Gawker: point-counterpoint

The PR Industry Will Not Stand For These Outrageous Criticisms!

Hamilton Nolan — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:58:59 EDT

The PR industry loves to get riled up any time someone takes what might be construed as an unjustified shot at its awful reputation. This is because there are already so many perfectly justified criticisms of PR that any argument not directly linked to a huge public scandal gives the industry a rare chance to get on its high horse. That's precisely what's going on today, after CBS analyst Andrew Cohen went on air yesterday with a scathing but overbroad rant calling the entire PR industry dirty liars, in the wake of lying former Bush flack Scottie McClellan's book. How dare CBS be so mean! The Public Relations Society of America fired back with a mealy-mouthed letter declaring "truth and accuracy are the bread and butter of the public relations profession." This is the same PRSA that didn't feel the need to say anything about McClellan's admitted lies themselves. So we have an ill-considered commentary, and a hypocritical response. A perfect embodiment of PR! Video of Cohen's rant, after the jump.

And here, Cohen vents righteously about the righteous venting of the PR industry in response to Cohen's original righteous venting.

We Still Feel Good About Ourselves

Hamilton Nolan — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:57:51 EDT

Yesterday we noted that even though the American media is the grand imperial bloodsucker of our nation's soul, that's okay; at least we don't immediately do bikini shoots on the scene of our latest national disasters. Like the media in China does. In a counterpoint, Animal's Bucky Turco argues that the Chinese government's censorship of the media in the wake of said photos was actually worse than the photos themselves—a couple of which he has posted on his site. Since we have posted only a heartrending photo of homeless young victims, we're better than him. So whatever. [Animal, Previously, Donate to Earthquake Relief]

Angry Journalists Outnumber Happy Ones 93 To 1

Hamilton Nolan — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:21:46 EST

AngryJournalist.com, the rant-based site that is the most accurate window into the journalism profession, now has some competition: HappyJournalist.com! The happy site has been up and running for less than a week, but so far the results are not encouraging; it has 14 total posts, compared to more than 1,300 at its angry brother. A helpful point-counterpoint comparison of the two sites' content reveals that, hey, you can both be right:

Happy:

Julie 11:33 pm on March 2, 2008 | #

I'm happy because I'm working with people who care about what they do and are still brimming with ideas 10, 15, 20 years after they started in the business.

Angry:

Angry Journalist #1279:
Just in case you thought the past was really any different — or any less angry:
A newspaper is a collection of half-injustices
Which, bawled by boys from mile to mile,
Spreads its curious opinion
To a million merciful and sneering men,
While families cuddle the joys of the fireside
When spurred by tale of dire lone agony.
A newspaper is a court
Where every one is kindly and unfairly tried
By a squalor of honest men.
A newspaper is a market
Where wisdom sells its freedom
And melons are crowned by the crowd.
A newspaper is a game
Where his error scores the player victory
While another's skill wins death.
A newspaper is a symbol;
It is feckless life's chronicle,
A collection of loud tales
Concentrating eternal stupidities,
That in remote ages lived unhaltered,
Roaming through a fenceless world.
Stephen Crane - 1899

Happy:

Christina 2:17 am on March 3, 2008 | #

I love that I can read an obit and feel sad about a man's death but also know that, when he was alive, I wrote about him and his amazing character and that more people now know there are probably hundreds others who benefited from his existence.
I guess it's kind of a sad-happy instance

Angry:

Angry Journalist #1284:
Journalist #1258 - If you got a journalism degree, you probably don't even know how to spell obituary never mind write one. When you get that barista job, remember to pour the foam not scoop it for a latte; you'll get a better tip.

Happy:

Mark E. Johnson 5:05 am on March 3, 2008 | #
I'm happy because I get to help the next generation of journalists help their (future) communities.

Angry:

Angry Journalist #1301:
I'm angry at optimists.

Snide Advertising: The Debate

Hamilton Nolan — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:32:17 EST

Richard Rapaport is VERY concerned about the rise of "snide advertising." It's eating a hole in our national soul! The ennui, the decline of sophistication, the "nanny-nanny boo-boo that passes for wit these days." Some might say that advertising never had a golden age of wit and sophistication, but Rapaport argues in a long Ad Age piece that the current trend is one that historians will look back on with disdain. Is our entire society becoming less civil, right down to the way we sell things to each other? It's an important issue. Below, Gawker chief Nick Denton's analysis of this controversial topic:

Covering Heath

Pareene — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:47:04 EST

Attached, Gawker videographer Alexander Goldberg and Defamer videographer Molly McAleer explore the murky limits of bad taste while discussing the coverage (of the coverage of the coverage) of Heath Ledger's death. You will be edified. There will be tears. [Previously]

The Great Strike Debate

Pareene — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:30:32 EST

Each day you face important issues requiring informed opinons. At work! At cocktail parties! In bed with strangers! In these situations and so many more you are expected to talk about the things everybody's talking about. Let Gawker Videographer Alex Goldberg and Defamer Videographer Molly McAleer do the thinking for you, with Point/Counterpoint. Today's topic: the writers strike.

'Times' Elevator Story Takes Us Nowhere Fast

Maggie — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:30:00 EST

So that giant hippie freak Choire was deeply moved and whatever by today's Times story on the sad state of the Bronx Family Court elevators. Pinko commie softie. Elevators are a privilege, not a right! If they've got a reason to be in family court, then they probably don't deserve modern mechanical conveniences anyway.

Elevators are for people who pay into the system dammit, like Leona Helmsley (victim of judicial activism!) and Al Capone (inventive entrepreneur and misunderstood capitalist!) Most people who go to family court are illegal sex offenders living off the welfare system we pay for anyway an—yeah, alright, enough of that—impersonating neocons wears me right out.

