Comments on: Sorry ’Bout That, Nick!

By: Destiny

Destiny — Wed, 30 May 2007 11:32:09 +0000

Denton couldn’t find anyone to replace Nick, apparently. So he’s got Nick freelancing articles on a regular basis.

Maybe Nick’s using the same trick that Wally used in Dilbert. He returned as a contractor to do the same work but for more money.

By: IPTV

IPTV — Wed, 30 May 2007 08:39:01 +0000

herad that Nick is back at ValleyWag as a reporter.. is that true?

By: tom foremski

tom foremski — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 04:03:47 +0000

You misunderstand the Gawker red herrings. ValleyWag wasn’t pulling in the number of eyeballs expected, it was the weakest property in the Gawker stable. Which is not surprising since there are only about 50 people that know any of the names he wrote about, and only 15 of them care a fig :-)

The memo serves as a warning to other Gawker staff to watch what they say. I would say that the memo was deliberately leaked by Nick Denton himself. He owns Gawker so the phrasing of the memo about ValleyWag’s new editor is for outside consumption, and an inside joke.

Nick Denton is expert at manipulating all types of media, especially mini media ;-)

By: Christina Ellwood

Christina Ellwood — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 22:29:59 +0000

I think Gawker did the right thing. The Gawker brand was negatively affected by Nick’s comments. He was asked repeatedly to stop and failed to do so. That’s insubordination and deserves action.

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 19:04:40 +0000

Well, I always thought Douglas’ style was a bit over the top, and while I wasn’t exactly partial to his public slaying of Mike Arrington, I did enjoy his sarcasm and wit. He was Valleywag’s very own Oscar Wilde minus the funny hair. He’s now been replaced by Valleywag’s James Joyce minus the genius.

By: Steve Bryant

Steve Bryant — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 14:26:59 +0000

I fail to see the difference between Nick’s tone on Valleywag and the tone of whatever gal is scribbling Gawker these days.

If anything, I suppose Nick erred by playing the geeky dilettante a little too well. In Denton’s eyes, he must have crossed the line from merry prankster to financial liability. Or, in the wrong circumstances (i.e., the interview with 10ZM), maybe Nick peeked his head a little too far from behind his publisher’s merkin.

By: F Ho

F Ho — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 01:28:09 +0000

While this internal email might be closer to the truth, even this could be heavily sanitized, so only the firer and perhaps the firee know for sure. The reason given is certainly plausible; try having that conversation spelled out in the courtroom and then have to tell the judge and the jury “I was only being sarcastic”. But who knows, that could still be an excuse and the real reason could be something else lightly touched on in the email or in the interview, or something entirely different.

By: Zach

Zach — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 23:44:24 +0000

Please, a blogger who isn’t a headline whore is a blogger without pageviews. And Nick Douglas was the sluttiest girl on the corner. Seriously, though, I don’t think Gawker quite understands the asset Douglas was. I mean, he WAS Valleywag. Denton blogging over there is painful and boring. I’m unsubscribing from the wag soon, even though I do enjoy most of the other Gawker sites. It just seems so ‘old media’ (for whatever that buzzword is worth) to fire Douglas over what was said on 10zen, especially considering the blog he was editting.

By: WWB

WWB — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 23:32:49 +0000

I remember when Defamer lunched. I believe Mickey Kaus put it: “Why not go all the way and call it Defendant!”

Finally, Denton’s ethos catches up with him.

By: James Aguilar

James Aguilar — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 23:15:55 +0000

They talked with him about the issue several times. If he wouldn’t stop doing what they didn’t want him to do after that, I don’t see how the firing is a problem. Even if that was the only reason, it would still be just.

By: Neuro

Neuro — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 23:00:11 +0000

Hmm

Didn’t they consider that “the finally get sued” might have actualy been ment ironicly.

Certainly fits the ex style of vallywag.

Any how arnt’t all bloggers headline whores as are all Journalists read complicity by Ian Banks

By: Chico Resch

Chico Resch — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 22:41:31 +0000

Why are you apologizing? Either realize you’re journalists and it’s your job to report what people say — especially those savvy enough to know what that can mean. It’s his fault for being a total moron and you’ve done everyone a favor by outing him as being more of a headline slut than Courtney Love.

Fuck I wish you hadn’t apologized.