{{Short description|NYPR-operated New York City–centric blog}} {{italic title}} {{Use American English|date=July 2022}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox website | name = ''Gothamist'' | logo = Gothamist logo.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert-image | url = {{URL|https://gothamist.com/}} | type = News, culture | language = English | owner = New York Public Radio | author = {{ubl|Jake Dobkin|Jen Chung}} | launch_date = {{Start date and age|2003}} | current_status = Active }} '''''Gothamist''''' is a New York City–centric blog operated by New York Public Radio. From 2003 to 2018, Gothamist LLC was the operator, or in some cases franchisor, of eight city-centric websites that focused on news, events, food, culture, and other local coverage. It was founded in 2003 by Jake Dobkin and Jen Chung. In March 2017, Joe Ricketts, owner of ''DNAinfo'', acquired the company and, in November 2017, the websites were temporarily shut down after the newsroom staff voted to unionize. In February 2018, it was announced that New York Public Radio, KPCC and WAMU had acquired ''Gothamist'', ''LAist'', and ''DCist'', respectively. ''Chicagoist'' was purchased by Chicago-born rapper Chance the Rapper in July 2018.
==History== {{Update|part=section|date=February 2026}}
=== Early history and other blogs === The blog ''Gothamist'', focused on New York City, was founded in 2003, by publisher Jake Dobkin and editor Jen Chung. In February 2005, Gothamist LLC launched ''Bostonist'' and ''Seattlest'',<ref>{{cite web |first=Jen |last=Chung |title=Our New Additions: Bostonist and Seattlest |website=Gothamist |department=Arts & Entertainment |date=2008-03-07 |orig-date=2005-02-14 |url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/our-new-additions-bostonist-and-seattlest |url-access=registration |access-date=2026-03-07}}</ref> adding ''Phillyist'' in June 2005.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Jillian |last1=Ashley |first2=Blair |last2=Ivey |title=So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish |website=phillyist.com |department=Miscellaneous |date=2011-01-31 |url=http://phillyist.com/2011/01/31/so_long_and_thanks_for_all_the_fish.php |access-date=2026-03-07 |quote= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025091503/http://phillyist.com/2011/01/31/so_long_and_thanks_for_all_the_fish.php |archive-date=2019-10-25 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> In January 2011, the co-editors of the ''Phillyist'' site announced that other commitments had moved them to reach an agreement with the Gothamist LLC publishers to let them shutdown the Philadelphia operation at month-end;<ref>{{cite web |first1=Jillian |last1=Ashley |first2=Blair |last2=Ivey |title= Singing Semisonic |website=phillyist.com |department=Miscellaneous |date=2011-01-21 |url=http://phillyist.com/2011/01/31/so_long_and_thanks_for_all_the_fish.php |access-date=2026-03-07 |quote= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025091503/http://phillyist.com/2011/01/31/so_long_and_thanks_for_all_the_fish.php |archive-date=2019-10-25 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> in October 2011, the company decided to shutter the ''Bostonist'' website, noting that it was creating just 1% of its network-wide traffic.<ref>{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Phelps |title=Bostonist is shuttered as the Gothamist network looks to grow |website=Nieman Lab |date=2011-10-19 |url=https://www.niemanlab.org/2011/10/bostonist-is-shuttered-as-the-gothamist-network-looks-to-grow/ |access-date=2026-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251111215713/https://www.niemanlab.org/2011/10/bostonist-is-shuttered-as-the-gothamist-network-looks-to-grow/ |archive-date=2025-11-11 |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{As of|2014|June}}, other news blogs operated by the company included ''LAist'' for Los Angeles, ''DCist'' for Washington, D.C., ''Chicagoist'', and ''SFist'' for San Francisco in the United States,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gothamistllc.com/#who-reads-us |publisher=Gothamist |title=Media Kit |access-date=May 9, 2015 |archive-date=August 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801174038/http://gothamistllc.com/#who-reads-us |url-status=live}}</ref> as well as ''Shanghaiist''<ref name=Shanghaiist>{{cite web |title=Shanghaiist |url=http://shanghaiist.com/ |website=Shanghaiist |access-date=January 23, 2016 |ref=Shanghaiist |archive-date=June 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603041423/http://shanghaiist.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and ''Londonist'' internationally.<ref name=Londonist>{{cite news |url=http://londonist.com/2010/06/news_in_which_londonist_is_compared |title=Londonist And @LDN Join Forces |work=Londonist |date=June 11, 2010 |access-date=December 14, 2010 |archive-date=August 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811012847/http://londonist.com/2010/06/news_in_which_londonist_is_compared |url-status=live}}</ref>
