How Alan Denton And His Gawker Henchmen Are Ruining Journalism Forever
Published: August 02, 2009
The Washington Post is featuring an opinion piece with the intriguing headline The Death of Journalism (Gawker Edition) that explains how evil liberal media reporters, undoubtedly whilst sitting on big beanbags full of moneys and smoking hashish, put in hours of work to write articles that are then picked up by blogs like Gawker, which then make money off the content they never really generated to begin with.
Post reporter Ian Shapira describes what journalists know all too well: that even little titbits of anecdotal information are often hard-won. Reporters slog through long interviews, sit in on mind-numbing meetings and sift through dry, dense legal documents and are lucky if twenty percent of the information they gain is useful for their story at the end of the day. In fact, my screen name is a reference to the man-on-the-street interviews that I hated to do as an intern to pay my dues way back when. NOT THAT I AM BITTER.
At first when Shapira finds his story condensed and repackaged on Gawker, he is chuffed. Less so when his boss points out that he’s a sucker. “They stole your story. Where’s your outrage, man?” his editor says when Shapira tells him the news. (Aside – his editor sounds awesome. You know he’s that guy who beats the shit out of the vending machine when it fails to dispense his Snickers bar. But I digress.)
So Shapira decides to ask the Gawker editor who wrote the post based on his story – friend to many a Wordsmoker, Hamilton Nolan – HEY BITCH WHY DID YOU STEAL MY STORY YO? but I suspect in a much, much nicer manner. HamNo replies HEY BITCH I MAKE JUST 4 FUCKING G’S A MONTH FOR ALL THE WORK I DO AND YOU KNOW THAT SHIT IS PROBABLY BEFORE TAXES SO I JUST WHIPPED UP A POST ON YOUR STUPID STORY IN LESS THAN AN HOUR BECAUSE THIS IS A FUCKING SWEATSHOP, YO, but again, more nicely.
So, here is where Nick Denton – known affectionately to his friends and neighbors as Alan – comes in. Denton is lord and master of the Holy Gawker Empire. He says he’s getting ripped off too, man, by “spam blogs” and that bastion of journalism, The New York Post. As to Gawker using Shapira’s story: “That was certainly more of an excerpt than we’d normally indulge in,” Denton said. (Ooh, HamNo, look out for that tire, ‘cuz you just got thrown under that tired old bus analogy.)
So, what’s the point of all this? Shapira points out that what took him a day to produce took Gawker less than an hour to claim as its own and make ad revenue from. Newspapers and other traditional media are certainly not the only form of journalism, but they are the ones that 1. pay well enough for one to live a decent life as a working journalist and 2. have (had?) the resources to allow for real news-gathering, which takes time and effort. And with newspapers fading away, there’s less original content for blogs to re-purpose as their own.
On the other hand…blogs are more fun, or can be, and I myself am a Gawker regular. Blogs are a lot less formal and the best don’t, after all, just cut and paste without adding a bit of their own eleven herbs and spices. In the age of the Internet, information is an increasingly free commodity.
Shapira suggests that blogs should cite their sources more clearly and perhaps kick in a fee to the original media source, so that everyone gets a cut. I don’t know if that could work, but someone had better figure it out because once the traditional media and their content are gone all we’ll have to look at on blogs is LOLFERRETS and porn. Or Jeebus help us, ferret porn.
Oh, and I almost forgot to show you kids the real journalism! Here’s Shapira’s original story, about a lady who teaches businesspeople how to talk to the youngin’s with their fancy textin’ machines and dungarees and Snoop Bloggity Blogs..
There is a happy ending to this story. For their trouble, all the major players this riveting drama were given their own stops on the London Underground (see right).
Awww…that’s nice.
Alan’s martinet, Foster (also known as Wiggle Puppy) is going to leave a bag of fiery poo on someone’s doorstep….
The biggest trick that Nick Denton ever pulled off is convincing us that Alan Denton never existed.
Okay – I’m telling everyone this, but I am inordinately proud of the metadata I stuck behind this post on the web. If you’re coming here from Facebook, you’ll already have seen it in all it’s beauty, nay, glory. If not, here it is below:
“VoxPopuli writes about the Washington Post’s Ian Shapira writing about Gawker’s Hamilton Nolan writing about Ian Shapira’s writing about Anne Loehr in the WaPo.”
Sometimes I amaze myself.
In these tough times, you can’t dine out on prestige anymore, so I get his argument, but I still think Ian Shapira should stifle it. The AP has been scrounging off writers’ “original” (excuse me, it’s reporting, not Milton) work for decades and nobody said anything, but now that bloggers do it, it’s a crime against humanity?
