Gawker Media Promo Reel
Gawker Media takes criticisms of many of the worst aspects of blogging, connects them to people's desire for nastiness and, since they actually do the nasty stuff* about which people complain, use that attribute as a pitch to advertisers.
This promo video reminds me of the kind of straight talk about oneself that Hustler pioneered. On the one hand, I appreciate truth in advertising. On the other, that truth is what's moving me away from my interests in mass market entertainment blogging.
Gawker founder Nick Denton and other scum pond denizens are part of the future but that doesn't mean I have to go swimming with them. For example, I'm in the process of letting a sleazy domain expire because, after two years of fantasizing about being a scum lord, I realize that's just not in me.
I've done some things online that people considered nasty business, primarily at ProHipHop, but I had my reasons, those moves were meaningful to me and I meant every word (though certain posts were experiments in propaganda and the meaning was covert).
At this point, I'm glad that some of those moves were bad for my business because success for the wrong reasons takes one down a dangerous path of monetizing the ills of society. So Denton's path is not for me, though he's been a pioneer in web publishing and remains worth watching.
For my part, a new day is slowly dawning and it may remove me from the many eyes that follow ProHipHop. So be it. That process is already feeling like a good thing.
Video via Advert Fan.
[*I don't feel this way about all Gawker blogs but a nasty, scummy attitude is at the heart of their brand.]
Update:
I want to thank Gawker for alerting folks to the situation with Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti Foundation.
I've been warming up to these guys and this just cements their usefulness. Thanks! And sorry about the above. That's what I felt at the time but you guys have surprised me.
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