Friday, February 15, 2008

Top Blogs: The Gawker Media Network

Top Blogs is an ongoing effort to bring some of the blogosphere's most successful efforts to the attention of those just beginning to appreciate The Blogging Lifestyle. In this particular post, we take a look at Gawker Media.

I've always admired the way Gawker Media is set up. In case you haven't heard of the company, Gawker Media is an online media group, directly responsible for an entire network of blogs (now just 12).

With a lot of its member sites consistently ranking at the top of Technorati's Top Blogs, you can say that Gawker Media is probably one of the most successful blog-oriented media companies.

The man behind it all is Nick Denton. According to Wikipedia:

While Denton does not go into detail over Gawker Media's finances, he has downplayed the profit potential of blogs declaring that "blogs are likely to be better for readers than for capitalists. While I love the medium, I've always been skeptical about the value of blogs as businesses," on his personal site.

Let's check out the blogs in the Gawker Media blog network.

1. Gawker.com. Obviously, the company's flagship blog. It bills itself as "The source for daily Manhattan media news and gossip"- so it's kinda like Gossip Girl, but it's the real deal, and mostly deals with celebrities and the media industry.

The success of the blog has spawned similar online projects for other key cities. As you have Gawker.com for Manhattan, you also have...

2. Wonkette, the D.C. Gossip. Just like Gawker.com, but this one covers the Washington D.C. scene, and is therefore, a little bit more political. (Renzie's Update: Wonkette, unfortunately, is one of the blogs Gawker Media sold, as they had announced in mid-April of this year)

3. Defamer, the L.A. Gossip Rag. Gawker.com decided to replicate its success on the West Coast this time. So it's just like Gawker.com, only more Hollywood and entertainment-oriented.

4. Vallywag, Silicon Valley's Tech Gossip Rag. Just like Gawker.com, Wonkette and the Defamer, but has its eyes and ears on the San Francisco scene and your Silicon Valley companies.

5. Fleshbot, Pure Filth. Gawker Media's very own sex-oriented blog- for both gay and straight readers. According to Wikipedia:
The range of subject matter includes everything from amateur sex blogs and thumbnail gallery posts to news about sex in popular culture and advertising.

Seriously, who needs a reason to check out a sex blog?

6. Gizmodo, The Gadget Guide. One of the web's most popular blogs on technology and consumer electronics.

7. Gridskipper, the Urban Travel Guide. A great blog on travel and leisure. (Renzie's Update: Gridskipper, unfortunately, is one of the blogs Gawker Media sold, as they had announced in mid-April of this year)

8. Kotaku, the Gamer's Guide. Gawker Media's blog on nothing but video games.

9. Idolator, All About the Music...If Only It Were. One of the greatest music blogs online, in my opinion. (Renzie's Update: Idolator, unfortunately, is one of the blogs Gawker Media sold, as they had announced in mid-April of this year)

10. Jalopnik: Obsessed with the Cult of Cars. Rolling Stone magazine called it a "car-geek-blog" in its 01 November 2007 issue. This blog is mainly about automobiles, car culture, and the automotive business.

11. Lifehacker, Tech Tricks, Tips and Downloads for Getting Things Done. Personally one of my most favorite sites, the motto of Lifehacker is:
Computers make us more productive. Yeah, right. Lifehacker recommends the software downloads and web sites that actually save time. Don't live to geek; geek to live.

I say Amen to that. Any blog that actually helps saves up on time and energy is fine by my book.

12. Deadspin, Sports News without Access, Favor or Discretion. 'Nuff said.

13. The Consumerist: Shoppers Bite Back. A consumer affairs blog. Very interesting stuff, featuring consumers' experiences with various companies and corporations.

14. Jezebel: Celebrity, Sex, Fashion For Women- Without Airbrushing. Definitely a blog for chicks. Still a great read if you want something to talk about with your woman :)

15. io9: Strung Out on Science Fiction. One of Gawker Media's newest blogs, as far as I know. It's about frackin' time someone came out with a quality sci-fi blog, I say.

With all fifteen blogs (actually only 12 of 15 Gawker Media-owned now), there's definitely one or two you'd like to check out. Interesting to note how each one has chosen a particular subject matter, and how each one managed to be one of the most read blogs in their respective niches.

Definitely some of the blogs you have to check out from time to time. Go ahead and add the feed you want to your Pageflakes, Google Reader or your own blog if you like.

Cheers, everyone!