Gizmodo

• 1. Origins And Gawker Era

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  Peter Rojas launched Gizmodo in 2002 as a design, technology, science, and science fiction website. The site operated under the Gawker Media network run by Nick Denton. By mid-2004, Gizmodo and its sister blog Gawker together generated approximately $6,500 per month in revenue. VNU Media and Gawker Media formed an alliance in 2005 to republish Gizmodo across Europe. This partnership saw VNU translate content into French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese while adding European-interest material. In 2011, the site underwent a major redesign that updated its visual identity. Matt Novak moved his Paleofuture blog from Smithsonian to Gizmodo in 2013. The Gawker blog io9 merged into Gizmodo in 2015, bringing staff who continued posting articles on subjects like science fiction, fantasy, futurism, science, technology, and astronomy.

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• 2. Ownership Transitions And Sales

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  Univision Communications purchased Gizmodo along with other Gawker websites in August 2016 following Chapter 11 bankruptcy and liquidation of Gawker Media. Univision sold the Gizmodo Media Group to private equity firm Great Hill Partners in 2019. From April 2019 to June 2024, Gizmodo operated as part of G/O Media. Swiss digital media company Keleops Media purchased the website in June 2024. Mark Stenberg of Adweek reported that financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Keleops CEO Jean-Guillaume Kleis stated they paid the price to enter the American market through a good door. Claudia Cohen of Le Figaro noted it is rare for a European media group to acquire an American player specialized in tech. Keleops later bought Kotaku from G/O Media in June 2025, reuniting the two publications under one roof.

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• 3. Editorial Leadership Changes

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  David M. Ewalt became editor-in-chief of Gizmodo in 2021 while Andrew Couts was promoted to executive editor. Ewalt left the position in 2023 to join The Messenger. Rory Carroll was promoted from editor-in-chief of Jalopnik to group editor of both Jalopnik and Gizmodo in January 2024. Rose Pastore moved from deputy editor to executive editor at Gizmodo in March 2024. G/O Media leadership faced frequent criticism from employees regarding closer advertiser relationships and lack of diversity. Multiple disputes arose between the company and employee union GMG Union over working conditions. On the 29th of June 2023, G/O Media implemented a modest test of artificial intelligence-generated content on its websites including io9. This move sparked backlash from GMG Union members citing AI's track record of false statements and plagiarism from training data.

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• 4. International Expansion And Closures

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  Gizmodo Japan launched in 2006 through Mediagene. Allure Media launched Gizmodo Australia in the US in 2007 under license from Gawker Media. Australian media company Nine Entertainment merged PEDESTRIAN.TV with Allure Media in 2018 forming Pedestrian Group. The website changed its name to Pedestrian while incorporating brands like Gizmodo AU, Business Insider Australia, Kotaku Australia, and POPSUGAR Australia. July 2024 announced that Gizmodo AU would shut down amid restructuring at Pedestrian. HUB Uitgevers took over the Dutch magazine license from VNU Media in November 2007. Gizmodo Brazil launched with Portuguese content in September 2008. Future launched Gizmodo UK in September 2011 to cover British news. The UK edition closed in September 2020 with all web links redirecting to Gizmodo.com.

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• 5. Sub-blog Evolution And Termination

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  io9 launched as a standalone blog in 2008 by then editor Annalee Newitz under Gawker Media. James Whitbrook replaced Jill Pantozzi as deputy editor of io9 in 2021. Earther launched in September 2017 as an environmental news sub-blog. Founding managing editor Maddie Stone created the site to chronicle topics including the future of Earth, humans on Earth, and life on Earth. Former Earther journalists Yessenia Funues, Brian Kahn, and Molly Taft won SEAL Awards for their environmental reporting during its lifetime. Angely Mercado became the last member of the Earther staff before broader G/O Media layoffs in November 2023. Mercado posted that she was laid off from G/O with over twenty staffers before Christmas while expressing gratitude for working alongside talented colleagues.

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• 6. Notable Controversies And Legal Battles

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  Richard Blakeley, a videographer for Gizmodos publisher Gawker Media, disrupted presentations at CES in 2008 using TV-B-Gone remote controls. He secretly turned off televisions resulting in being barred from CES 2008 and any future CES events. In April 2010, Gizmodo purchased an iPhone 4 prototype for US$5,000 from Brian J. Hogan who found it unattended at a bar in Redwood City, California. UC Berkeley student Sage Robert allegedly helped Hogan sell the phone after failing to track down the owner. On April 26, California's Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team executed a search warrant on editor Jason Chen's home following Apple's request. The team seized computers, hard drives, servers, cameras, notes, and business cards under direction from San Mateo County Chief Deputy District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe. Gizmodo remained barred from Apple-hosted events until August 2014 when invited back to September 2014 product launches. Bobby Kotick sued G/O Media for defamation in March 2025 over articles noting his interest in acquiring TikTok while claiming widespread workplace misconduct was investigated and dismissed by state regulators.

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