Gizmodo Explained

Gizmodo
Commercial:Yes
Type:Design, technology, science, science fiction, blog
Country Of Origin:United States
Language:English, French, Dutch, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese
Registration:Optional
Owner:Keleops Media
Author:Peter Rojas
Editor:Rory Carroll
Launch Date:[1]

Gizmodo is a design, technology, science, and science fiction website. It was originally launched as part of the Gawker Media network run by Nick Denton, and runs on the Kinja platform. Gizmodo also includes the sub-blogs io9 and Earther, which focus on pop-culture and environmentalism respectively.

Following the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Gawker Media, Univision purchased Gizmodo along with other Gawker websites in August 2016. Then in 2019, Univision sold the Gizmodo Media Group, which included Gizmodo, to the private equity firm Great Hill Partners. From April 2019 to June 2024, Gizmodo was part of G/O Media.[2] The website was then purchased by the European digital media company Keleops Media in June 2024.[3] [4]

History

Origins and Gawker Media

The blog, launched in 2002, was originally edited by Peter Rojas, who was later recruited by Weblogs, Inc. to launch their similar technology blog, Engadget.[5] [6] [7] By mid-2004, Gizmodo and Gawker together were bringing in revenue of approximately $6,500 per month.[8] In 2005, VNU Media and Gawker Media formed an alliance to republish Gizmodo across Europe, with VNU translating the content into French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, and adding local European-interest material.[9]

In February 2011, Gizmodo underwent a major redesign.[10] In 2013, Matt Novak moved his Paleofuture blog to Gizmodo from Smithsonian.[11]

In 2015, the Gawker blog io9 was merged into Gizmodo. The staff of io9 continued with Gizmodo and continued to post articles on subjects covered by the website, including science fiction, fantasy, futurism, science, technology and astronomy.[12]

Univision and G/O Media

See also: Gizmodo Media Group and G/O Media. Gizmodo was one of six websites that was purchased by Univision Communications in their acquisition of Gawker Media in August 2016.[13] Univision in turn sold Gizmodo and an array of sister websites to private equity firm Great Hill Partners in 2019; they combined the various former Gawker publications under the name of G/O Media. In August 2021, David M. Ewalt became the editor-in-chief (EIC) of Gizmodo with Andrew Couts who was promoted to the executive editor;[14] Ewalt left in 2023 for The Messenger.[15] In January 2024, Rory Carroll was promoted from EIC of Jalopnik to group editor of both Jalopnik and Gizmodo.[16] Then in March 2024, Rose Pastore was promoted from Gizmodo's deputy editor to its executive editor.[17]

G/O Media's leadership, introduced after the purchase from Univision, was subject to frequent criticism by employees. Complaints include closer advertiser relationships, a lack of diversity, and suppression of reporting about the company itself.[18] The company also saw multiple disputes with the employee union GMG Union.[19] [20] [21] On June 29, 2023, G/O Media implemented a "modest test" of artificial intelligence-generated content on its websites, such as Gizmodo's io9. The move sparked backlash from GMG Union members, citing AI's track record of false statements and plagiarism from its training data, with basic errors in the generated content also attracting attention.[22] [23]

Keleops Media

In June 2024, Gizmodo was purchased by the European digital media company Keleops Media. This is the Swiss company's "first U.S. acquisition" – Keleops "owns several French-language technology titles, including legacy brands 01net and Presse-citron". Mark Stenberg of Adweek commented that "financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The entire Gizmodo staff will receive offer letters to stay with the company, and Keleops plans to expand the team in the near future".[24] Stenberg reported that, per Keleops CEO Jean-Guillaume Kleis, "the company has no immediate plans to change Gizmodo, either from a commercial or editorial perspective" and will instead "work with Gizmodo editor in chief Rory Carroll to discuss its forward-looking editorial plan and identify growth areas to support with investment". Claudia Cohen of Le Figaro commented that "it is rare for a European media group to get its hands on an American player, who is also specialized in the field of tech" – Kleis told the French newspaper that they "paid the price to enter the American market through a good door".[25]

Associated outlets

International

Gizmodo launched associated outlets in various international markets:

Sub-blogs

Gizmodo contains two sub-blogs as part of the wider site:

io9

See main article: articles and io9. io9 is a science fiction and fantasy pop-culture focused sub-blog which was launched as a standalone blog in 2008 by then editor Annalee Newitz under Gawker Media,[41] before being folded under Gizmodo in 2015 as part of a reorganization under parent company Gawker.[42] In 2021, James Whitbrook replaced Jill Pantozzi as the site's deputy editor.[43]

