# Ken Layne

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American novelist

Not to be confused with musician [Ken Lane](/source/Ken_Lane).

Ken Layne Ken Layne at 92YTribeca in New York. Born c. 1967 (aged 59–60[1]) Louisiana Occupations Writer publisher broadcaster Known for Wonkette, Desert Oracle Notable work Dignity (2011)

**Ken Layne** is an American writer, publisher and broadcaster best known for his political blogging in the early 2000s and his association with [Gawker Media](/source/Gawker_Media) and *[Wonkette](/source/Wonkette)* from 2006 to 2012. He is the proprietor of *Desert Oracle*, a self-published periodical and radio program exploring themes related to the [Mojave Desert](/source/Mojave_Desert) and the [Southwestern United States](/source/Southwestern_United_States). Layne has also written for outlets such as *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*, the *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*, *[The Awl](/source/The_Awl)* and *[LA CityBeat](/source/LA_CityBeat)*.

## Career

### Early career

After graduating from a [San Diego, California](/source/San_Diego) [magnet high school](/source/Magnet_school) focused on [broadcast journalism](/source/Broadcast_journalism),[1] Layne began his career in the mid-1980s reporting for [Southern California](/source/Southern_California) newspapers[2] before moving to Europe, where he worked for television, radio, and print journalism outlets in [Macedonia](/source/Republic_of_Macedonia),[3] the [Czech Republic](/source/Czech_Republic), and [Hungary](/source/Hungary).[1] In the late 1990s, Layne returned to the United States[4] and turned to online journalism exclusively.[2]

In April 1997, Layne co-founded Tabloid.net,[5] an online publication in the "brassy style of tabloid newspapers", with $50,000 in savings.[6] While unprofitable as a company,[5] Tabloid.net attained notoriety as an "unabashed scandal-monger"[6] and for suing a Florida advertising company for appropriating its intellectual property, "a talking ham sandwich that gives advice".[4]

Layne's next venture was LAExaminer.com, co-founded in 2001 with future *[Reason](/source/Reason_(magazine))* editor-in-chief [Matt Welch](/source/Matt_Welch), focused in part on criticism of Los Angeles' last remaining daily newspaper, the *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. The "Examiner" name was intended as homage to the defunct *[Los Angeles Herald Examiner](/source/Los_Angeles_Herald_Examiner)*. In early 2003, former Los Angeles mayor [Richard Riordan](/source/Richard_Riordan) announced his intentions to publish a full-color, 52-page, tabloid-format print edition called *Los Angeles Examiner*, with Layne as editor, intended to improve on the *Times*' local reporting.[7] A prototype was produced and circulated among potential investors and advertisers,[8] however the project was shelved after Riordan delayed its launch in May 2003.[9]

During this time period, Layne also received attention for blogging at his personal website, KenLayne.com,[10][11] and became known in the early 2000s American political and technology [blogosphere](/source/Blogosphere) for a quote directed at the [mainstream media](/source/Mainstream_media): "We can fact-check your ass".[12][13][14] Another Layne project of the era was called Highways West, a travel website about the [Western United States](/source/Western_United_States), announced in January 2005.[15][16]

### Gawker Media and *Wonkette*

In April 2005, Layne joined with former [Gawker](/source/Gawker) editor [Choire Sicha](/source/Choire_Sicha) to launch Sploid, a [Drudge Report](/source/Drudge_Report)-inspired,[17] "tabloid-emulating" website for [Gawker Media](/source/Gawker_Media),[18] devoted to breaking news.[17] He later became "national correspondent" for the flagship Gawker website.[19]

Layne became the West Coast writer for Gawker Media's "absurdist" and "vicious"[2] political humor site *[Wonkette](/source/Wonkette)* in 2006, and later its managing editor.[18] Gawker owner [Nick Denton](/source/Nick_Denton) spun off *Wonkette* in 2008, along with two other websites, and Layne became *Wonkette*'s owner.[20]

In 2009, [MSNBC](/source/MSNBC)'s [Keith Olbermann](/source/Keith_Olbermann) named Layne and *Wonkette* in his ["Worst Person in the World" segment](/source/Countdown_with_Keith_Olbermann#"Worst_Person_in_the_World"_segment)[2] for allegedly mischaracterizing a temporary absence from his television program.[21][22] In 2011, *Wonkette* faced media criticism and desertion by advertisers after a writer mocked Trig Palin, the child of 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee [Sarah Palin](/source/Sarah_Palin), who has [Down syndrome](/source/Down_syndrome). Layne deleted the post after several advertisers, including [Papa John's Pizza](/source/Papa_John's_Pizza), pulled their advertising from the site.[23][24]

