Gawker
Blogs such as Gawker won't be running 5,000-word-long features any time soon, nor giving writers weeks to investigate. But the web—other blogs, search engines and social network sites—increasingly rewards original items. So we're looking for an additional reporter for the team.
At its most basic, the reporting may at times be little more than value-added blogging: a story in the news, put in context with a quick Nexis search, and deconstructed. At its most elevated, the new Gawker hire may experiment with a new form of reporting, unique to online, in which ideas are floated, appeals made to the readers, and the story assembled over the course of several items, from speculation, and tips from users. Here's the kind of person suited to the position.
- At least two years of experience as a reporter at a daily or weekly newspaper, covering either crime news, business, or media and culture (yes, a print background is an advantage).
- Ability to write five short items a day, some one-offs, some to further an ongoing campaign or investigation.
- A reporter who appreciates the discipline of newspaper traditions, but chafes under them.
- A natural gossip who loves the story and, even more, the story behind the story.
- familiarity with blogging software, RSS readers and graphics editing tools a big plus.
You may have heard that blogs don't pay; that's no longer the case. Short letter explaining why you're suited, with links to articles online, by December 19, to Noah Robischon with the subject line: Reporter.
Comments
Oh, now I get it! The New Gawker is going to be Gothamist!
If there is any justice in this world, this job will go to Frank Rich.
Five short items?? FIVE???
HAH.
@TheHonJudgeSmails: Not Simon?
I hope Doree applies.
"Investigation." Y'all are fucking FUNNY!
Do you have to live in New York?
I have 10 years experience writing about crime for Gannett back in the 1990s.
Now I write a lot of porn for money, which seems like it might also be a qualification.
Oh, and I went to Bard and could tell much better stories than the current Bard Dude.
@KarenUhOh: That's $60! I'm calling Aetna!
@Choire: You're right. Hiring Simon is likely a precondition of hiring Frank.
wow this earnest an appeal must certainly be a joke or a trap of some kind.
"A reporter who appreciates the discipline of newspaper traditions, but chafes under them."
Does that make you itchy?
How much do we have to be able to bench press/squat?
@Choire: I will be forwarding along a Mr. Alex Balk's resume; he has some blogging experience.
"A reporter who appreciates the discipline of newspaper traditions, but chafes under them."
What if you just chafe?
Only two years of reporting experience? That's not setting the experience bar especially high.
Although the job obviously pays something (as the item above proudly informs us), I'm guessing it's not much.
@NinaHagen: The Gawker office cabinets are generously stocked with baby powder.
DON'T ASK.
What's the maximum permissable self-respect quotient?
@MisterHippity: The thing is if they only want five items a day they wouldn't have to pay that much.
Snark is not that time intensive.
@Pope John Peeps II: Isn't cornstarch better?
Wasn't this in Jackass 2?
@drunkexpatwriter: "Now I write a lot of porn for money"
Tell me you write 'Full House' slash fiction.
@MisterHippity: Didn't we learn yesterday that all it takes to be a reporter is the ability to talk to people and then write down what they say before you forget it?
Someone who appreciates discipline ... but sometimes chafes under it ... and has reporting experience ...
Wait a minute, I've got the perfect candidate!
Marv Albert!
If the .99 dollar menu is still appealing, then, perhaps I'd better keep my day job with all the other corporate fucktwats. Thanks, though.
after 50 years of co-solving mysteries with that bitch nancy drew, i think it's time that i stepped out and shine on my own, non?
so i, bess marvin, will like to throw in my hat for gawker blogger.
@NeverStop: At the moment I'm writing Amazon type "reviews" of male escorts and a series of gay travel/cruising guides to Euro cities.
I just finished a bunch of copy for a drag queen porn sites where I got a good deal of money for coining the term "cockaholic."
My favorite job ever was a site for dudes who were turned on by the Iraq prison torture photos.
I came up with the tagline "They Already Hate Bush. Make Them Love Dick."
I want to be Gawker's new meteorologist. Blakeley can tape me making snow angels and I can say "It's snowing! It's snowing!" And some Death Cab for Cutie song will be playing as I lose my scarf in the wind and go running down the street after it. That's hard reporting, folks.
@drunkexpatwriter: Wow, I think I heard hell mumble its appreciation. I'd be careful of the extracurriculars that fan group likes.
@drunkexpatwriter: You sound kind of overqualified to me.