This post is another example of a blog ripping off an actual news source’s work.
Also, if you go back far enough Nick (Alan) Denton is probably really named Aryeh Dentstein or Dentberg.
@uncivily obedient: No – this post is another example of a blog ripping off an actual news source ripping off a blog ripping off an actual news source. Get it right.
Also – tell me that wasn’t a faint whiff of anti-Semitism in your second sentence. Please?
@Unciv: Just because you’re a Yid doesn’t mean you get to deal this kind of hand. And Denton makes no secret of his religion. Many Jews of England have Anglicized names and it is no biggie at all. One of my best friends from the East End of London has the last name of Clarke and he’s a righteous Heeb. Boo!
@BookLook: Is Alan Jewish? For real? I honestly never knew that! Not that there’s anything wrong with that. As they say.
And not that it makes any difference to the anti-Semitic whiff I still smell.
I don’t care if you’re a rabbi, UO – none of that nonsense here, please. This ain’t Gawker, and I don’t put up with trolly crap.
I always thought Denton was short for Dentist. That, or “he of the big teeth,” if his roots are Spanish.
@Virus darling: I do so love when you take things in hand on behalf of my people. Mwah!
Here is a special thank-you card, and nobody else better click on this link–it’s private!
http://www.someecards.com/card/thanks-for-taking-one-hand-off-your-blackberry-to-finger-bang-me
@BJ: Now I am going to think of Nick as El Dentonaso forever!
@BJ: Close. Translated, “Denton” means – “foreigner with a grin you could use for flash photography”.
YES I’M BITTER ABOUT HIS EXPENSIVE DENTAL PLAN. DEAL WITH WHAT I OBVIOUSLY CANNOT.
@BL: a la “El Polvazo?”
@Unciivily : I don’t follow. What does Denton’s ethnic background have to do with how he runs Gawker and blogs that rip off original content from newspapers?
Or were you making a sarcastic joke about anti-Semites that came off as the real thing instead of the satire that you intended?
@BJ: Como no, papi chulo!
@wrappy: Either way, fucking fail.
@BL: I have never really enjoyed that expression. So while I appreciate the sentiment, could I kindly, and respectfully, request that in the future you address me a “Buenmoso?” That or the ever popular in Venezuela, “su Exelencia.” Cool?
@BJ: Is “Rey de Mi Cajeta” too much? How about “Zar de Mi Corazon”?
Virus: you should receive some kind of award for your synopsis.
Bookish: how about ‘Senor Juguso’?
Unciv: ::crickets::
@Booksie: I wish Mr/s UO would come back and tell us if this was an accidental fart or one that s/he deliberately blasted out in a crowded elevator just to watch them gag. Either way, it smells bad.
Also why is it that when American or British anti-Semites play ‘Identify the Secret Jew’, there’s always talk of attaching ’stein’ and ‘berg’ to the ends of WASPy last names? Isn’t that very Ashkenazi-centric? When Spanish or North African anti-Semites play this game, do they attach Sephardic suffixes?
@Booksie: Rey de mi Cajeta is the winner!
@wrappy: Whole ‘nother game, my dear. That brand just puts you in jail or confiscates your property.
@Voxy: Sorry this all got off topic, doll.
What I see: Pay-for-hits is going to be the new payola. Journalists hanging out on street corners in big trench coats a la the “Would You Like to Buy an O” guy on Sesame Street, trying to get bloggers to link to their stories–FOR A PRICE!
For those of you not old enough/American enough to know it, here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajHVLJG0298
I have always wanted to do a burlesque routine to this song, btw.
What is less well-known is that Alan is a hoblob, which makes him genetically part-ferret, and that he has had extensive cosmetic dentistry in order to hide his pointy goblin teeth.
Changing his name to Nick from Alan (a traditional ferret name) and having his teeth cosmetically changed have led many in his community to accuse him of being a self-hating hob.
@Unciv: Yep, it is very meta, with a blog ripping off a newspaper complaining about being ripped off by a blog and so on and so on. But I would like to point out that Shapira himself invited Gawker to link to it so his opinion on the matter could be heard. Naturally, I think he wouldn’t mind if we did too. (And the credit is in the first sentence, just like he’s saying he would like blogs to do when they pick up other media’s work.)
