What Was Gawker?

A Gawker editor of the past coined the slogan, ‘Honesty is our only virtue.’ That will do as well as anything. Many Gawker readers did not think we were the best writers, nor did they even particularly like us; they read Gawker because they knew that we would tell the truth about whatever was happen…

— Hamilton Nolan, gawker.com

Gawker

Gawker was anarchist journalism at its finest. Every day, a page to be filled; every day, a chance for greatness, or idiocy. This site contains the very best and worst things that many writers have written. This fact drives many people mad. But to the sort of person who was cut out to be a Gawker wr…

— Hamilton Nolan, gawker.com

Gawker

Most attempts to explain this publication’s editorial direction tell you more about the person doing the explaining than they do about this publication. With a little cherry-picking you can make it seem like our focus was just about anything. In truth, we had no focus. We had writers.

— Hamilton Nolan, gawker.com

Gawker

Gawker was just a giant, empty page waiting to be filled, every day. It was a page large enough and deep enough to accept whatever you wanted to put on it. Serious things and non-serious things could sit side-by-side. News and inside jokes and essays and whatever idea had popped into your mind last…

— Hamilton Nolan, gawker.com

Gawker

Most journalism jobs exist on a continuum between audience and freedom. If you want a lot of people to pay attention to you, you work at a place where the individual writer’s voice is completely subsumed into the institutional voice. If you want complete freedom to write whatever the hell you want,…

— Hamilton Nolan, gawker.com

Gawker

Wherever you go in this life, there is some jerk telling you what to do. Almost always. But not always.

— Hamilton Nolan, gawker.com

Gawker

W W WW WW W MW W WW W W WW W W W WW W W &W W WW W W WW &W W W& WW WW& W W K W WW& WW W W M W W MWKW &WW W & W WW WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMWWMMMMMMMWMMMMMMMMW WM&&&MMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMMK KWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM KW WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMMMMMMMMMMMMWWWWWWWWWMMMMM&&&MM&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&W WKKKKKK&&MWWWWWMMMMMM&&&&&WWWWWWWWWWWWWM&&K &WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMM WWKK WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMMMMMMWWW MWWMMM&&MMMMMM&&&&M&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&W WKKKKKK&MMWWWWWMMMMMMM&&&MMWWWWWWWWWWKWWM&K &WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WK WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW KWMMMMM&MMMMMMMMMM&&MM&MMMMMM&&MMMMMW W&KKKKK&MMWWWWWMMMMMMM&&&&MWWWWWWW& &&K MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM W& WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMWWWWWM&WWWWMMMMMMW W&KKKKK&MMWWWWWWMMMM&M&&&&MWWWWWWW WK MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMM& W& WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWMMMMM&MMMMMMWW MWWMMMWW W&&KKK&&MMWWWWWMMMMMMMM&&&MWWWWWWW W MK MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWKKK W& WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WMMMMMMMMMMWM WWWWWW W&&KKKK&MMWWWWWWWMMMMMM&&&MWWWWWWW K WK &WWWWWWWWWWWWWWMMKK W& WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WMMMMMMMMMW& WWWWW W&&&&&&&MMWWWWWWWWMMMMMM&MMWWWWWWW WK &WWWWWWWWWWWWWWW&KKK W& WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW KWMMMMMMMM&K WWWW W&&&&&&&MMWWWWWWWMMMMMMM&&MWWWWWWW WK &WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&KK W& WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWWMMMMMMM& WWW W&K&&&&&MMWWWWWWWMMMMMM&&&MWWWWWWK WK &WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMKK W& WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWWMMMMMM&& KK MWW W&K&&&&&MMWWWWWWWWMMMMM&&&MWWWWWW KWK MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&KK &WK WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW K WWWWMMMMMM& WW W&&&&&&&MMWWWWWWWMMMMMMM&&MWWWWWW MM& MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW& K WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWWWMMMMMMMW W W&&&&&&&MMWWWWWWWMMMMMM&&&MWWWWWW WM& MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMKKK & WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM MWWWWMMWMMMMM W W&&&&&&&MMWWWWWMMMMMMM&&&&&WWWWWW W&K KMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&KK K WWWWWWWWWWWWWW KKWWWWWWM W&&&&&&&&&&&K K W&&&&&&&&MWWWWWWMMMMM&&&KK&WWWWWW W&KWM& KMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&KK KWMMMMMMMMMMM WWWWWWW WKK&&&&&&&MWWWWMMMM&&&&KKK&WWWWWWW&WWW WWWM& KMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&KK K WWWWWWWWWWWM WWWWWWWM W KK&&&&&&MWWWWMM&&&&&&KKKKMWWWWW&WWWWW&MMMK MWWWWWWWWWWWWWMM&KK K K&WWWWWWWWW WM MWKK WKKKKKKKK&MMWWMM&&&&&&KK KMWWWWWMWWWWW&W&& MWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&KKK KMWWWWWWWW W KKKKKKK&&MMMM&&&KK&KKK MWWWWWMWWWWW&MK &MWWWWWWMWWWWW&KKK WKKKKKKK&&&MMMM&&KKKKKK &MWWWWKWWWWWMK &MWWWWWMWWWWWW&KK WKKKKK KK&&&MM&&KKK K&&&&&&WWWWWW &MWWWWWMMWWWWW&KKK WK KK KKKK&&&&K KK WWW &MWWWWMMMMWWWW&&KKK WK K KKK&KK WWW KMMWWMMMMMWWWWMM&K WK K KKK WWW K&MMMMM&MMWWWWM K WK K WWW K&MMMMM&&MWWM WK K WWW K&MMMM&&&MM& WK K WWW K&MM&&&&&&& & WK KWK WW& K&MM&&K&&& WK K &WWWWWWWWW&&KWWW W M KK&M&KKKK