Layne sold *Wonkette* to Los Angeles journalist Rebecca Schoenkopf in 2012.[18] Of his career writing for the Gawker Media sites, Layne said in 2018: "All of that I did from the desert, and no one knew".[1]

### *Desert Oracle*

In February 2015, Layne created *Desert Oracle: The Voice of the Desert*,[19] a quarterly periodical focused on the "weirdness of the desert" in the [Southwestern United States](/source/Southwestern_United_States).[2] Each edition runs 44 pages, most of which is written and designed by Layne,[1] entirely in black-and-white, inside a yellow and black cover.[3] Typical content includes "adventurers' journal entries, railroad ad copy, and ... naturalists' musings", as well as stories on "alien sightings" and other paranormal phenomena.[3] Inspiration for *Desert Oracle* came from Randall Henderson's *[Desert Magazine](/source/Desert_Magazine)*[1] and [Harry Oliver](/source/Harry_Oliver)'s *[Desert Rat Scrap Book](/source/Desert_Rat_Scrap_Book)*.[19]

Published from [Joshua Tree, California](/source/Joshua_Tree%2C_California), Layne distributes the publications to bookstores and cafes across the desert southwest.[16] As of 2018, *Desert Oracle* is available in five states and reaches the majority of its readership[1] through the mail via paid subscription.[16] Layne has also collected *Desert Oracle* articles in book form, the first volume of which published in 2020.[25]

*Desert Oracle* became the basis of a weekly half-hour radio show, *The Desert Oracle Radio*, hosted by Layne for the community radio station [KCDZ](/source/KCDZ) in June 2017.[16] With subject matter similar to the print version, Layne's radio show features "chilling tales of [Bigfoot](/source/Bigfoot) sightings, secret military [UFO](/source/Unidentified_flying_object) programs, missing hikers, and any number of myths and conspiracies" centered in the Mojave desert and the American Southwest.[1] *The Desert Oracle Radio* reaches [Joshua Tree National Park](/source/Joshua_Tree_National_Park) and nearby towns including [Pioneertown](/source/Pioneertown%2C_California), [Twentynine Palms](/source/Twentynine_Palms%2C_California) and [Yucca Valley](/source/Yucca_Valley%2C_California) by terrestrial broadcast;[26] the show is also available as a podcast.[3]

## Other writing

Layne is the author of two novels, *Dot.con*, published in 2001,[27][28] and *Dignity*, an [epistolary novel](/source/Epistolary_novel) about a group of Los Angelenos creating a new community within abandoned desert housing developments following an economic collapse, in 2011.[29][30]

He formerly was a columnist for [USC Annenberg School](/source/USC_Annenberg_School_for_Communication_and_Journalism)'s *Online Journalism Review*,[31] and wrote a column called "Desert Rattler" for *[LA CityBeat](/source/LA_CityBeat)*, both now defunct.[16] Other writing by Layne has appeared in *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*, *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*, and *[The Awl](/source/The_Awl)*.[32]

## Personal life

Layne was born in [Louisiana](/source/Louisiana),[2] where he lived in the [Lower Ninth Ward](/source/Lower_Ninth_Ward) of [New Orleans](/source/New_Orleans) as a child.[1] He moved to the [Phoenix, Arizona](/source/Phoenix%2C_Arizona) suburbs[3] for middle school, and later to San Diego, where he first began visiting the Mojave desert.[2]

Layne records his own music,[1] and formerly played with Southern California rock musicians [Country Dick Montana](/source/Country_Dick_Montana) and [Buddy Blue Seigal](/source/Bernard_Seigal).[33]

He has cited *[Desert Solitaire](/source/Desert_Solitaire)* by [Edward Abbey](/source/Edward_Abbey) as an influence,[29] whom he met and corresponded with before Abbey's death in 1989.[1]

## Further reading

- [The Rise and Fall of the L.A. Examiner, a Blog That Was a Newspaper That Never Existed](https://www.theawl.com/2013/04/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-l-a-examiner-a-blog-that-was-a-newspaper-that-never-existed/), Ken Layne, *[The Awl](/source/The_Awl)*, 2 April 2013

- [Publishing the Best of the Desert: An Interview With Ken Layne](https://longreads.com/2018/04/25/publishing-the-best-of-the-desert-an-interview-with-ken-layne/), Aaron Gilbreath, *Longreads*, 25 April 2018

