G/O Media

G/O was formed in April 2019 when Great Hill Partners, a private equity firm, purchased the websites from Univision for $18.9 million.{{Cite web|url=https://s29.q4cdn.com/983326523/files/doc_financials/2020/q1/v2/FINAL-UCI-Q1-2020-Reporting-Package.pdf#page=20|title=Univision Communications Inc and subsidiaries 2020 First Quarter Reporting Package|date=March 30, 2020|website=Univision Communications Inc. – Financial Reports – Quarterly Reports|access-date=May 2, 2023|archive-date=May 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514080440/https://s29.q4cdn.com/983326523/files/doc_financials/2020/q1/v2/FINAL-UCI-Q1-2020-Reporting-Package.pdf#page=20|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://s29.q4cdn.com/983326523/files/doc_financials/2020/q2/FINAL-UCI-Q2-2020-Reporting-Package.pdf#page=20|title=Univision Communications Inc and subsidiaries 2020 Second Quarter Reporting Package|date=June 30, 2020|website=Univision Communications Inc. – Financial Reports – Quarterly Reports|access-date=May 2, 2023|archive-date=May 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504223325/https://s29.q4cdn.com/983326523/files/doc_financials/2020/q2/FINAL-UCI-Q2-2020-Reporting-Package.pdf#page=20|url-status=live}} Prior to the sale, the former Gawker Media properties had operated as Gizmodo Media Group after being acquired by Univision following the conclusion of the Bollea v. Gawker lawsuit and subsequent bankruptcy in 2016.{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gawker-bankruptcy-auction-idUSKCN10R2IV |title=Univision to buy Gawker out of bankruptcy for $135 million |last=DiNapoli |first=Jessica |date=August 17, 2016 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=August 18, 2016 |archive-date=August 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817222153/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-gawker-bankruptcy-auction-idUSKCN10R2IV |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Brendan |title=Univision sells Gizmodo Media Group |work=GamesIndustry.biz |date=April 8, 2019 |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-04-08-univision-sells-gizmodo-media-group |access-date=July 28, 2019 |archive-date=July 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728221852/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-04-08-univision-sells-gizmodo-media-group |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Robert N. |title=Gizmodo sold to Great Hill Partners, forming G/O Media |work=GameRevolution |date=April 8, 2019 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/521825-gizmodo-sold-great-hill-partners |access-date=July 28, 2019 |archive-date=July 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728222221/https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/521825-gizmodo-sold-great-hill-partners |url-status=live }} Former Forbes executive Jim Spanfeller became the CEO of G/O Media.{{Cite news |last=Tani |first=Maxwell |title=Gizmodo Media Staff Enraged at New CEO's 'Insane' Direction |work=The Daily Beast |date=July 18, 2019 |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/gizmodo-media-staff-enraged-at-new-ceos-insane-direction |access-date=July 28, 2019 |archive-date=August 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801231955/https://www.thedailybeast.com/gizmodo-media-staff-enraged-at-new-ceos-insane-direction |url-status=live }} In the first twelve months following its purchase of the websites, G/O shut down Splinter News in November 2019{{cite news |last1=Tani |first1=Maxwell |date=October 10, 2019 |title=Splinter Shutting Down |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/splinter-news-shutting-down |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011170316/https://www.thedailybeast.com/splinter-news-shutting-down |archive-date=October 11, 2019 |access-date=November 9, 2023 |work=The Daily Beast}} and sold ClickHole in February 2020 to Cards Against Humanity.{{Cite web |last=Notopoulos |first=Katie |date=February 3, 2020 |title=Cards Against Humanity Bought Clickhole |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/cards-against-humanity-buys-clickhole |access-date=November 9, 2023 |website=BuzzFeed News |language=en |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218103110/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/cards-against-humanity-buys-clickhole |url-status=live }}

In mid-October 2021, G/O Media removed all images from stories published before the acquisition by Great Hill Partners in 2019 from the 11 websites it owns, including Gizmodo, Jalopnik, Deadspin, The A.V. Club, The Onion, and Jezebel. No reason was given, but it was speculated to be related to copyright infringement lawsuits the company was involved in.{{cite news |url=https://www.gawker.com/media/go-media-staffers-confused-about-missing-photos/amp |title=Pictures Disappear En Masse from G/O Media Posts |last1=Hitt |first1=Tarpley |date=February 4, 2021 |website=Gawker |publisher=Bustle Digital Group |access-date=October 27, 2021 |archive-date=December 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208030644/https://www.gawker.com/media/go-media-staffers-confused-about-missing-photos/amp |url-status=live }}