@Bookish: If you’re talking about the AP’s tendency to pick up lots and lots and lots of stories from newspapers, my understanding is that the AP calls its subscribers members because they allow AP to use their content as part of the deal. It’s actually a cooperative, which is why Walter Mears always stank of patchouli like a damn newshippie. However, media have been stealing from each other forever and each outlet gets a serious news boner when its competitors are forced to attribute an exclusive report to them. My guess is the mainstream media resent the blogs because they don’t seem to cough up so many exclusives for them to uh, borrow, until they can chase it down themselves.
Your theory on how it will play out in the future is pretty close to my guess. I’m thinking that papers will start charging subscribers, as the Times is leaning toward, and maybe they will charge blogs a higher subscription fee to link to its content as much as they want or a fee per each time they link.
As for going off topic – that’s what blogs are made for, dear. I love it.
@Virus: Yes, that is excellent metadata. I think you cleaned up my sloppy html, which I greatly appreciate as I am an aging hack who sometimes haz confused about these newfangled compooter box talkings and such.
@BJon and Virus: Yes, I am convinced that Alan’s giant gleaming white toofers are a sign of endtimes.
@Nina: If that should happen I will extinguish the Fiery Poo of Injustice with the Foot of Free Speech and American Liberty. Or I will just pour some water on it and gingerly kick it onto the sidewalk. Whichever.
I didn’t have any deep point to make. I learned now from the author that Nick’s name is actually Alan, which is a pretty Jewish sounding first name. So I made a lame attempt at cuteness by writing that if you follow the evelotion of his name even further back, through Nick to Alan, you’ll find an even more Jewish sounding name like Aryeh. That’s all.
Sorry to any of my Jewish brothers and sisters who I offended. I’ll pray for forgiveness on Yom Kippur.
I hate to defend what shouldn’t have been said in the first place but I feel sorry for my well-meaning fellow Jew who I regularly notice says some rather unsavory things in an attempt to be humorous on the subject of his religion. I’m sure Uncivily Obedient did not mean anything offensive, and he’s certainly not an anti-semite; on the contrary, he seems to be about the proudest Jew around. He’s a little lacking in filter, and he makes some bad jokes, but I’m pretty sure that’s all it was…
I will now duck out of this entirely. Happy Sunday!
….Aaaand of course I starting writing that before UO spoke up for himself, afraid that he would not return. ::Blushes, and disappears::
Listen, all you fanatical bloggers. Just chill the fuck out, ok?
@Hippity: Hip!
But shouldn’t his thing be “nicknotnedandcertainlynotalan”?
@Hippity: I AM CHILLING THE FUCK OUT. I AM CHILLING THE FUCK OUT. OK, I’m going to stop running in circles now and put down the Red Bull. Whew.
That’s funny. I notice Gawker hasn’t said anything about Shapira’s piece as yet.
All Gawker’s sites are unbelievably sluggish today- site maintenance, or a conspiracy to annoy a bitch?
Uncivily (sic), I actually PM’ed you there . But I’m not sure my PM got through. Sigh, I suppose when apologies are a regular part of your correspondence, it’s time for Silver Hill, or Betty Ford, or Promises Malibu. Nah. Anyway, you’re not a bastard.
Another tech issue at Gawker: for example, I adore DahlELama. But I don’t see a red heart when i read her posts, and I know i hearted her long ago. I click away, waiting to see the red heart come back, but I don’t know if I’m repeatedly following/de-following her, for example. It’s just a bit wonky.
Hip : LOL. I just took stuck my head in a tub of ice water. That Alan gets me so hot. Probably because ferrets kind of freak me out.
@Unciv: Wait, this is all redeemed by this typo: “evelotion” instead of “evolution”!
If you don’t trademark/domain Eve Lotion right this minute, I am going to. It will be an Official Wordsmoker Product, available only from Virus darling, who I am cutting in as my partner, fifty-fifty. We will sell it to the Bible literalists/birthers/various Xtian nutbags and make a goddamn mint! “Eve Lotion: It’s the Evolution-based Lotion That Men Cannot Resist”
@Baroness: ‘Ness, you won a Smokie!
Also. I know that this whole Jewish name thing has been run into the ground but for the record, where I come from Murray is a Jewish name. Ira is a Jewish name. Alan? Meh. Not so much. But maybe I’m old fashioned. (Straight Outta Skokie Woot!)
But it is pretty well-established that “Alan” is a hob-ferret name. Also.
@Unciv: Ahhh ok! I didn’t figure you to be a jerk and felt like there had to be some sort of communication gap and reasonable explanation. Thanks!
