| The Disinformation Company | |
| Type: | Private limited |
| Location City: | New York City, New York |
| Location Country: | United States |
| Key People: | Gary Baddeley, President / CEO Matt Staggs, Web content editor, podcast host |
| Products: | Multimedia Publishing and Distribution |
The Disinformation Company (abbreviated as Disinfo) was a privately held, limited American publishing company until 2012 when it was sold to Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari.[1] It also owned Disinformation Books, which focused on current affairs titles and books exposing alleged conspiracy theories, occultism, politics, news oddities, and purported disinformation. It is headquartered in New York City, New York. Arguably, its most visible publications to date are 50 Things You're Not Supposed to Know and the Everything You Know About [subject] Is Wrong series, both by the company's editor-at-large Russ Kick.[2]
In 1996, Tele-Communications Inc. (now Comcast) funded a Hollywood-based Internet initiative responsible for online projects like the Getty Museum and an Internet-based political humor soap opera entitled Candidate 96. The initiative launched its own interactive website, featuring the tag line; "everything you know is wrong". Soon after the site's launch, TCI cancelled funding and support for the site.[3]
The founding team kept it going, being nominated for an award for politics in the first Webby Awards ceremony. The Disinformation Company, as it was now known, was then acquired by Razorfish.[3] Eventually, the Disinformation Company became privately held.
In addition to publishing books, the company also had a home video division as well as multimedia and Internet projects.
In 2000, Disinfo organized DisinfoCon, a 12-hour event featuring Richard Metzger, rock musician Marilyn Manson, underground filmmaker Kenneth Anger, painter Joe Coleman, Douglas Rushkoff, Mark Pesce, Grant Morrison, Robert Anton Wilson, Todd Brendan Fahey and others.
In 2002, the company produced a four-episode documentary series called Disinformation (also alternatively titled as Disinfo Nation).
In 2008, the Disinformation Company itself was accused of spreading propaganda (such as 9/11 "Truth" material) by Louis Proyect.[4]
As of June 17, 2020, the Disinfo.com website was inactive. While the Disinformation Company Ltd. was still listed as the owner, all content was deleted and the domain was for sale.[5]