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-PSL-Biller_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-PSL-Biller_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-PSL-Biller_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-PSL-Biller_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-PSL-Biller_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-PSL-Biller_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-PSL-Biller_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-PSL-Biller_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-PSL-Biller_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-PSL-Biller_1-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-PSL-Biller_1-10) Biller, Steven (9 April 2018). ["Real Close — And Way Out"](https://www.palmspringslife.com/ken-layne/). *Palm Springs Life*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-LA_Times-Netburn_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-LA_Times-Netburn_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-LA_Times-Netburn_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-LA_Times-Netburn_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-LA_Times-Netburn_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-LA_Times-Netburn_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-LA_Times-Netburn_2-6) Netburn, Deborah (29 May 2015). ["After leaving the political blogging fray, he now covers desert's quiet weirdness"](http://www.latimes.com/science/great-reads/la-sci-c1-desert-oracle-20150529-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-PS-Genecov_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-PS-Genecov_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-PS-Genecov_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-PS-Genecov_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-PS-Genecov_3-4) Genecov, Max (5 March 2018). ["How Ken Layne Created a Publishing Oasis in a Desert Town of 8,000 People"](https://psmag.com/news/ken-layne-desert-oracle). *Pacific Standard*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SF_Chron-Swartz_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SF_Chron-Swartz_4-1) Swartz, Jon (22 February 1999). ["The Stars of Technology Sweeps Month"](https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/The-Stars-of-Technology-Sweeps-Month-2945609.php). *San Francisco Chronicle*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DMN-Yung_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DMN-Yung_5-1) Yung, Katherine (15 February 1999). "Web firm sues local ad agency; Dispute centers on talking ham sandwich". *Dallas Morning News*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SF_Chron-Abate_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SF_Chron-Abate_6-1) Abate, Tom (18 March 1998). ["New Bill on Tech Workers Is More Like a Legislative Gun"](https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/New-Bill-on-Tech-Workers-Is-More-Like-a-3011181.php). *San Francisco Chronicle*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Economist-Feb_03_7-0)** ["The Big Dick"](https://www.economist.com/united-states/2003/02/06/the-big-dick). *The Economist*. 6 February 2003. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CS_Monitor_8-0)** Wood, Daniel B. (30 January 2003). ["In L.A., a new tabloid from its ex-mayor"](https://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0130/p03s01-ussc.html). *Christian Science Monitor*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LA_Times-Rutten_9-0)** Rutten, Tim (3 May 2003). ["Riordan delays tabloid"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-may-03-et-rutten3-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NYT-Gallagher_10-0)** Gallagher, David (10 June 2002). ["A Rift Among Bloggers"](https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/10/business/technology-a-rift-among-bloggers.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-AJR-Seipp_11-0)** Seipp, Catherine (June 2002). "Online Uprising". *American Journalism Review*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Reason_12-0)** Beato, Greg (20 September 2012). ["Welcome to the Golden Age of Fact-Checking"](http://reason.com/archives/2012/09/20/welcome-to-the-golden-age-of-fact-checki). *Reason.com*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Regret_the_Error_13-0)** Craig Silverman (2007). [*Regret the Error: How Media Mistakes Pollute the Press*](https://books.google.com/books?id=vdBOKzu91QEC&q=ken+layne+fact+check+their+ass&pg=PR26). Union Square Press. p. xxvi. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1402751530](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1402751530). Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Rosenberg_14-0)** [Scott Rosenberg](/source/Scott_Rosenberg_(journalist)) (2009). [*Say Everything: How Blogging Began, What It's Becoming, and Why It Matters*](https://archive.org/details/sayeverythinghow00rose). Crown Books. pp. [151](https://archive.org/details/sayeverythinghow00rose/page/151)–152. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0307451361](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0307451361). Retrieved 26 April 2018. warblogs ken layne.