Baroness: Your adoration is seriously mutual and I love that ever comment of yours on Gawker is now followed by “You need to have your own Gawker beat!” I second that motion. But yeah, Gawker is all wonky with the friend stuff; one day I checked my profile and Gawker had unfriended 10 people on my behalf. Thanks guys!
Seriously, Gawker would be infinitely better if it was written by Wordsmokers. But I guess that’s why Wordsmoker is awesome, so that works out nicely for us.
And Vox: Great job with this. Good thing I didn’t rely on Gawker for any info about this piece! I’m surprised at how sympathetic I am for Shapira, but I think it’s because I, admittedly, am not a big newshound; most of the time, sad as it sounds, I do hear stories on Gawker first, and no, I don’t pay much attention to who originally filed them. Those of us idiots who’d rather watch So You Think You Can Dance than 60 Minutes, or read Marie Claire than the Economist, really are subconsciously crediting the wrong people, and it must be pretty lousy to be the guy on the other side. I kinda feel like I should send Ian Shapira flowers.
Whenever, wherever, I’ll always love Shakira.
@Chien: But, but, she’s Lebanese!?!?!?!
This is a great post, Vox! This whole “original reporting” v. blogging battle is really interesting. I can see good arguments on both sides. I do, however, think the NYT and other places that do a lot of “pluck and shoeleather” reporting ought to charge a fee to for-profit operations that exceed the fairly expansive “fair use” guidelines when they republish. Otherwise, it truly is going to be millions upon millions of terabytes of ferret porn until possibly 2017, when the Department of Tobacco, Alcohol, Firearms, Chinese Food and Blogs begins to distribute government-approved snark.
@BookishLookish: Yes, thank you. I realized that right away, too bad they don’t have an edit button.
@DahlELama: You’re only saying that because I once revealed something about your personal life on Gawker, even though I don’t know who your are. Wait, what? How did that happen?
@UO: Edit buttons are for Birthers.
@DahlELama: Thank you dear, you’re too kind. Mister D actually did PM me recently, seductively- “I’m a fan of your writing, email me.” Was noncomital, responded, haven’t heard back, probably trapped in his spam filter. I understand he’s busy. But if it arises, well I won’t turn down that ha’ penny. In this economy? I’d probably triple their legal expenses with a mouth like mine. I realize i’m jinxing my chance at the sweatshop, but I’m ambivalent. Milk for free, and all that.
Bookish: Poetry in Lotion.
@Baroness: He tends to get back to me promptly. Subject lines include:
“Who is this Alan?”
“Why are you calling me Alan”
“Stop Calling Me Alan”
“I’ve amended my spam filter to search all messages for the word “ALAN”" so they won’t be read by me and stop calling me ALAN”.
So – if your message contained (even by accident) the word “ALAN” (perhaps you were pitching a story about Alanis Morissette and her organic shoe factory?) then it’s probably been trapped by his Alan filter.
@Baroness: The bozos at Gawker would be lucky to have you. Kudos!
@Baroness: that sounds like me and Chillbear.
This story is pointing out a very disturbing part of my character which I would have bet didn’t exist; but I guess I really love a good car wreck.
The AP actuallly paid me a dollar once. I still have the check for a souvenier. Then they used all my other stories with no dollar. Okay. The point of writing the news is to piss on the other guy’s story in your own second day story. Just stealing theirs is to show weakness. But Hamilton N wins because he can say in eight grafs what it takes other more expensive people three takes, 20 inches, whatever. Nobody has time to read 1500 words any more.
Baroness: That IS impressive. He’s never complimented me on my writing once, and I’ve actually been writing weekly posts for his website for over a year now.
But he did e-mail me recently to ask why I promoted a comment he didn’t like. So I guess that’s gotta count for something.
@MisterHippity: Yeah, but did you address him as “Alan”?
Also – you ever want to live-blog even your own breathing in and out, you’ve got space and friends here to do it with.
Oh, fine. Alan Denton can repackage, just as newspapers will write news from TV reporter’s scoops, and radio reporters will repackage information gleaned from The Daily Racing Form. But we all know the real villain: Pat Kiernon’s “In the Papers” segment on NY1. I don’t even know if he actually reads those papers himself.
Well, hopefully Alan won’t mind that I just “quoted’ Gabriel Snyder’s entire post on The Awl because no one can freakin read Gawker today.
@Dahl: It’s fucking slow as fuck over there, like a fifteen-year-old going to a bris slow.
@BL: Like a fifteen-year-old going to his own bris slow. What’s going on over there? This is up there with the most bored I have ever been.