Earther

Earther is an environmental news sub-blog which was launched in September 2017. Earther launched with the mission to chronicle three main topics: "The future of Earth," "The future of humans on Earth," and "The future of life on Earth."[44] Founding managing editor Maddie Stone said that the site was created because it "felt like a salient and important time to create a destination for environmental news where folks can go to read up on the latest studies, but also hear the latest news about how natural disasters are affecting people, the big important environmental policies being raised around the world, and some of the biggest conservation stories."[45]

During its lifetime, former Earther journalists Yessenia Funues, Brian Kahn, and Molly Taft won SEAL Awards for their environmental reporting. [46] [47] [48]

As of broader G/O Media layoffs in November 2023 the last member of the sub-blog, Angely Mercado, was laid off meaning there are currently no staff listed as working for the sub-blog.[49] [50] [51]

Controversy

TV-B-Gone

Richard Blakeley, a videographer for Gizmodos publisher, Gawker Media, disrupted several presentations held at CES in 2008.[52] [53] Blakely secretly turned off TVs using TV-B-Gone remote controls, resulting in his being barred from CES 2008, and any future CES events.

iPhone 4 prototype

In April 2010, Gizmodo came into possession of what was later known to be a prototype of the iPhone 4 smartphone by Apple.[54] The site purchased the device for US$5,000 from Brian J. Hogan, who had found it unattended at a bar in Redwood City, California, a month earlier.[55] UC Berkeley student Sage Robert, an acquaintance of Hogan, allegedly helped him sell the phone after failing to track down the owner. With Apple confirming its provenance, bloggers such as John Gruber and Ken Sweet speculated that this transaction may have violated the California Penal Code.[56]

