Jezebel’s acquisition ensures the preservation of the essential information and content that its readers have relied on, according to Josh Jackson, Paste Founder and Editor-in-Chief. Despite G/O Media’s unsuccessful attempts to find a buyer and the subsequent shutdown of Jezebel, Paste swiftly secured an all-cash deal to revive the site. Jackson mentioned that Paste is actively seeking a new editor-in-chief, prioritizing former Jezebel staffers, and plans to resume publishing as early as this week.
Jezebel, initially launched in 2007 by Gawker Media, gained a devoted following for its incisive commentary on gender politics and edgy pop culture coverage. The acquisition by Paste comes after Jezebel struggled to sustain itself amid challenges in the digital advertising landscape. Known for addressing issues like abortion, body shaming, and rape culture, Jezebel became part of G/O Media’s portfolio in 2019. Tensions with the parent company and its failure to find a suitable revenue model for Jezebel’s mission and audience contributed to its shutdown.
G/O Media, which owns various publications including Gizmodo, Quartz, the Onion, and the Root, explained the closure as part of a broader restructuring to navigate economic challenges and a challenging digital advertising environment. CEO Jim Spanfeller acknowledged the misalignment between Jezebel’s mission and the broader company’s business model and audience. Despite the shutdown, he expressed optimism about Jezebel’s future, stating that they had been working on its sale for months and are pleased it has found a new home.
