel, will continue as normal.

  • Gawker Editors Resign Over Removal Of Gay Escort / Conde Nast Exec Article

    Two Gawker.com editors resigned today after the site’s managing partner Nick Denton removed an article that alleged that a Conde Nast exec was paying to see a gay porn star.

    Gawker Media Executive Editor Tommy Craggs and Gawker.com editor-in-chief Max Read have both resigned citing the removal of a post that many have claimed was the “gay shaming” outing of a Conde Nast exec, who allegedly organised a meeting with a gay porn star.

    In a statement released to Gawker.com staff Cragg wrote:

    “On Friday, I told my fellow managing partners—Nick Denton, founder and CEO; Heather Dietrick, president; Andrew Gorenstein, president of advertising and partnerships; Scott Kidder, chief operating officer; and Erin Pettigrew, chief strategy officer—I would have to resign if they voted to remove a story I’d edited and approved. The article, about the Condé Nast CFO’s futile effort to secure a remote assignation with a pricey escort, had become radioactive. Advertisers such as Discover and BFGoodrich were either putting holds on their campaigns or pulling out entirely.

    “(This isn’t the place to debate the merits of that story, other than to say that I stand by the post. Whatever faults it might have belong to me, and all the public opprobrium being directed at Jordan Sargent, a terrific reporter, should come my way instead.)”

    The article was slammed on social media after its publication on the 17th July. The openly gay site founder Nick Denton express regret in publishing the piece, which included pictures and text exchanges reported to between David Geithener and the unnamed gay porn star.

    Geithener denies knowing the gay porn star.

     

     

  • Gawker Editors Condemn Removal Of “Gay Shaming” Outing Of Exec

    The editorial team at Gawker.com have condemned of the removal of an article which many readers have derided as “gay shaming” of a Conde Nast exec.

    The removal of an article which outs the married father of three and Chief Financial Officer of Condé Nast, David Geithener, who allegedly tried to pay for 2 to 3 hours with a gay porn star, has been criticised by the site’s editorial team who say that the take down was an “unprecedented breach of the firewall.”

    They are up in arms that ‘business executives deleted an editorial post over the objections of the entire executive editorial staff”.

    Huffington Post’s national editor, Katie Nelson took a swing at Gawker, stating that what they had published was “gay shaming” and not journalism.

    The owner of Gawker, Nick Denton, who is openly gay, took down the post yesterday after revealing that publishing it was decision he regretted. The removal of the story is the first time that the gossip and news site has formally taken down a story, despite Denton acknowledging that the article was “true and well reported.”

    Gawker Media, which is incorporated in the Cayman Islands owns Gawker.com. Deadspin and Jezebel.

    David Geithener denies knowing the gay porn star.

  • Gawker Is Slammed For Gay Shaming After Outing Condé Nast Exec

    Gawker Is Slammed For Gay Shaming After Outing Condé Nast Exec

    Gawker, one of the Internet’s leading news sites is facing harsh criticism after revealing that a Condé Nast exec allegedly tried to pay for a night with a gay porn star.

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