Canadian blog ''Torontoist'' was launched by the American company, but was transferred to the locally owned Ink Truck Media in April 2009, while retaining its "-ist" name and remaining affiliated with the ''Gothamist'' network.<ref>{{cite web |last=Topping |first=David |url=http://torontoist.com/2009/04/torontoist_is_here_to_stay.php |title=Torontoist Is Here To Stay |website=Torontoist |date=April 8, 2009 |access-date=April 8, 2009 |archive-date=January 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102121814/http://torontoist.com/2009/04/torontoist_is_here_to_stay.php |url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2011, ''Torontoist'' was acquired from Ink Truck Media by St. Joseph Media, magazine publishing division of Canadian media giant St. Joseph Communications.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/torontoist-bought-by-magazine-company/article571808/ |title=Torontoist bought by magazine company |first=Adrian |last=Morrow |work=The Globe and Mail |date=March 14, 2011 |access-date=November 4, 2017 |archive-date=August 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807225533/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/torontoist-bought-by-magazine-company/article571808/ |url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, the site was not affected by the ''Gothamist'' shutdown in 2017, and remained in operation until it was acquired by ''Daily Hive'' in 2019.
In a similar fashion, in 2010 ''Londonist'' was transferred to the London-based startup LDN Creative.<ref name=Londonist/>
An estimate by Income.com in 2015 quoted the monthly revenue from ''Gothamist'' at $110,000.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Brock |date=October 27, 2015 |url=https://income.com/4100/27-bloggers-who-make-amazing-money-from-their-blogs/ |title=25 Top Money Earning Bloggers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507090006/https://income.com/4100/27-bloggers-who-make-amazing-money-from-their-blogs/ |archive-date=May 7, 2016 |website=Income.com |access-date=April 23, 2016}}</ref>
=== Shutdown === In 2017, ''Gothamist'' and all related blogs were sold to Joe Ricketts, owner of ''DNAinfo''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/media/story/2017/03/trump-donor-local-news-publisher-joe-ricketts-acquires-gothamist-websites-004939/ |title=Joe Ricketts, local news publisher and Trump backer, acquires Gothamist websites |first=Joe |last=Pompeo |work=Politico |date=March 8, 2017 |access-date=November 4, 2017 |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629024616/https://www.politico.com/media/story/2017/03/trump-donor-local-news-publisher-joe-ricketts-acquires-gothamist-websites-004939/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://observer.com/2017/03/dnainfo-buys-gothamist-joe-ricketts/ |title=Joe Ricketts' DNAinfo Buys Gothamist, Creating Local News Juggernaut |first=John |last=Bonazzo |work=Observer |date=March 8, 2017 |access-date=November 4, 2017 |archive-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502121702/https://observer.com/2017/03/dnainfo-buys-gothamist-joe-ricketts/ |url-status=live}}</ref> After the acquisition, ''Gothamist'' expunged from its archives a number of stories that had covered Ricketts critically. Regarding the removal of Ricketts related content from the site, Dobkin told ''Jezebel'', "Just as Bloomberg doesn't cover Bloomberg, we don't plan to cover Joe Ricketts and so we decided to take down our coverage of him. No one asked us to do it. It was a decision made solely by Jen [Chung] and me."<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Brendan |date=March 8, 2017 |url=http://jezebel.com/gothamist-deleted-negative-coverage-of-its-new-owner-1793085352 |title=Gothamist Deleted Negative Coverage of Its New Owner |work=Jezebel |access-date=March 8, 2017 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629024615/https://jezebel.com/gothamist-deleted-negative-coverage-of-its-new-owner-1793085352 |url-status=live}}</ref>