, , : . , , . , : , . :,, . .. , :: . . :, , , . . : . .., ,.,,,,,::,,. . , ,:,: :,,::,, . ., . .,: ,,::,: . :., . .,, ,,::, ,: .,: , , ,,. .,,, , :, .., ,:. . , , . , : ., , , .: ., ,,:,,: :: : .,. :,,,., ,: :,,.,, ,.: : ,,,., , , : . : . .,.. , , . , ,., .,, , ,. . ,.... : : .,,. , : , . , . : ..........: ,.,..,,. , ,., . .. : .,,. ...,.....,,.: ,., ,,,. :: ,. . ,. : : ....,,..,....,:::.....,, :,. ,.... : . .. .........,,.,...,,,....,..,,, :,,.,. , :: :. : :: ,.. . ..........,,,,.....,,....,.,.. : :.,,, .. . :: , . .. ............,,,,,... ....,..,,:,:... ,:.... : ,. , .............,,,,,,. .,,,,:,,,:,:,,,,,...... ..,.... : ............,,,,,,,..,:.,..,.:::...,,,,....,,,... .. ...........,,,,,,,,..:.,,..,:.,..,,,,,.,..,,.,,....,

} ~* < <~ < ~ < ~ <~ ~ * ~ < ~ < } } < ~} ~ } * } } }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} } }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}* ****}}} }}}}}}}}}}}} }}}**<<<*} }}****<<*** * < }<~ ~ * ~ ~ } } } < * }*~ < *~~~ } * ~* * * } * ~ < < <~ ~ ~ ~ } < * <} ~ }~ * } }}}} }}} ~ ~ } * < < }}*} * < ~ ~ < < } ~ *} *} * < < < ~ } } <*~~* **~ << < <* ~ }*} } }~* ~ *~ }<*** } ~ * }}*} } * ~ } } } ~ } }} * *} } <<* * }<<<<<* ~ < } <~<<< }* }}}} } }*** ~*} * * }~ } *< }}}* ~<<< ~<**<<~ }} ******** ~ * < } ~~ **<*}}*~ ** <<******< ~ ~ *}}}}}}~ }** }~ <<*<<<<< <<} }}}} } } }*<* }}*< <~<<<<~ ~ }}< ~* }} * * }}*<* }<~ ~~~ } ~ ~ ~ < <~ <*}*~ }*}}}* * }}**<* }<<~ ~<<~~ ~~*<*~ * }*}}}* *}}}*<<* }* *<~~<***< }<<< * }}}**}} }*<<} * *}***<<* }}***<****< * ~ < } }* ~* <<<* }*} *} }}}***< <} } } }}* }~ <<<* }***} }* }*} }*<

U V U V U o U U o o U U j ooooojjjjjjjj j j jjjjjj jjooooojjjjj jjjooooojjjjoj V U UoV U UVjoU UUVooU V V UojoU UVVoooo U UVjoU ooVV U U UVjoU ooVV U jj V UVjoU UVVoVo U o VUUUUVV j UVjoU UVVoVV U j oUUUUUUVVoo j UVjoU UVoVo U jjj jUUUVVVV VVVVj UojoU UVooo U oj Vo j VVVVUUVo j j o UojoU UUVoVo U o VUUooojU j joVUU UVo V o UojoU UVojo U UjoVVU UVoU VooU V V jVUUVj j o j UVjoU U U UooVVj VVjVUVo o Vo U UVooU UVojoVU V VVVVVo Vj o j jjoVVojoUj U V VoV UVVooVU o VVVU UU joj U jVVUjoVoU UVj U VVU o VoV UVVooVVUo VVUUUVU UUUo j oVVVVVVVoVVVoo jVV jV oVoj j UoV UVooooV V U UVoVoo j oVVoo VUVVVVVVVVVVVoj joj jjjjj U VoVU UVoojjV o o UVj U V jVUUVVVVVVoVo j jo UU UoooU UVojjoVUo oU VUV VVo oVoj j oVoooj jjjVVo U UUU UVjjoU UVojjjoVUj oVoojjjjjoo jUUjoVVUUUU oooVjj UUVU VVo oU UUVoojjoVUj j UUVjVVVUV jUooVV U UUUUUVVV Vooj jV UVVojjoVUj UUVooUVV U UU UUUUVVVVVVVU UUVVj jjjjj jV UVjjjoj VVVojoj jj U UUUUU UUVVVVVoooVVVoooooo jjj jV UVj oUVj oVUUVoj U UUUUUUU UVVooooooooooooj jj jj jV V j UUVoo U UUUUUUVUUVVooojjjjjjooooj j jV V VUUUoo U UUUUUVVVVVoojjjjjjjjjoooj jV V jj j VVUUVo U UUUUVVVoooojj jjjj j jV Uojjj jV UVoVUo UUUUVVVooojjjj jVooVoooVVVVU o jo jV Uj jjj j VUVj jUVVVUo U UUUVVojj j o oo VU jV Vj jj j j