On April 26, after Gizmodo returned the iPhone to Apple, upon Apple's request California's Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team executed a search warrant on editor Jason Chen's home and seized computers, hard drives, servers, cameras, notes, and a file of business cards, under direction from San Mateo County’s Chief Deputy District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe.[57] [58] [59] Since then, Gizmodo and the prosecution have agreed that a special master will review the contents of the items seized and determine if they contain relevant information.[60] [61] Gizmodo was since barred from Apple-hosted events and product launches until August 2014, when they were invited once again to Apple's September 2014 "Wish we could say more" event.[62]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gizmodo.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info – DomainTools. WHOIS. September 16, 2016. September 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210930111402/https://whois.domaintools.com/gizmodo.com. live.
  2. Web site: Univision Finalizes Sale Of Former Gawker Portfolio And The Onion To Private Equity Firm Great Hill Partners. Hayes. Dade. 2019-04-08. Deadline. en. 2019-12-17. January 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210111234020/https://deadline.com/2019/04/univision-finalizes-sale-of-former-gawker-portfolio-and-the-onion-to-private-equity-firm-great-hill-partners-1202591007/. live.
  3. News: Baragona . Justin . 2024-06-04 . G/O Media Sells Off Gizmodo . 2024-06-04 . The Daily Beast . en . June 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240604164051/https://www.thedailybeast.com/go-media-sells-off-gizmodo . live .
  4. News: Robertson . Katie . 2024-06-04 . Gizmodo Sold to European Media Company . 2024-06-04 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  5. Book: Gillin, Paul . The New Influencers: A Marketer’s Guide to the New Social Media . Linden Publishing . 2007 . 9781610351102 . 57-61 . Influencer Profile: The Gadget King.
  6. Web site: August 1, 2022 . This Is How Gizmodo Started . June 4, 2024 . Gizmodo . en.
  7. Web site: 2014-03-03 . 10 Years In: The birth of Engadget . 2024-06-04 . Engadget . en-US.
  8. News: What Makes Nick Tick? The smartest publisher in the blogosphere says there's no money online. So why doesn't anyone believe him?. Greg Lindsay. June 1, 2004. Business 2.0. January 27, 2007. May 6, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180506191532/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2004/06/01/370437/index.htm. live.
  9. News: VNU to Publish Gawker's Gizmodo Blog in Europe . MarketingVOX . October 7, 2005 . January 27, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070324013012/http://www.marketingvox.com/archives/2005/10/07/vnu_to_publish_gawkers_gizmodo_blog_in_europe/ . March 24, 2007.
  10. Web site: 2011-02-07 . This Is the New Gizmodo . 2023-07-08 . Gizmodo . en . June 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230602095441/https://gizmodo.com/this-is-the-new-gizmodo-5752428 . live .
  11. Web site: The Paleofuture Blog Has Moved to Gizmodo . . May 30, 2013 . August 11, 2018 . April 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220407203222/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-paleofuture-blog-has-moved-to-gizmodo-86286466/ . live .
  12. Web site: Ingram. Mathew. Gawker Media merging Gizmodo and io9 teams into a tech super-hub. GigaOM. August 19, 2016. April 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220407203224/https://gigaom.com/2015/01/15/gawker-media-merging-gizmodo-and-io9-blogs-into-a-tech-super-hub/. dead.
  13. Web site: Calderone. Michael. Gawker.com Ending Operations Next Week. The Huffington Post. August 18, 2016. April 17, 2020. October 16, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161016051720/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/gawker-closing_us_57b5e870e4b0fd5a2f41cbb5. live.
  14. Web site: MG/O Media Announces New Editors In Chief Of AV Club, Gizmodo, Jezebel . Cision . 2021-08-31 . 2021-09-14 . September 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210914205831/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/go-media-announces-new-editors-in-chief-of-av-club-gizmodo-jezebel-301366488.html . live .
  15. Web site: 2023-05-02 . The Messenger To Launch May 15 . 2023-05-02 . Axios.
  16. Web site: Roush . Chris . 2024-01-08 . Carroll takes on Gizmodo in addition to Jalopnik . 2024-06-04 . Talking Biz News . en-US.
  17. Web site: Roush . Chris . 2024-03-20 . Gizmodo promotes Pastore to executive editor . 2024-06-04 . Talking Biz News . en-US.
  18. News: Tani . Maxwell . 2019-07-18 . Gizmodo Media Staff Enraged at New CEO's 'Insane' Direction . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190801231955/https://www.thedailybeast.com/gizmodo-media-staff-enraged-at-new-ceos-insane-direction . August 1, 2019 . July 28, 2019 . . mdy-all.
  19. Web site: 2020-01-14 . GMG Union votes no confidence in G/O Media CEO Jim Spanfeller . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200114100437/https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/gmg-union-jim-spanfeller-no-confidence.html . January 14, 2020 . 2020-02-02 . Awful Announcing . en-US.
  20. News: Eidelson . Josh . 4 February 2021 . G/O Media Told Staff Activism Got Editor Fired, Union Says . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210212201843/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-04/gizmodo-told-staff-it-fired-editor-for-activism-union-claims . February 12, 2021 . 4 February 2021 . Bloomberg.