From 2023 onwards, the company began to dispose of sites that it owned, with Lifehacker being sold in March 2023 to Ziff Davis, while Jezebel was shuttered{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Alexandra |date=November 9, 2023 |title=Trailblazing feminist blog Jezebel is shutting down has to shut down from a lack of buyers. The writers claim 'strategic and commercial ineptitude' |url=https://fortune.com/2023/11/09/jezebel-shut-down-sold-ineptitude/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115062315/https://fortune.com/2023/11/09/jezebel-shut-down-sold-ineptitude/ |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=Fortune}} and then sold in November 2023 to Paste, along with Splinter News. In January 2024, Adweek reported that G/O Media was looking to sell off the remaining sites under its ownership, following failed efforts to find buyers for the whole organization. The company claimed the reporting was "largely incorrect" but didn't specify how.{{Cite web |last=Stenberg |first=Mark |date=January 24, 2024 |title=G/O Media Hangs 'For Sale' Sign Across Its Portfolio |url=https://www.adweek.com/media/go-media-portfolio-sale/ |access-date=January 24, 2024 |website=Adweek}} On March 11, 2024, G/O Media sold Deadspin to the European startup Lineup Publishing, which immediately laid off all of Deadspin{{'}}s employees. Later that month, G/O Media sold The A.V. Club to Paste and The Takeout to Static Media, and it was reported that the company was actively looking for buyers of The Onion which was sold in April 2024 to a company called Global Tetrahedron.

Gizmodo, with the website's entire staff, was purchased by the European digital media company Keleops Media on June 4, 2024.{{cite news |last1=Robertson |first1=Katie |title=Gizmodo Sold to European Media Company |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/04/business/media/gizmodo-sold-keleops.html |access-date=June 7, 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=June 4, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Stenberg |first1=Mark |title=Gizmodo Acquired by European Media Firm Keleops |url=https://www.adweek.com/media/gizmodo-acquired-keleops-go-media/ |website=Adweek |access-date=June 4, 2024 |date=June 4, 2024}} The Daily Beast noted that "with the sale of Gizmodo, G/O Media no longer owns the brands that made up the G and O of its name. The company's dwindling portfolio at that time consisted only of the business news site Quartz, the African-American culture outlet The Root, the gaming site Kotaku, the gearhead publication Jalopnik, and the commerce site The Inventory. Jalopnik was acquired by Static Media in October 2024.{{cite web |last1=Flynn |first1=Kerry |title=G/O Media agrees to sell car culture site Jalopnik |url=https://www.axios.com/pro/media-deals/2024/10/21/jalopnik-cars-acquisition-static |website=Axios |access-date=October 24, 2024 |date=October 21, 2024}} The Inventory and Quartz were sold to Redbrick in April 2025.