Still, devoting 1,000 words to (of the myriad deficiencies within the family courts system) the dilapidated pulley system? Huh! "The potential loss is not simply that of time wasted, but of the quality of justice that is dispensed," reads the Times piece. My, my, I was just thinking very nearly the same thing about the quality of journalism here! Plus, lengthy and tortured metaphors on the judicial system's slow choking wheels and impenetrable class-and-glass ceiling plain old piss me off. That is all.

NYTimes: At Bronx Court, Elevator Woes Slow Justice

Inside Silicon Alley: An Intervention

abalk — Thu, 31 May 2007 15:22:17 EDT

Sure, we joke a lot about addiction here at Gawker, but we're well aware that it can be a serious - and dangerous - problem. Recently, a member of the staff had a substance issue, which co-workers were so concerned that, under the pretense of having a company get-together, we lured the editor with the disease (because that's what it is, a disease) into the office to discuss it. Here's what happened.

[BALK, DOREE, EMILY, JOSH, and an UNFAMILIAR MAN are seated on the couches at the Gawker office. CHOIRE enters, carrying a baking pan.]

CHOIRE: I'm here! And I brought my special zucchini-banana muffins, just baked! Is everybody ready to - [CHOIRE suddenly notices UNFAMILIAR MAN.] Hey, is this the new Lockhart?

UNFAMILIAR MAN: Choire, my name is Robert. I'm an interventionist. I want you to know that everyone here today is here because they love you, and they want you to get help. Are you ready to get help? Because everyone has something they want to tell you.

CHOIRE: [Backing away slightly] But... but... what's the problem? I don't understand? Things are going so well!

UNFAMILIAR MAN: Who wants to go first? Choire, why don't you take a seat. You're very special to these people, and they need to talk to you.

CHOIRE: [Realizing that if he's being intervened with, at least he won't have to edit for a little while.] Okay! [Sits, unwraps muffin, starts to chew noisily.]

[BALK stands up.]

BALK: Choire, man, what can I say? You're my managing editor. I love you. You've done great things to the site since you've come onboard. We're all really pleased. But this problem you have... I mean, we've all talked about it, and we thought you had it under control, but it's just gotten worse. I can't stand to see you doing this to yourself. It's killing you. Why can't you see? [BALK bursts into tears, runs out to Crosby Street to smoke.]

UNFAMILIAR MAN: You see that? You made a grown man, someone who loves you, cry like a little girl. You happy about that?

CHOIRE: He cries all the time! You suggest one little edit and it's "Boo hoo hoo, I quit!" I'd be more concerned if he weren't crying! But I still don't understand what the problem is!

EMILY: [Stands, walks over to CHOIRE, delivers sharp slap to the face] Did that hurt?

CHOIRE: [Rubbing face] Uh, yeah! What the fuck?!?

EMILY: Well, that's how you make each and every one of us feel every day watching you do this to yourself. And you're not just doing it to yourself. You're doing it to all of us. God, I am so angry with you right now. Focus, Em. Find center. [EMILY drops into meditative position, hums mantra.]

DOREE: Choire, do you really not know why we're here?

CHOIRE: No! And I wish someone would tell me!

DOREE: It's the exclamation marks, Choire. You're addicted to them. You've gone crazy. You can't edit a post without inserting at least three per paragraph. It's not healthy, it's not necessary, and it's bad punctuation. And we're worried that you can't stop.

CHOIRE: But!

UNFAMILIAR MAN: See what you're doing there?

CHOIRE: No! I mean, yes! I mean... Stein, do you feel the same way?

JOSH: I do. I'm sorry. I just want you to get better. Also, can I have one of those muffins?

CHOIRE: Sure! [Realizes] Oh. I mean, sure! Oh my God, I can't stop!

UNFAMILIAR MAN: Choire, if you're prepared, we can have you on a plane tonight that will bring you to Full Stops, Malibu. It's a full-time, twenty-four hour punctuation rehabilitation facility that works on a strict Strunk and White method. If you're ready to commit to the program, we can have you de-emphasized by July 1.

CHOIRE: I—I don't—Okay, yes! Yes! Do you know what it's like, living like this! I can't even ask a proper question! I need help! Let's go now!

UNFAMILIAR MAN: Say it with me. "Let's go now."

CHOIRE: [Gritting teeth, showing effort.] Lets. GO. NOW.

UNFAMILIAR MAN: I knew you had it in you.

[UNFAMILIAR MAN takes CHOIRE by the hand and leads him to the waiting limo outside. BALK re-enters, EMILY disengages from meditation.]

EMILY: That went well, I think.

BALK: Totally. Now I'm finally going to get to use the word "twat" in a post! Let's go, kids! It's our time!

[CURTAIN]

And that's how it happened. Except it was actually about alcohol, and it was actually for BALK. The crying stuff is all true, though.

Kylie Minogue Is Not A Gay Icon For Nothing

Emily Gould — Mon, 21 May 2007 18:25:24 EDT

While stricken with breast cancer in 2005 and 2006, Minogue spent her days shut in with her mom, swathed in Edie-like headscarves, and watched the original 1975 documentary, which she now says she's seen over a hundred times ... "That was a really wild connection!" says [Christine] Ebersole. "She was living with her mother, and I guess she saw Edie as her protector, an indomitable spirit that she could use as her armor and strength when she needed it most."

Wow, we are definitely going to have to reexamine our dismissal of Australian popstar Kylie Minogue. That la la la, lala la lala song may be annoying, but we're pretty sure that Gwen Stefani hasn't memorized all the dialogue from Grey Gardens.

Kylie's Beale Deal [NYM]