Gawker
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advertising
Burger King Will Regret Posing Hindu Goddess on Ham Sandwich
Burger King is constantly getting tons of free publicity for its outrageous offensive (and wacky!) ads, which it sometimes apologizes for afterward. Could this be a purposeful strategy? Of course! But now they're fucking with the goddess Lakshmi. Bad move. More »
7,156
38
Comment by aMagnificentBasterd: All Hindus are vegetarians? Who the hell is serving me the Pork Vindaloo? 8 Responses | Other threads
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losers
Ruth Madoff: Unsympathetic Figure
Ruth Madoff is getting her passport back, so that she may—if she's smart—flee this country for an isolated life far, far away. Our poll of public sympathy for her did not come back with encouraging results: More »
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Comment by uncivily obedient: I wonder which country she could move to where she would be able to live in peace. In any modern... 7 Responses | Other threads
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Pitch of the day
'Amazon women live in huts massage gringos all over except butts(etc.)'
A successful PR pitch starts with a subject line that grabs the eye. Congratulations to Eric Schwartz, who pitched us a spa review story with the subject line above. Aspiring writers, take note. Here's a taste of the story's magic: More »
10,406
Comment by BookishLookish: I heard the massage is wonderful, but if you reach for a tit while you're on the table, a capybara... 9 Responses | Other threads
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flackery
China Learns the Yin and Yang of PR
China's having some wee riots by a few troublesome dead-ender Uighurs. Hundreds are dead. The media always wants to "cover" things like this. China has a new media management strategy, though: savvy PR! The Uighurs have a counter-strategy: breaking shit. More »
2,465
Comment by DaveDavies: What's all the hubub about? We all know how this is going to end. The government is just... 4 Responses | Other threads
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polls
Who Has Sympathy for Ruth Madoff?
Ruth Madoff—loyal, pampered, tight-lipped wife of the single worst financial criminal in American history—seems to be unpopular. But why?? Is it feminist backlash? Anti-feminist backlash? Or, uh, something else? Poll and analysis below!
More »
15,550
Comment by BookishLookish: Did Gloria Steinem really say that? Fail. 12 Responses | Other threads
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newspaper wars
Washington Post Screwed Up Bad, Reports New York Times Over and Over
The Washington Post did a terrible thing, the New York Times reports. "Why is the WP so morally bankrupt?" the NYT wonders. The Post has issued a laughably weak apology for being a cheater loser paper, reports the NYT! More »
3,740
Comment by I Love New Jersey: What are they doing turning into the Daily News and Post? 1 Responses | Other threads
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flackery
The Accomplishments of Famous Publicist Charmaine Blake
Charmaine Blake, famous publicist, is of course best known for issuing a press release about—and during—her date with Cliff Clavin last night. What else has this famous publicist accomplished? We've prepared a Top 10 list. More » -
advice
Ruth Madoff's Guide to Redemption
Lost in the glee over Bernie Madoff's prison sentence is this: What will become of poor Ruth Madoff? She's stalked by paparazzi; rejected by landlords; and left with a mere $2.5 million. Here, Dear Ruth, is your road to redemption.