On November 2, 2017, Ricketts posted to both ''DNAinfo'' and the "-ist" network sites that both websites would immediately cease operations, a week after ''Gothamist'' writers voted to unionize with the Writers Guild of America, East.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.robertfeder.com/2017/11/02/ricketts-shuts-dnainfo/ |title=Ricketts shuts down DNAinfo |last=Feder |first=Robert |date=November 2, 2017 |access-date=November 2, 2017 |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925172722/https://www.robertfeder.com/2017/11/02/ricketts-shuts-dnainfo/ |url-status=live}}</ref> All content from all ''DNAinfo'' sites and all subsidiary sites were taken down.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/nyregion/dnainfo-gothamist-shutting-down.html |title=DNAinfo and Gothamist Are Shutting Down |last1=Newman |first1=Andy |date=November 2, 2017 |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 2, 2017 |last2=Leland |first2=John |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628223731/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/nyregion/dnainfo-gothamist-shutting-down.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The next day, archives of the sites were returned to functionality.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://qz.com/1119220/the-archives-of-dnainfo-gothamist-chicagoist-laist-and-shanghaiist-are-not-deleted/ |title=DNAInfo's and Gothamist's archives still exist and are likely to be resurrected |last=Yanofsky |first=David |date=November 3, 2017 |work=Quartz |access-date=November 4, 2017 |language=en-US |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530122703/https://qz.com/1119220/the-archives-of-dnainfo-gothamist-chicagoist-laist-and-shanghaiist-are-not-deleted |url-status=live}}</ref> Ricketts's shutdown was criticized as being a mere act of retaliation after the two companies' workers had joined a union.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/03/opinion/dnainfo-gothamist-ricketts-union.html |title=Opinion {{!}} A Billionaire Destroyed His Newsrooms Out of Spite |last=Nolan |first=Hamilton |date=November 3, 2017 |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 4, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524204614/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/03/opinion/dnainfo-gothamist-ricketts-union.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In the aftermath of the shutdown, laid-off ''Gothamist'' reporters stated that former owners Dobkin and Chung actively cooperated with Ricketts to discourage the union efforts, calling their actions "textbook union-busting stuff."<ref name="newyorker_20171114">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-story-behind-the-unjust-shutdown-of-gothamist-and-dnainfo |title=The Story Behind the Unjust Shutdown of Gothamist and DNAinfo |magazine=The New Yorker |date=November 14, 2017 |access-date=December 9, 2017 |first=Anna |last=Heyward |archive-date=December 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209152519/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-story-behind-the-unjust-shutdown-of-gothamist-and-dnainfo |url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Relaunch === On February 23, 2018, public radio stations WNYC, KPCC, and WAMU announced that they had jointly acquired ''Gothamist'' and its related sites ''LAist'' and ''DCist''.<ref>{{Cite press release |date=February 23, 2018 |url=https://www.wnyc.org/press/acquires-gothamist/22318/ |title=WNYC, KPCC, and WAMU Acquire Gothamist Assets |publisher=WNYC |access-date=February 23, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223204638/https://www.wnyc.org/press/acquires-gothamist/22318/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Under the agreement, ''Gothamist'' and its sister sites would begin publishing news content again.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/nyregion/gothamist-dnainfo-deal-wnyc-publish-again.html |title=Gothamist Will Publish Again in Deal With WNYC |last=Newman |first=Andy |date=February 23, 2018 |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 23, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405032457/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/nyregion/gothamist-dnainfo-deal-wnyc-publish-again.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, WNYC acquired the archives of ''Chicagoist'' and ''SFist'', and Chicago's WBEZ stated that they were exploring an acquisition of the former.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Falk |first=Tyler |date=February 23, 2018 |url=http://current.org/2018/02/three-public-radio-stations-acquire-gothamist-sites/ |title=Three public radio stations acquire Gothamist sites |work=Current |access-date=February 23, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=February 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224002536/http://current.org/2018/02/three-public-radio-stations-acquire-gothamist-sites/ |url-status=live}}</ref> WAMU relaunched ''DCist'' on June 11, 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schweitzer |first=Ally |url=https://wamu.org/story/18/06/11/dcist-officially-back-ready-breathe-new-life-local-news/ |title=DCist Is Officially