Aw, man, I love that no one wants to claim this shit. Do 'light' investigative reporting and write five 'short' pieces a day? Why not ask for a pony while you are at it?
@spirit fingers: Yeah, I'm glad I work remotely and don't have to see or interact with my clients in person.
Porn is awesome for getting paid to essentially write dirty jokes.
When I was writing for bareback.com I got extra money for "Leave Your Trojans At Home Just Bring Your Bone" and "Don't Ever Pull Out Of Dodge."
@MisterHippity: Hell, I'd do it just for fun. I love snark.
@CodePink:
But do your breasts know when it's raining?
@drunkexpatwriter: Five items a day is not that easy if they want original news stories. Reporting takes actual time to chase down story leads and gather facts and stuff. It's not like blogging where you create a link to something someone else wrote, type your own comment next to it, and post it.
@drunkexpatwriter: Cockaholic? Marry me.
@LolCait: I hope you apply.
@MisterHippity: Since I was a reporter for 10 years I understand how work intensive it can be.
That said, most of the Gawker items are not really reporting so much as having fun with the news.
It seems to me like the amount of original news here is fairly low.
@drunkexpatwriter: AWESOME. All the stuff you listed you have worked on. I am envious and impressed at the same time!
I completely vote for Drunkexpatwriter for the job!
(or, at least, buy him a cyber-drink!
(that's right, I used the "cyber-"-thing, I am a loser)).
@drunkexpatwriter: Yes, or else I think you'd be susceptible to a raging case of fire-n-the-hole, if you know what I mean.
And, yes...news to Gawker is like cocaine to Sandra Bernhardt, fun while it lasts but such a downer when there's none left, so you're left snorting crushed lead paint chips to pass the time.
@elizabethm: Some of it is fun. Sometimes it can get a little boring. Right now I'm writing my 14th gay escort review of the week and honestly there are only so many ways you can write "great cocksucker" and "his tight bottom milked my cock."
I wish I could get a porn job that involved looking at pictures of naked girls rather than naked guys. Sadly, however, the gay, drag and transsexual porn sites pay much, much better than the straight sites.
@drunkexpatwriter: "It seems to me like the amount of original news here is fairly low."
It was original until it appeared in the Times, the Post or the News.
Take your pick.
@drunkexpatwriter: So to review 14 gay escorts a week . . . you must be, um, utilizing them? Are you sure you'll have enough time or feeling in your lower half to write here? We all know how essential the input of your cock is to successful Gawking.
it means find 1 original news item and beat it to death for 3 days. is what it means.
@edisdead: I'd give this a try, but I live in Chicago, already have two (shitty) jobs, and also fear it is a trap.
Like answering/blindly showing up at a date found on Craigslist or Adultfriendfinder (nope, never did that *cough*)
Ha!
@DavidWatts: Oh, I don't visit them. I'm not into the cock.
This client has a bunch of male escorts working for him.
I read what other reviewers have written about the boys and then throw in stuff my client wants me to "play up" about his workers to create an "original review."
I'd apply, but it's lunchtime. Chinese food a-callin'.
@MyCubeHas3Sides: Thanks!
Maybe you would have liked my taglines for the Cruising Guide To Amsterdam" yesterday:
"Get Stoned And Boned!"
"Fuck Frank In Anne's House!"
"Not Every Dutch Boy Wants To Put His Finger In A Dyke!"
"Cum For The Canal, Stay For The Anal"
"Amsterdam - The High Hard One"
"Get Weed And Seed!"
Need any more of them supergay IT warriors?
Remember the Denton Dream: "transformation of Gawker from cute blog to fully-fledged news site."
Anyone notice LOLCait's absence from this post? A little Gawker re-org perhaps?
And do you think it's just a coincidence that Choire and Emily's departure was announced just one day after I gave notice at my plenty-of-time-to-comment job? I mean if the Mayoress isn't reading, what's the point? What's the point?!
But seriously, I'll miss you guys... you know, being busy getting actual fulfillment through my actual job tasks...
Yeah, ok - see you in 6 months once I learn to waste time at my new gig.
xo
the m.
Just a personal preference, and no offense drunkexpatwriter, but I much prefer when collegecallgirl discusses her work.
@the_mayoress: Come back soon! You are like the Betty to College Callgirl's Veronica in my life here. Or perhaps the Chrissy to her Janet? I'm not sure where this is headed, but perhaps the three of us can figure it out in the bedroom?