The Awlwas awebsiteabout "news, ideas and obscure Internet minutiae of the day"[1]based inNew York City.Its motto was "Be Less Stupid."
 | |
Type of site | Current events,culture |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Dissolved | January 31, 2018 |
| Created by | Choire Sicha Alex Balk |
| Editor | Silvia Killingsworth |
| Key people | Michael Macher (publisher) |
| Revenue | Unknown |
| URL | theawl |
| Launched | April 20, 2009 |
| Current status | Inactive |
History
editFounded in April 2009 by David Cho and formerGawkereditorsChoire Sichaand Alex Balk out of Sicha'sEast Village, Manhattanapartment, after they were laid off by the pop culture magazineRadar,[2][3]the trio decided to launch their own blog, completely "out of pocket with a bare-bones site." The site's name was coined by contributor Tom Scocca, after the small pointed tool used for piercing holes. "He’d always wanted to have a newspaper named The Awl. So we semi bought it from him in a friendly arrangement." Sicha toldVanity Fair.[4]
The first posts on the site were an infographic byEmily GouldofGawker's office seating chart, "a video of aMiss USA contestantresponding to agay marriagequestion fromPerez Hilton,and an item linking to aReutersarticle about physicistStephen Hawkingbeing taken to the hospital. "[1]Initial expectations by media observers were for the site to be a carbon copy ofGawker,but, saidNieman Journalism Lab’s Justin Ellis, "instead it was something smaller and focused on the writing, where people can write about the stuff they’re passionate or super nerdy about.".[3]
In mid-January 2018,The Awlannounced that it would end publication at the end of that month.[5]It printed a final obituary to itself on January 31, 2018.[6]
Staff
editAs of July 2015, The Awl Network employed 13 people, as well as many freelance contributors.[3]After editingThe Awlfor over almost two years, Matt Buchanan and John Herrman announced their departure from the site in February 2016.[7]In March 2016 it was announced that Silvia Killingsworth would take over the editing position.[8]The Awlwas published by John Shankman from 2011 until May 2014, when Michael Macher became publisher.[9]In 2011, David Cho leftThe Awlto join ESPN-affiliated sports siteGrantland.[10]
Sister sites
editThe Awlhad four sister sites:Splitsider,a comedy website;The Hairpin,a site geared toward women;The Sweethome,a home-furnishings review site; andThe Billfold,a blog with a focus on personal finances.[2][4][11][12]Laura Olin editsThe Awl's newsletter entitledEverything Changes.Buchanan and Herrman also launched a podcast for the site.[3]The site also launched an app on theApple App Storecalled The Awl: Weekend Companion.[13]On March 22, 2018,New York Media,the publisher of the magazineNew York,announced that it had acquired Splitsider and would be folding it into the operations of its Vulture website.[14]Brian Lam's tech review siteThe Wirecutteralso originated withThe Awlbefore merging with The Sweethome and being acquired byThe New York Times.[15][16][17]
References
edit- ^abReagan, Gillian (April 20, 2009)."Gawker Alumni Launch Web Site for 'Resonant, Weird, Important, Frightening' News".The New York Observer.RetrievedAugust 15,2015.
- ^abCarr, David(October 24, 2010)."Against Odds, Web Site Finds Niche".The New York Times.RetrievedSeptember 4,2013.
- ^abcdDzieza, Josh (July 9, 2015)."Why are the most important people in media reading The Awl?".The Verge.RetrievedNovember 9,2016.
- ^abPressman, Matt (April 21, 2009)."Choire Sicha's Plea: Stay Away, Stupid People!".Vanity Fair.Archived fromthe originalon November 30, 2009.
- ^"Awl Ends".www.theawl.com.January 16, 2018.Archivedfrom the original on January 28, 2018.
- ^Balk, Alex (January 31, 2018)."The Awl, 2009-2018".www.theawl.com.Archivedfrom the original on February 13, 2018.
- ^"Job Open (Again)".www.theawl.com.February 23, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on March 16, 2016.
- ^"Job Filled".www.theawl.com.March 1, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on January 16, 2018.
- ^"Changes At The Awl".www.theawl.com.May 29, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on June 6, 2014.
- ^Rovzar, Chris (June 29, 2011)."Awl Publisher and Co-Founder David Cho Leaves for Grantland".New York.RetrievedSeptember 4,2013.
- ^Hayden, Erik (September 8, 2010)."Gawker Slays Newspapers, Shrugs".The Atlantic Wire.RetrievedSeptember 4,2013.
- ^McGann, Laura (June 14, 2010)."The Awl wants to win on the web with great writing, not SEO tricks".Nieman Journalism Lab.RetrievedSeptember 4,2013.
- ^"The Awl: Weekend Companion".iTunes.RetrievedJune 5,2014.
- ^Spangler, Todd (March 22, 2018)."New York Magazine Publisher Buys Comedy Site Splitsider, Will Fold It Into Vulture".Variety.
- ^Ho, Karen K. (June 18, 2018)."Testing out a new future for Consumer Reports".Columbia Journalism Review.RetrievedApril 26,2019.
- ^Carr, David (October 24, 2010)."The Awl Finds Some Level of Online Success".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedApril 26,2019.
- ^Smith, Gerry (September 13, 2017)."New York Times Rebrands Wirecutter as Product Review Sales Grow".Bloomberg News.RetrievedApril 26,2019.