G/O Media's leadership, introduced after the purchase from Univision, has been subject to frequent criticism by employees. Complaints include closer advertiser relationships, a lack of diversity, and suppression of reporting about the company itself. In October 2019, Deadspin{{'}}s editor-in-chief, Barry Petchesky, was fired for refusing to adhere to a directive that the site "stick to sports".{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/business/media/deadspin-editor-fired.html|title=Deadspin Editor Fired Amid Pushback Over 'Stick to Sports' Memo|last=Tracy|first=Marc|date=October 29, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 2, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=December 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211185417/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/business/media/deadspin-editor-fired.html|url-status=live}} Soon after, the entirety of Deadspin{{'}}s staff resigned in protest, leaving the site inactive.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/01/business/deadspin-staff-quits.html|title=Deadspin's Last Staff Member Quits. But Deadspin Is Not Dead, the Boss Says.|last=Robertson|first=Katie|date=November 1, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 2, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=February 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202015703/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/01/business/deadspin-staff-quits.html|url-status=live}} In November 2021, Gawker reported of approximately 75% of staff at Jezebel resigning over the course of 2021. The resignations were reportedly related to a "hostile work environment" created by G/O's management and the new deputy editorial director Lea Goldman.{{Cite web |last=Hitt |first=Tarpley |date=November 18, 2021 |title=Inside the Turmoil at Jezebel |url=https://www.gawker.com/media/inside-the-turmoil-at-jezebel |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118141127/https://gawker.com/media/inside-the-turmoil-at-jezebel |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=Gawker}} In January 2022, another article detailed similar staff decline at The Root, with 15 out of 16 full-time employees having left throughout 2021, since Vanessa De Luca started as editor-in-chief,{{Cite web |last=Hitt |first=Tarpley |date=January 27, 2022 |title=What Happened at The Root? |url=https://www.gawker.com/media/what-happened-at-the-root |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129012015/https://www.gawker.com/media/what-happened-at-the-root |archive-date=January 29, 2022 |access-date=January 29, 2022 |website=Gawker}} while at The A.V. Club, seven senior staff members left the site after management required them to move from Chicago to Los Angeles. According to the Chicago Tribune, the departing staffers cited a lack of salary increase to account for higher cost of living due to the transfer.{{Cite web|last=Channick|first=Robert|title=Top editorial staff leaving A.V. Club entertainment site after refusing to relocate from Chicago to new offices in LA|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-av-club-la-move-chicago-staff-leaving-20220120-dmy64npd5ng63irdzdliifzqha-story.html|access-date=January 29, 2022|website=Chicago Tribune|date=January 19, 2022 |archive-date=January 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129104630/https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-av-club-la-move-chicago-staff-leaving-20220120-dmy64npd5ng63irdzdliifzqha-story.html|url-status=live}}

The company also saw multiple disputes with the employee unions. In January 2020, the GMG Union, which represents the staff of six G/O Media sites, announced a vote of no confidence in CEO Jim Spanfeller, citing, among other issues, a lack of willingness to negotiate for "functional editorial independence protections".{{Cite web|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/gmg-union-jim-spanfeller-no-confidence.html|title=GMG Union votes no confidence in G/O Media CEO Jim Spanfeller|date=January 14, 2020|website=Awful Announcing|access-date=February 2, 2020|archive-date=January 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114100437/https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/gmg-union-jim-spanfeller-no-confidence.html|url-status=live}} On February 4, 2021, the Writers Guild of America, East, filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that G/O Media told employees it had fired Alex Cranz for labor activism.{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-04/gizmodo-told-staff-it-fired-editor-for-activism-union-claims |title=G/O Media Told Staff Activism Got Editor Fired, Union Says |last1=Eidelson |first1=Josh |date=February 4, 2021 |website=Bloomberg |access-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212201843/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-04/gizmodo-told-staff-it-fired-editor-for-activism-union-claims |url-status=live }} On March 1, 2022, GMG Union members went on strike after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract.{{cite news |last1=Geier |first1=Thom |date=March 1, 2022 |title=Jezebel, Gizmodo, The Root and Other G/O Media Writers Go on Strike |url=https://www.thewrap.com/jezebel-gizmodo-the-root-and-other-g-o-media-writers-go-on-strike/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301153355/https://www.thewrap.com/jezebel-gizmodo-the-root-and-other-g-o-media-writers-go-on-strike/ |archive-date=March 1, 2022 |access-date=March 1, 2022 |website=The Wrap}} The strike was resolved on March 6 with a new contract that included some of the members' terms.{{cite web |last=Fuster |first=Jeremy |date=March 6, 2022 |title=G/O Media, WGA East Agree to New Contract After 5-Day Strike |url=https://www.thewrap.com/g-o-media-gizmodo-wga-east-union/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308013246/https://www.thewrap.com/g-o-media-gizmodo-wga-east-union/ |archive-date=March 8, 2022 |access-date=March 7, 2022 |website=The Wrap}} On June 29, 2023, G/O Media implemented a "modest test" of AI-generated content on its websites, in a move similar to BuzzFeed and CNET. This sparked backlash from GMG Union members, who cited AI's track record of false statements and plagiarism from its training data, with basic errors in the generated content also attracting attention.{{cite news |last1=Tangermann |first1=Victor |title=Gizmodo and Kotaku Staff Furious After Owner Announces Move to AI Content |url=https://futurism.com/gizmodo-kotaku-staff-furious-ai-content |access-date=July 6, 2023 |work=Futurism |date=June 30, 2023 |archive-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705105952/https://futurism.com/gizmodo-kotaku-staff-furious-ai-content |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Gizmodo's io9 Published an AI-Generated Star Wars Article That Was Filled with Errors |url=https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/io9-ai-generated-star-wars-article-errors-1235662194/ |access-date=July 6, 2023 |work=Variety |date=July 5, 2023 |archive-date=July 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230706030317/https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/io9-ai-generated-star-wars-article-errors-1235662194/ |url-status=live }} In January 2024, a strike involving members of the Onion Union, which represents workers at other G/O Media sites, was narrowly averted following an agreement.{{Cite web |last=Kilkenny |first=Katie |date=February 1, 2024 |title=The Onion Union Reaches Tentative Deal with Management, Averting Strike |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/the-onion-union-tentative-deal-management-averting-strike-1235812164/ |access-date=March 27, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}