  21. News: Geier . Thom . 1 March 2022 . Jezebel, Gizmodo, The Root and Other G/O Media Writers Go on Strike . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220301153355/https://www.thewrap.com/jezebel-gizmodo-the-root-and-other-g-o-media-writers-go-on-strike/ . March 1, 2022 . 1 March 2022 . The Wrap.
  22. News: Tangermann . Victor . 30 June 2023 . Gizmodo and Kotaku Staff Furious After Owner Announces Move to AI Content . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230705105952/https://futurism.com/gizmodo-kotaku-staff-furious-ai-content . July 5, 2023 . 6 July 2023 . Futurism.
  23. News: Spangler . Todd . 5 July 2023 . Gizmodo's io9 Published an AI-Generated Star Wars Article That Was Filled With Errors . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230706030317/https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/io9-ai-generated-star-wars-article-errors-1235662194/ . July 6, 2023 . 6 July 2023 . Variety.
  24. Web site: Stenberg . Mark . June 4, 2024 . Gizmodo Acquired by Swiss Media Firm Keleops . registration . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240604171831/https://www.adweek.com/media/gizmodo-acquired-keleops-go-media/ . June 4, 2024 . June 4, 2024 . . en-US.
  25. News: Cohen . Claudia . June 4, 2024 . Le groupe média Keleops (Presse Citron, 01Net...) s’offre le site tech américain Gizmodo . The Keleops media group (Presse Citron, 01Net, etc.) acquires the American tech site Gizmodo . June 4, 2024 . . fr.
  26. Web site: 2017-04-04 . Company History . 2024-06-04 . 株式会社メディアジーン (Mediagene Inc.) . en . July 2006: Launched GIZMODO JAPAN, the Japanese version of the media blog GIZMODO published in the U.S. and eight European countries.
  27. Web site: 2021-12-15 . Gizmodo Japan . 2024-06-04 . メディアジーン (Mediagene) . en.
  28. Web site: 14 December 2021 . About Gizmodo Australia . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230727160350/https://gizmodo.com.au/about/ . July 27, 2023 . 18 March 2022 . Gizmodo Australia.
  29. Web site: August 9, 2012 . Gizmodo Australia . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230726114929/https://gizmodo.com.au/ . July 26, 2023 . September 3, 2012 . Gizmodo.com.au.
  30. Web site: Samios . Zoe . 2018-12-11 . Pedestrian TV and Allure merge, with Jason Scott to depart . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204140543/https://mumbrella.com.au/pedestrian-tv-and-allure-merge-with-jason-scott-to-depart-556664 . February 4, 2023 . 2021-04-14 . Mumbrella . en-US.
  31. Web site: Bennett . Lindsay . 11 December 2018 . Pedestrian TV to absorb Allure Media in post-Fairfax consolidation . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220321013521/https://www.adnews.com.au/pedestrian-tv-to-absorb-allure-media . March 21, 2022 . 2021-04-14 . AdNews . en.
  32. Web site: Nine merging digital publishers Pedestrian.TV & Allure Media . Mediaweek . 11 December 2018 . 17 March 2022 . March 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220317054717/https://www.mediaweek.com.au/nine-merging-digital-publishers-pedestrian-tv-allure-media/ . live .
  33. Web site: Home page. Pedestrian Group. 17 March 2022. March 15, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220315163319/https://pedestriangroup.com.au/. live.
  34. Web site: Jaspan . Calum . 2024-07-08 . Pedestrian boss to depart as group slashes staff and titles . 2024-07-08 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
  35. News: Taylor . Josh . 2024-07-08 . Vice, Kotaku, Refinery29 to no longer publish in Australia after Pedestrian Group announces restructure . 2024-07-08 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  36. News: October 25, 2007 . VNU Media stoot computerbladen af . VNU Media launched the computer magazine . subscription . live . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20240604190640/https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2007/10/25/vnu-media-stoot-computerbladen-af-11438614-a505474 . June 4, 2024 . June 4, 2024 . . nl-NL .
  37. Web site: October 25, 2007 . Media: HUB neemt titels VNU Media over . HUB takes over titles from VNU Media . June 4, 2024 . FONK Magazine . nl-NL.
  38. Web site: Gizmodo Brazil . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20100911213432/http://gizmodo.com.br/ . September 11, 2010 . September 3, 2012 . Gizmodo.com.br.
  39. Web site: August 31, 2011 . Gizmodo to launch in the UK . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204140549/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/aug/31/gizmodo-launch-uk . February 4, 2023 . September 29, 2017 . Guardian.com.
  40. Web site: Tamburro . Paul . 7 September 2020 . Kotaku UK and Gizmodo UK shutting down, rights reverted back to G/O Media . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204140543/https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/658561-kotaku-uk-gizmodo-shut-down . February 4, 2023 . 16 September 2020 . GameRevolution . Evolve Media LLC.
  41. Wortham . Jenna . 2008-01-02 . Gawker Blasts Into Sci-Fi With New Blog, Io9; a Q&A With Editor Annalee Newitz . . 2008-06-10 . October 25, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121025002849/http://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/news/2008/01/gawker_scifiblog . live .
  42. Web site: 2015-11-17 . io9 to Become Part of Gizmodo . 2021-06-01 . CBR . en-US . June 2, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215743/https://www.cbr.com/io9-to-become-part-of-gizmodo/ . live .
  43. Web site: 6 December 2021 . A Message from Your New Editor . December 24, 2023 . October 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231016092358/https://gizmodo.com/a-message-from-your-new-editor-1848163731 . live .