More »
20,192
Comment by newsnun: Anyone consider that maybe she didn't know what he was doing? Most families need copious amounts denial and repression. How... 4 Responses | Other threads
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public relations
How Censorship Finally Helped Wikipedia's Co-Founder
Jimmy Wales had an image problem. After bending his online encyclopedia's rules for a lover and, allegedly, for a benefactor, the Wikipedia co-founder faced rebuke and embarrassment. Then the New York Times made him a hero. More »
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By Ryan TateComment by Charax: I don't think that Times link links to what you think it links to. 1 Responses | Other threads
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public relations
Sanford Was Pushed Into Confession
It turns out Mark Sanford's full confession and apology today wasn't as heartfelt as it seemed: The South Carolina governor had just been informed The State newspaper would publish his mistress emails, its reporter tells us. More »
8,471
By Ryan TateComment by homovegetarian: He doesn't desire to repair his marriage, but to appear as if he is repairing his marriage. That was five... 7 Responses | Other threads
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public relations
Apple's Frozen Board Needs a Reboot
A hospital officially confirmed Steve Jobs received a liver transplant there, and did so with Jobs' permission. Meaning everyone is talking about the Apple CEO's sickness, except Apple. The pressure on the company's paralyzed directors is, justifiably, mounting. More »
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By Ryan TateComment by The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx: I understand that shareholders have a vested interest in the performance of the company, so the Apple board and management... 5 Responses | Other threads
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flackery
Shameless Press Release of the Day: 'Rihanna's Court Style'
By now you may have heard Chris Brown copped a plea Monday in a Los Angeles court. Maybe then you found yourself wondering, "Gee...I wonder what Rihanna wore to court today?" Well, Michele Marie PR wants everyone to know! More »
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Comment by belltolls: While reading this story I was wearing a blue and white striped Ralph Lauren shirt with black 501 jeans and... 4 Responses | Other threads
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public relations
Threatening Bloggers Via Text Message: Not Savvy PR
An actor named Kevin Byrd sent a bad, self-composed press release to reporters, which one of them posted on Facebook. A PR blogger picked it up to point out how bad it was. That's when Kevin Byrd came unhinged. More »
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Comment by StonedAndDethroned: After looking at the pic of him on his website, I bet you $20 I can find gay DL thug... 2 Responses | Other threads
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public relations
Staring Into the Craigslist Cesspool
"Craigslist killer" Philip Markoff was arraigned on grand-jury charges that include first-degree murder, robbery and two counts of armed kidnapping. As if Craigslist users needed another reason to feel jumpy. More »
6,613
By Ryan TateComment by uncivily obedient: I once made a fake Craigslist post in "casual encounters" just for fun and I got 34 responses in 24... 4 Responses | Other threads
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new york times
Bill Keller's Grand Media Tour
You simply cannot turn on your television these days without seeing New York Times editor Bill Keller expounding on something, or explaining something, or being made fun of. He is ubiquitous! More »
1,093
Comment by nellicat: Would some of you journalist types please sound in about the "keeping secret the kidnapping of a NYT reporter" issue?... 3 Responses | Other threads
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publicity stunts
Newspaper Parodies Grow Ever Less Amusing
National Lampoon parodied a newspaper back in the 70s, and The Onion was founded in 1988, and last year there was that mildly interesting fake New York Times, but the latest spoof paper is indistinguishable from an earnest lefty, arguing. More »
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Comment by Nice Beaver: This is better than the September 12, 2001 issue of PETA Times that led with the headline "100% of Dead... 5 Responses | Other threads
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Shut Up, Twitter
Why There's No Twitter Revolution in Iran
A contrarian take on the much-discussed situation in Iran, via Business Week: While Twitter has been a great for international publicity, most activists are just organizing via word of mouth or SMS, like backward Web 1.0 people. More »
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By Ryan TateComment by imatter: Why tweet if you could text (SMS)? In other countries, their SMS systems are far more advanced than what we... 1 Responses | Other threads
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from the mailbag
Flickr Founder Calls Nuked User 'A Dick'
An update on Shepherd Johnson, who lost 1,200 Flickr images over comments on White House photos: Yahoo said the activist's pictures are gone forever, offered him $25 and blocked his messages. And Flickr's founder called him "a dick." More »
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By Ryan TateComment by Pragmatic: Butterfield sounds like the dick in this case. Would it have been so hard for him to say I don't... 8 Responses | Other threads
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flackery
Blogger to Publicists: Please Send Valuables
Here's a new "revenue stream" that you can try out, whether you're in PR, or in media, or just particularly shameless: Giving a sob story to publicists and begging them up for free stuff. That's what this guy did: More »
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Comment by LongIslandSettee: I actually did get married in April. We decided to elope, to spare our cash-strapped family the expense of coming... 9 Responses | Other threads
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videuhoh
Yahoo CEO Can't Say 'Algorithmic'
Here's Carol Bartz on Fox Business Network, explaining what sets Yahoo apart from Google. For one, the internet company is not all fancy sciencepants and "algothorithic" or "algomorthmic" or whatever. Indeed, it doesn't even know that word. More »
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By Ryan TateComment by nathanst: I don't have my dictionary handy, does algorithmic mean successful? If so than I have to agree with her that... 4 Responses | Other threads
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what would jobs do?