& & K K K W MWWWWWWWWWWWM&WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW MWWWWWWWWMWK MWWWWWWWWW KWWWWWWWWMMWWW W&MWWWWWMMWWW M &WWWWWWWW WK MWWWWWWWW && &WWWW &W WMMWWWWWMMWWW W KWWWWWWM& WK WWWWWWWWW K WWWW && W WMMWWWWWWMWWW W &WWWWWWM& WK WWWWWWWWW& KK WWWW WMMWWWWWMMWWW M &WWWWWWWW&W WWWWWWWWWWWK KWWWWW KK WMMWWWWMM&WWW KW &WWWWWWM& K KWWWW& KWWW M&KKK MMMWWWM&&KWWWWWWM &WWWWWWM& K &&M&& & M&&MWM&&&KMWWWWM &WWWWWM&K K && M&&MM&KK KK WW KWWWWWWW& MK M&&K&K WW KWWWWW MM M&K WM KWWMW & MM M& WWWWWWW MM KWWM &MW& KK K&WWWM& WW KWMK MM& KW MWWWWWWWWWW KMM &K KM &WWWWWWW& & KW& K& WWWWW&KMMWWM &W M K W &K W K K WWWWWW& W K WM WK & MWK KKW&M WWW & K&WMWWM WWWMMWMMWMWK KWWWWM WWWWW&WMK &MWWM& &MMWW& KMWWMMK &&WK WWWWWW&

, : , : ,. . .. , , : , . , , . . , .. ,.., : ..,,,.,... ,,. : ..,,,,,,..,,::. ,. ..,,,,,,,,,,,:.,.,,,.. ..,,,,,:,,.,.,::,,.. ,, ....,,,,,,,.,:,.,,,.. ...,,,:,:,,,:,, ::,., .,,,,,:::,,,,. .,,,,,:,:,,,,. : , ,,,,,,,,,,,.,. :: :::: ::::,,,. : . :., , :: : :: , : ., :: : :,,: , :: :::,. : :, .. ::: ::, , ,, : : ::. ::,: : . ::: :

* }* ~ * } ~ } } ~ ***<<<~~<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ~~<<<<~~~<<*<<<<~ ~<*<<*<<~~< < <~* ~ } } < } < ~ * * ~ * } } ~* } *} < ~<~ ~ < **< < < < }~< } ~ * } ~ } } * } < * * }** * < <~~~ *<* } < } }*} <} }}}}<}} ~~* }}*} < ~*<*~ <*<<*~ < * }} } <~}* <~* <}**< << **~~< } < * <~** }*~ *}}<<~ ~ *< <*~~< * * < < ~ } **<~ <}*~~~ ~ ~~~~ ~~ *<<<***< < * }* }}}}}*~ *}<~~~~~ ~ ~~~ ~<<<<~<<<~ }}<* }*< }** ~ **<~~~~~ ~~~~ <*}}*~ < * }*< } } < *}<<~~~~ ~~~~ ~<*}**~ <<* * ~~ ~ }* < *}~~~~~~~ <~~~~~ ~<<*<~~~<<*~<* ~ * } } ~< < <<<<~~~<}~<<<<~~~<<<**~<~<<< <<~ <<~~< } ~

o V U oUV o U Vo o V VV jo U jj V V U o j U oj V V o Uo VV U j V o V o UVoU oUUj Uj V V U ojU VU V j jj U V V o VVoo VooUo o U V V o VU VV VV jo oo V Uo V V j V V jVV V UU U Voj VV jUj V VVVUVjj jjj U o V UUVjjooVjo j j UVojjj U V j V Uoj jj UooUVVV o Vj Vj U j jojVooj V j Uj j VjojoVoj V o o UU j jjjj ooj V j j j ojjj j Vo UU VV V V oj jjjjjj V U UV Uoojjjj UV o j Uoj oojjjj oo jj jV U Vj V o U VUUo j jU V j j U o U o U o j j j V ooo o