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LA_Observed-Jan_05_15-0)** Roderick, Kevin (15 January 2005). ["Layne's new gig"](http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2005/01/laynes_new_gig.php). *LA Observed*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-LA_Weekly-Swann_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-LA_Weekly-Swann_16-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-LA_Weekly-Swann_16-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-LA_Weekly-Swann_16-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-LA_Weekly-Swann_16-4) Swann, Jennifer (15 November 2017). ["A Zine That Leans Into the Mojave Desert's Weirdness Is Now a Spooky Podcast"](http://www.laweekly.com/arts/with-the-desert-oracle-radio-ken-layne-leans-into-the-mojave-deserts-weirdness-8824822). *LA Weekly*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Slate-Wallace-Wells_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Slate-Wallace-Wells_17-1) Wallace-Wells, David (8 April 2005). ["In Praise of Sploid"](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/todays_blogs/2005/04/in_praise_of_sploid.html). *Slate*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-LA_Observed-May_15_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-LA_Observed-May_15_18-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-LA_Observed-May_15_18-2) Roderick, Kevin (29 May 2015). ["Ex-blogger Ken Layne has a desert magazine"](http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2015/05/ex-blogger_ken_layne_has.php). *LA Observed*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Politico-Levy_19-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Politico-Levy_19-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Politico-Levy_19-2) Levy, Nicole (17 February 2015). ["Ken Layne, Desert Oracle"](https://www.politico.com/media/story/2015/02/ken-layne-desert-oracle-003472/). *Politico*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Crain's_NY-Fung_20-0)** Fung, Amanda (14 April 2008). ["No joke: Gawker selling three blogs"](http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20080414/FREE/982122410/no-joke-gawker-selling-three-blogs). *Crain's New York Business*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Countdown_21-0)** ["'Countdown with Keith Olbermann' for Wednesday, May 13, 2009"](https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna30766456). [*Countdown with Keith Olbermann*](/source/Countdown_with_Keith_Olbermann). 13 May 2009. MSNBC.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Gawker-Sherman_22-0)** Sherman, Gabriel (14 May 2009). ["Keith Olbermann's Ego Trumps the Truth"](http://gawker.com/5255315/keith-olbermanns-ego-trumps-the-truth). *Gawker*. Retrieved 26 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Adweek-Byers_23-0)** Byers, Dylan (21 April 2011). ["Wonkette Deletes Controversial Trig Palin Post"](http://www.adweek.com/digital/wonkette-deletes-controversial-trig-palin-post-130865/). *AdWeek*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Atlantic-Dickson_24-0)** Dickson, Caitlin (20 April 2011). ["Derek Hunter Attempts to Defund Wonkette by Boycott"](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/04/derek-hunter-attempts-defund-wonkette-boycotting-its-advertisers/349834/). *Atlantic Wire*. Retrieved 26 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["Nonfiction Book Review: Desert Oracle, Vol. 1"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780374139681). *Publishers Weekly*. 2020-10-05. Retrieved 2020-12-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SF_Chron-Dailey_26-0)** Dailey, Keli (25 March 2018). ["'Desert Oracle' sheds light on histories, mysteries of Mojave's allure"](https://www.sfchronicle.com/travel/article/Insider-Joshua-Tree-s-Desert-Oracle-12767538.php). *San Francisco Chronicle*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NLA_27-0)** [*Dot.con / Ken Layne*](https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2653983). National Library of Australia. 2001. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781875989973](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781875989973). Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ABC-RN_28-0)** Koval, Ramona (28 July 2001). ["Blokes Rule, Okay?"](http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/archived/booksandwriting/blokes-rule-okay/3631294). *ABC Radio National*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Rumpus-Cage_29-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Rumpus-Cage_29-1) Cage, Caleb (28 July 2011). ["Populist Fatalism"](http://therumpus.net/2011/07/dignity/). *The Rumpus*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-KCET_30-0)** Clarke, Chris (3 August 2011). ["Ken Layne's Modest Utopia"](https://www.kcet.org/socal-focus/ken-laynes-modest-utopia). *KCET*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NYT-Business_31-0)** Barringer, Felicity (3 September 2001). ["An Accusation of Online Plagiarism"](https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/03/business/mediatalk-an-accusation-of-online-plagiarism.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NBC_LA-Painter_32-0)** Painter, Alysia Gray (5 March 2016). ["Desert Oracle: Love for Arid Expanses"](https://www.nbclosangeles.com/blogs/worth-the-drive/Desert-Oracle-Love-for-Arid-Expanses-370956251.html). *NBC Los Angeles*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SD_Reader-Lickona_33-0)** Lickona, Matthew (26 April 2017). ["The Desert Oracle's Ken Layne"](https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2017/apr/26/golden-dreams-desert-oracles-ken-layne/). *San Diego Reader*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

## External links

- [Desert Oracle](https://www.desertoracle.com/)

Authority control databases International VIAF WorldCat National United States

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ken Layne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Layne) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Layne?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.