Back — And Ready To Breathe New Life Into Local News |publisher=WAMU |date=June 11, 2018 |access-date=June 15, 2018 |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405221714/https://wamu.org/story/18/06/11/dcist-officially-back-ready-breathe-new-life-local-news/ |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Gothamist'' confirmed that Chance the Rapper acquired ''Chicagoist'' after he announced it in a new song, "I Might Need Security", on July 18, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last=Carlson |first=Jen |date=July 19, 2018 |title=Chance The Rapper Bought Chicagoist And Announced It In Newly Released Song |url=http://gothamist.com/2018/07/19/chance_the_rapper_chicagoist.php |website=Gothamist |access-date=July 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719043135/http://gothamist.com/2018/07/19/chance_the_rapper_chicagoist.php |archive-date=July 19, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
On January 7, 2019, labor union SAG-AFTRA and WNYC announced that they had reached an agreement to recognize more than 25 digital employees of New York Public Radio, including ''Gothamist'' staff.<ref>{{cite press release |date=January 7, 2019 |url=https://www.wnyc.org/press/sag-aftra-nypr/10719/ |title=SAG-AFTRA and New York Public Radio Reach Voluntary Recognition Agreement Covering New Employees |publisher=WNYC |access-date=January 25, 2019 |archive-date=May 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503231450/https://www.wnyc.org/press/sag-aftra-nypr/10719/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
Impress3 Media bought the San Francisco blog site ''SFist'' in January 2019 and relaunched it the following month with the former editor-in-chief as a consultant.<ref>{{cite news |first=Alyssa |last=Pereira |url=https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/SFist-relaunches-under-new-owners-brings-back-13628245.php |title=SFist relaunches under new owners, brings back two former writers |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=February 19, 2019 |access-date=February 20, 2019 |archive-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502121703/https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/SFist-relaunches-under-new-owners-brings-back-13628245.php |url-status=live}}</ref>
In April 2021, WNYC laid off 14 employees, amounting to 4% of total staff. This included several workers at the ''Gothamist'' including its editor-in-chief.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Keith J. |date=April 30, 2021 |title=Shake up at Gothamist as WNYC axes editor-in-chief |url=https://nypost.com/2021/04/30/shake-up-at-gothamist-as-wnyc-axes-editor-in-chief/ |access-date=April 3, 2025 |website=New York Post |language=en-US}}</ref>
WAMU shut down DCist in 2024.<ref>[https://washingtonian.com/2024/04/19/why-did-wamu-close-dcist/ Why did WAMU close DCist?], Washingtonian</ref>
==Awards== The flagship ''Gothamist'' blog has received a number of awards and commendations, including six Bloggies nominations. It was named a "Forbes Favorite",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/bow/b2c/category.jhtml?id=323 |title=City Blogs |work=Forbes |access-date=January 10, 2008 |archive-date=December 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213085937/http://www.forbes.com/bow/b2c/category.jhtml?id=323 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and a ''BusinessWeek'' "Best of the Web".<ref>{{cite web |first=Joseph |last=Pisani |url=http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/09/bloggers/index_01.htm |title=Special Report: Best of the Web: Your Favorite Bloggers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004220005/http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/09/bloggers/index_01.htm |archive-date=October 4, 2006 |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |access-date=January 10, 2008}} See slide number 4 of 13</ref> In 2007, ''Gothamist'' was named blog of the year by ''Wired'' magazine and given a Wired Rave Award.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Sonia |last=Zjawinski |url=https://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/multimedia/2007/04/ss_raves?slide=12 |title=The 2007 Rave Awards |magazine=Wired |date=April 2007 |access-date=January 10, 2008 |archive-date=February 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220094804/http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/multimedia/2007/04/ss_raves?slide=12 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{official website}}
Category:American blogs Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2017 Category:Internet properties established in 2003 Category:Internet properties established in 2018 Category:Kickstarter-funded publications