Steve Jobs or Not, Apple Has the Reality Distortion Dept. Covered
There are any number of ways Steve Jobs could have made an appearance at Apple's developer's conference today. He didn't. Yet the company still built heavy buzz for what could have very easily turned out as a lackluster product refresh. More »
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By Ryan TateComment by tillman: apple reality distortion field is so strong that people were cheering very minor features for iPhone that should have been... 1 Responses | Other threads
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ugh
David Carradine Death Photo Rules Out Suicide
A Bangkok tabloid ran a photo of David Carradine's hanging body that was leaked to them in this morning's edition. The rather disturbing photo definitely shows the actor's hands tied above his head. There's something eerily off, here. More »
221,719
By Foster KamerComment by son of spam: Hmmm. Posting a link may not be posting a picture, but it's walking down the same road. 30 Responses | Other threads
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public relations
Quentin Tarantino Isn't Doing David Carradine Any Favors
Quentin Tarantino, Michael Madsen, and Rob Schneider went on Larry King last night to remember their friend David Carradine. They said he would never commit suicide. So, Larry asked, what's the deal with the rope? Awkward silence. More » -
reporters in peril
Al Gore May Smooch North Korea to Save Jailed Journalists
Current TV journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee went on trial in North Korea yesterday for vague crimes which could land them both in jail for the next decade. Current's keeping its mouth shut. To the rescue: Al Gore, maybe!: More »
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Comment by Fry_Bread_Power: What would Al Gore's super hero name be? 1 Responses | Other threads
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public relations
Gays: Here's How to Avoid Pregnancy
Here is an actual press release sent yesterday to the editor of GayListDaily.com. That's GayListDaily.com. How stupid can you anticipate the following press release to be? It was sent by 5WPR, America's most inept organization of any sort. Behold: More »
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Comment by BadUncle: 5WPR should micro-refine this, and address the "Just The Tip" phenomenon. 3 Responses | Other threads
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memos
Yahoo's New Top Flack: Cuddly and Awake
Yahoo's PR operation has been a disaster of late. Its former top flack maybe leaked an ex-employee's nasty performance evaluation; another was caught sleeping during a shareholder's meeting. So Yahoo spread word: its new guy is nice and conscious! More »
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By Ryan TateComment by GORDONGARTRELLE: Nothing screams cutting-edge technology executive like "surfing the web." 1 Responses | Other threads
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public relations
Stephen Colbert Issues Saucy Quote Re: Wacky Newsweek Stunt
Newsweek has enlisted Stephen Colbert as a guest editor in a desperate attempt for "buzz." It's totally working! Because we have obtained, via a publicist, via Newsweek's marketing team, a direct (outrageous!) quote from Colbert about his upcoming fake editorialism: More » -
feuds
Martha Stewart Foists Grotesque Cupcakes on Beleaguered Nation
Why must Martha Stewart make a mockery of the US diabetes crisis? Our nemesis has written a new book about, you guessed it, cupcakes. Even worse, her henchpeople have emailed, to us, horrifying photographs of the bizarre comestibles Martha's treatise has inspired. This, America, is why you're fat: More »
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Comment by Smitros: Why is there such a thing for cupcakes, anyway? It seems like another sign of collective infantilization. 9 Responses | Other threads
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Media Crack
Not-Secret Meeting Shrouded in Secrecy
In your flammin' Friday media column: Lola Ogunnaike's out of a job, the LAT's web editor's into a job, a WSJ writer brings da ruckus, and the secret newspaper meeting was not a secret we swear so don't ask any more about it or else: More »
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Comment by NoelleBlue: I know my F***_Yeah_it's_Friday mind has melted out of my ears when I'm giggling out loud to the phrase "Bring... 1 Responses | Other threads
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public relations
Flack With No-Good Husband Gets New Job
Nina Devlin was a partner with fancy financial PR firm Brunswick Group—which was great for her husband, who took information about the deals that Nina was working on and used it to help his friends make millions through illegal insider trading. Now Nina has a new job. With Edelman! More » -
Media Crack
Build An Entire Magazine, Get