• Quartz (April 2022){{Cite web |date=April 28, 2022 |title=G/O Media acquires Quartz |url=https://flashesandflames.com/2022/04/28/g-o-media-acquires-quartz/ |access-date=April 29, 2022 |website=Flashes & Flames |archive-date=May 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505144845/https://flashesandflames.com/2022/04/28/g-o-media-acquires-quartz/ |url-status=live }}

• ClickHole to Cards Against Humanity (February 2020)
• Lifehacker to Ziff Davis (March 2023){{cite web|author=Calhoun, Jordan|title=A New Beginning for Lifehacker|url=https://lifehacker.com/a-new-beginning-for-lifehacker-1850278940|website=Lifehacker|date=March 30, 2023|access-date=March 30, 2023|archive-date=March 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330124344/https://lifehacker.com/a-new-beginning-for-lifehacker-1850278940|url-status=live}}
• Jezebel and Splinter News to Paste (November 2023)
• Deadspin to Lineup Publishing (March 2024)
• The A.V. Club to Paste (March 2024){{Cite news |last=Baragona |first=Justin |date=March 26, 2024 |title=G/O Media Continues Fire Sale, Dumps A.V. Club and Takeout |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/go-media-continues-fire-sale-dumps-av-club-and-takeout |access-date=March 27, 2024 |work=The Daily Beast}}
• The Takeout to Static Media (March 2024)
• The Onion to Global Tetrahedron (April 2024)
• Gizmodo to Keleops Media (June 2024)
• Jalopnik to Static Media (October 2024)
• The Inventory and Quartz to Redbrick (April 2025){{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Sara |last2=Flynn |first2=Kerry |date=April 4, 2025 |title=Exclusive: Quartz sells again |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/04/04/quartz-sold-redbrick-go-media |access-date=April 7, 2025 |website=Axios}}

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{Cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Keith J. |title=New CEO of G/O Media ripped for bringing in 'older white guys' |work=New York Post |date=July 18, 2019 |url=https://nypost.com/2019/07/18/new-gizmodo-media-ceo-ripped-for-bringing-in-older-white-guys/ |access-date=July 28, 2019 |archive-date=July 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728222303/https://nypost.com/2019/07/18/new-gizmodo-media-ceo-ripped-for-bringing-in-older-white-guys/ |url-status=live }}
• {{Cite web |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=G/O Media Lays Off 25 Staffers, After New CEO Said He Didn't Expect Layoffs at Former Gizmodo Media Group |work=Variety |date=April 30, 2019 |url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/g-o-media-layoffs-gizmodo-media-the-onion-1203201667/ |access-date=July 28, 2019 |archive-date=June 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609002757/https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/g-o-media-layoffs-gizmodo-media-the-onion-1203201667/ |url-status=live }}
• {{Cite web |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=G/O Media Editorial Director Resigns After Deadspin's Entire Staff Quit Over His Coverage Crackdown |work=Variety |date=November 5, 2019 |url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/g-o-media-paul-maidment-resigns-deadspin-entire-staff-quit-1203393248/ |access-date=November 10, 2019 |archive-date=November 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110142440/https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/g-o-media-paul-maidment-resigns-deadspin-entire-staff-quit-1203393248/ |url-status=live }}

{{refend}}

• {{official website|g-omedia.com}}

{{G/O Media}}

Category:Gawker Media

Category:Mass media companies based in New York City

Category:Mass media companies established in 2019