  44. News: Weissman . Cale Guthrie . 2017-08-06 . Gizmodo's New Environmental Site "Earther" Will Chronicle The Earth's Decline . Fast Company . 6 August 2018 . January 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118205317/https://www.fastcompany.com/40473755/gizmodos-new-environmental-site-earther-will-chronicle-the-earths-decline . live .
  45. News: 2017-10-03 . New site aims for 'brutally honest' environmental news . en . Columbia Journalism Review . 2018-02-04 . April 2, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240402051453/https://www.cjr.org/innovations/climate-change-news-earther.php . live .
  46. Web site: 2020-02-13 . 2019 SEAL Environmental Journalism Award Winners Announced . 2023-12-19 . . December 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231219184037/https://sealawards.com/environmental-journalism-award-2019/ . live .
  47. Web site: 2021-02-17 . Twelve Journalists Recognized as 2020 SEAL Environmental Journalism Award Winners . 2023-12-19 . . December 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231209160214/https://sealawards.com/environmental-journalism-award-2020/ . live .
  48. Web site: 2023-02-08 . Twelve Journalists Recognized as 2022 SEAL Environmental Journalism Award Winners . 2023-12-19 . . December 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231207220355/https://sealawards.com/twelve-journalists-recognized-as-2022-seal-environmental-journalism-award-winners . live .
  49. Web site: Spangler . Todd . 2023-11-09 . Jezebel Shutting Down, Parent Company G/O Media Laying Off 23 Staffers . 2023-12-22 . Variety . en-US . November 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231109163431/https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/jezebel-shutting-down-go-media-layoffs-1235785877/ . live .
  50. Web site: Staff . Gizmodo . 2011-10-04 . About Gizmodo . https://web.archive.org/web/20231224214226/https://gizmodo.com/about-gizmodo-5732042 . 2023-12-24 . 2023-12-22 . Gizmodo . en.
  51. https://twitter.com/AngelyMercado/status/1722664855239323954 Just got laid off from G/O with 20+ staffers (before xmas). I am going to miss my colleagues and am forever grateful that I got to work alongside so many talented people as the last Earthling at @Gizmodo. If you need a climate/science writer or fact-checker, shoot me a DM <3
  52. Web site: Bloggers behaving badly: Gizmodo messes with CES flat screens. Rafe. Needleman. January 10, 2008. January 11, 2008. May 16, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080516192115/http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9848317-1.html. live.
  53. Web site: Confessions: The Meanest Thing Gizmodo Did at CES. Brian. Lam. January 10, 2008. January 11, 2008. January 10, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190110072110/https://gizmodo.com/343348/confessions-the-meanest-thing-gizmodo-did-at-ces. live.
  54. News: For Apple, Lost iPhone Is a Big Deal. April 19, 2010. April 22, 2010. The New York Times. Miguel. Helft. Nick. Bilton. February 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230204140541/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/technology/companies/20apple.html?hp. live.
  55. Web site: Man who found — and sold — the missing iPhone unmasked . April 29, 2010 . Today in Tech . Yahoo News . May 4, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100504011453/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ytech_gadg/ytech_gadg_tc1874 . May 4, 2010 .
  56. News: Gizmodo paid for iPhone 4G: so are they receivers of stolen goods? . Sweet . Ken . April 19, 2010 . Technology Blog . The Guardian . May 4, 2010 . London . February 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204140543/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2010/apr/19/gizmodo-paid-iphone-4g . live .
  57. Web site: The Fourth Estate, The Death of Journalism. Lundin. Leigh. May 2, 2010. Newsworthy. Criminal Brief. May 21, 2010. February 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230204140545/https://criminalbrief.com/?p=12019. live.
  58. News: Police seize computers from Gizmodo editor . Sutter . John . April 26, 2010 . SciTechBlog . CNN . May 4, 2010 . May 13, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100513032438/http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/26/police-seize-computers-from-gizmodo-editor/ . dead .
  59. Web site: Silicon Valley cops raid Gizmodo editor's home, take four computers . Calderone . Michael . April 26, 2010 . The Newsroom . Yahoo News . May 4, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100503042234/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100426/ts_ynews/ynews_ts1791 . May 3, 2010 .
  60. Web site: Prosecutor in Search of a Crime?. Lundin. Leigh. June 13, 2010. Newsworthy. Criminal Brief. June 13, 2010. February 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230204140552/https://criminalbrief.com/?p=12607. live.
  61. Web site: Myslewski . Rik . Search begins on seized Gizmodo journo kit . Der Ring des Gizmodophonelungen . The Register . San Francisco, California . June 4, 2010 . August 10, 2017 . March 20, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190320070312/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/04/gizmodo_editor_search_begins/ . live .
  62. Web site: Apple's iPhone Event Will Be Sept 9th (And We'll Be There). August 28, 2014. Newsworthy. Gizmodo. September 9, 2017. March 20, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230320105446/https://gizmodo.com/apples-iphone-event-will-be-sept-9th-1627957216. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Gizmodo".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.