NothingCreditIn your total ripoff Tuesday media column: the worst media internship offer in at least a couple days, flackery invades the media (moreso), and a J-school student would rather not help solve a murder: More »
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Comment by eriatric: "Shitty Craigslist media internship/job" of the day should be a regular feature! Unbelieveable, some of these postings... 2 Responses | Other threads
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Celebrity fossils
Scientists Find Missing Link: It's a Fameball
After 47 million years, scientists unearthed a fossil which may be the long-awaited missing link between primates and mankind. They immediately turned the fossil into a huge media whore that we're already sick of. More » -
vogue
The Utterances Of, And About, Anna Wintour
The 60 Minutes profile on Vogue editor Anna Wintour runs this Sunday. The publicity push is underway! We've learned who gets quoted in the upcoming segment—everyone else is screwed and unimportant: More »
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Comment by Banjo-Sea Kitten: Fur clothing sucks. Interesting in the screen grab that Anna looks like a nicely coiffed bunny rabbit. 8 Responses | Other threads
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losers
Microtrend: You're No 'Professional'
"Everyone today wants to be a professional and most people believe they are." But most of you are deluded. Mark Penn is here to tell you why. And to spout further generalizations, for money! More »
3,525
Comment by LGgeek: I guess I'm strange I never let other people classify or define me. I have no desire to be controlled... 9 Responses | Other threads
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photography
The Salvage of US Airways Flight 1549
Photographer Stephen Mallon had exclusive access to the salvage operation that pulled Sully-piloted US Airways Flight 1549 out of the Hudson River. Now that he's erased all "US Airways" logos, he can show his pictures! More »
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Comment by Aaron Altman: "We buy Exxon gasoline because it's the cheapest!" says US Airways, Official Airline Of Emergency Landings In The Hudson River. 5 Responses | Other threads
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higher learning
Oprah Advises Grads: Get a Private Jet, Losers
American Poultry Queen Oprah Winfrey gave the commencement address to the starry-eyed, chickenless graduates of Duke University yesterday. Her message to them: I really love my private jet! More »
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Comment by HiredGoons: In all fairness, she did build her Ompire from the ground up. I don't listen to her advice, buy the... 8 Responses | Other threads
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media
New York Times Leaning Towards Paid Online Access (Of a Sort—Updated)
Twitter has now replaced press releases at the New York Times. The paper is just wrapping up a "strategy" presentation to the newsroom, which is helpfully being live-twitted. Let's listen in! [UPDATED below]: More »
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Comment by El Matardillo: The lesson of Times Select is lost on these people. I look forward to their financial bankruptcy. 4 Responses | Other threads
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disasters
Oprah Owes Six Million Americans Some Chicken
All the grease-scarred veterans of the Oprah Chicken Riots of '09 know that they were bad. But did you know they were one of the worst marketing disasters of all time? More »
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Comment by cdmunch: Gross, a video of a dorky guy in his Civic getting friend chicken all over his face? 10 Responses | Other threads
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disasters
Oprah Must Calm America's Furious Chicken Riots
The breadth of Oprah's Free KFC Giveaway Disaster yesterday is just starting to become clear. Reports now indicate that the desperate—and dangerous—Oprah-induced public rush for free chicken and biscuits was a nationwide phenomenon: More »
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Comment by naugahydeinplainsight: Sounds like they tried to wing it, but couldn't keep demand cooped up, hen or now. So rather than KFC... 31 Responses | Other threads
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hipster grifter
Kari Ferrell, Folk Hero. Sorry.
Hipster Grifter Kari Ferell's in jail. So she can now safely become a folk hero. FreeKari.com is up and taking donations! The dude who turned her in is under assault from commenters! America loves villains. More »
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Comment by chicoleo: Sorry, Hamilton; "Anyone" could not have been the next victim. Stupid fey suburban douches from states that don't border... 18 Responses | Other threads
public relations
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Sat Jul 11
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