Three major papers trash Gawker flagship Gizmodo

The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune have now all published scathing editorials of Gizmodogate and the subsequent response.

Gizmodo confuses being a jerk for civil disobedience

You'd think that Gawker property Gizmodo would want everyone to forgot about that stupid prank they played at the Consumer Electronics show, but lo and behold, today they publish a long-winded, meandering diatribe futilely attempting to justify said prank as an act of civil disobedience. Author Brian Lam even likens the incident to stunts pulled by Steve Wozniak, a comparison that is quickly and thoroughly debunked in the comments which accompany the piece and elsewhere around the blogosphere.

In fact, the negative reaction to the post is rather startling, considering that these are all people who have presumably been pre-screened as appropriate, complacent commenters. If this is what their fans think of them, one can only imagine the unsung bitterness stewing among the silent masses. And so the Deathwatch continues.

NYT rhetorically asks if Gawker's jumped the shark

As if by fate, the New York Times posted a very topical piece today arguing that Gawker (the site, not the network, but the reasoning works for either) has finally jumped the shark, so to speak, pointing specifically to disgruntled writers, devolving discourse, and perhaps most damningly, revolting commenters. Interestingly, the exact same thing is happening over at Gizmodo, where the site's reader-selected 2007 commenter of the year has become one of their most vocal critics in the wake of Gizmodogate.

Denton laughs all this off of course, and in a post on Gawker that fittingly conforms almost exactly to the type of crap writing the Times is referring to, points out that the same predictions have been made by other pundits in years past. Yeah, Nicky, but those weren't New York Times journalists calling you "a cruel behemoth, eviscerating low-level editors and people’s children," and you weren't losing traffic along with your usual respect back then.

Can you hear the accelerating pounding of footsteps as readers begin fleeing in droves? Can you see the patient, gleeful, vengeful vultures starting to circle above you? Can you feel the proverbial noose tightening around your neck?

Welcome to the Gawker Deathwatch

The gadget website Gizmodo got itself some unwanted publicity this week when one of its dimwitted bloggers went around the Consumer Electronics show with a remote control capable of turning off any TV. Haha, pretty funny, until he started messing with live presentations and one-shot press conferences, events at which people's jobs and important business deals are on the line. In typical Gawker fashion, Gizmodo published a video of its crime (and yes, it was a crime under Nevada law, not to mention a violation of one or more torts) on the site, adding a weak apology at the end after the uproar had started, but never once taking down the post or sincerely addressing the issue. In fact, Gawker's slimeball-in-chief Nick Denton has been quoted as fully supporting Gizmodo editor-in-chief Brian Lam, saying he would rather his bloggers "got into trouble" every so often than act like the respected journalists from CNET and other publications.

It seems that traffic-addict Denton is taking a rather short-sighted view of this whole situation: since Gizmodo is still pulling in the page views, he's had another good day, or so it would seem. What he doesn't consider is the fact that most people visiting Gizmodo in the wake of this scandal are simply rubbernecking in the same way as motorists who pass a fiery car wreck. Once the excitement dies down, the onlookers will speed up and forget all about the mangled carcass.

Therefore, based on what seems to be an overwhelmingly negative and angry reaction from pundits, commenters, and industry insiders all over the internet and even on Gizmodo itself, I am predicting that the backlash from this scandal at its flagship title will be so severe that it will topple the Gawker Empire like a domino effect. Which is too bad, because a number of fine publications such as Lifehacker, Jalopnik, and Kotaku may be lost in the wake of the lawsuits, fleeing advertisers, and declining traffic that will almost surely come about.

Thus, the Gawker Deathwatch is in effect, and this blog will attempt to follow the fall of the House of Denton as it unfolds, bringing you updates on various events which will lead to the eventual crumbling of the company and, if there is such a thing as justice, the personal bankruptcy of a man who has made millions covering the misery and missteps of others.

If you'd like to send in a tip on news relating to this topic, please feel free to do so at gawkerdeathwatch [at] gmail [dot] com.