Shots In The Dark: The Gawker/Jared Paul Stern Lovefest

Thursday, April 20, 2024

The Gawker/Jared Paul Stern Lovefest

I should have remarked on this earlier, but all of you people who criticized me for saying that Gawker was going easy on Jared Paul Stern—you know who you are, you bad, bad people— possibly because he had assigned them (cash!) book reviews....Do you still feel that way, knowing that Gawker invited Stern to guest-edit the site last weekend?

Sample Stern prose: It’s hard work, the pay sucks, the server shit the bed and there obviously aren’t enough drink tickets to go around.

Never mind "the server shit the bed"—compensation seems to be a recurring issue with Stern....

Also on the NY Post Sleazewatch, the Times has a good piece about how advertising in the Page Six Magazine is sure to buy you good mentions on Page Six...or is it that good mentions on Page Six encourage people to advertise in the Page Six Magazine?

¶ 9:19 AM

Comments:

No, this is still unfair. By all accounts, the JPS cameo over the weekend was the brilliant idea of Nick Denton, Gawker's publisher. The two editors of Gawker strongly opposed the stunt, and made their views clear when they got back on Monday.

# posted by Anonymous : 10:28 AM

Yeah? You may know more than I do, but I haven't seen that story made public. And, of course, if they feel so strongly about it, they are free to quit....It's not like there isn't precedent: http://thepoliticker.observer.com/2006/02/ny-press-kills-cartoons-staff-walks-out.html.

# posted by richard : 10:35 AM

According to Nikki Finke, "Finally, just in case you were wondering, Gawker's editing duo of Coen and Oxfeld were furious when they heard Stern was going to post in their place."

# posted by Anonymous : 11:11 AM

Okay, point taken. Thanks for the cite.

# posted by richard : 11:14 AM

By the way, did you read what he posted? Burkle could probably add libel to the charges of extortion...but then again, it is hard to prove libel if it is true, but it certainly was quite malicious.

# posted by Anonymous : 3:54 PM

Yup, I agree. I don't think Stern is helping himself. But (I guess) what can he say, really? I think the approach is to throw as much mud at the wall as possible and hope some of it sticks.

# posted by richard : 7:55 AM

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