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Gawker

Gawker to reorient itself as a political news outlet ahead of 2016 US election

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By John Glenday, Reporter

November 18, 2015 | 2 min read

American gossip blog Gawker is to reposition itself as a political news, opinions and satire portal in the run-up to the 2016 US presidential elections, as part of a dramatic shift in focus which has seen a number of staff layoffs.

Gawker, Nick Denton

The change in direction follows a high profile scandal in which Gawker was accused of over stepping the mark for publishing details of a company executive who it accused of contacting a gay escort which prompted founder Nick Denton to purge the story as well as three sister platforms; Defamer, Morning After and Valleywag.

In a double whammy Gawker is also currently embroiled in a $100m dollar lawsuit with former wrestler Hulk Hogan, who is suing for invasion of privacy after it published a sex tape featuring the star.

Gawker’s executive editor John Cook said: “The shift in focus will necessarily mean that certain kinds of stories that Gawker has trafficked in the past will go by the wayside, and we can’t reshape the site’s focus without shifting personnel.

For the first time in my six or so years at Gawker, the company is finally acknowledging what I think most of us in editorial have always known: that we are a media company. We thrive through stories – honest, conversational, hopefully brave stories.”

Editor Alex Pareene will spearhead the switchover.

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