Spanish language television network, Univision
Communications, Inc. (UCI), best known for its dramatic soap operas, on
Wednesday announced that News Corp. senior vice-president, Raju Narisetti, and
the founding editor of Mint will be the chief executive officer for Gizmodo
Media Group (GMG), earlier known as Gawker Media.
Last month, the company which also owns a 40% stake in
satirical news site The Onion, entered into an agreement to acquire digital
media assets as part of the bankruptcy proceedings of Gawker Media Group for
$135 million.
Gizmodo Media Group is part of the Fusion Media Group (FMG),
the division of UCI that serves the young, diverse audiences.
As chief executive officer (CEO), Narisetti will be
responsible for managing all business and editorial operations of the newly
named Gizmodo Media Group, which houses Gizmodo, Jalopnik, Jezebel, Deadspin,
Lifehacker and Kotaku. He takes over the role of founder and former CEO, Nick
Denton.
Gawker Media was an online media company and blog network
founded and owned by Denton in 2012.
In 2016, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
protection as a direct result of the monetary judgement against the company
related to the Hulk Hogan sex tape lawsuit.
Narisetti, who will be based at the company headquarters in
New York, will report to Isaac Lee, chief news, digital and entertainment
officer of UCI, and Felipe Holguin, president and chief operating officer of
FMG.
Heather Detrick, president of GMG, John Cook, executive
editor, and Courtenay O’Connor, GMG deputy general counsel, will all report
directly to Narisetti. He will formally join the Gizmodo Media Group in late
October.
“It is a privilege to be responsible for leading this
unwaveringly energetic team of journalists and business staff,” said Narisetti
in a statement.
“As part of Univision, we will now be more ambitious in
deepening, broadening and sensibly scaling the passionate digital communities
that Gizmodo, Jezebel, Deadspin, Kotaku, Jalopnik and Lifehacker have
attracted, by offering accurate, responsible, edgy and engaging journalism, as
well as through relevant, related content and commerce.”
On Narisetti’s appointment, Lee of UCI said, “Raju is a rare
combination, someone who comes with a very strong background in journalism,
became a leader in digital media on three continents, and went on to develop
new businesses for a global company,” said Lee. “His commitment to journalistic
integrity, his entrepreneurial spirit and proven ability to adapt quickly in a
fast-paced digital environment will help us strengthen and grow these newly
acquired category-leading brands.”
Narisetti will also play an important role on Fusion Media
Group’s leadership team. “As we look to deepen the engagement of America’s
increasingly diverse television, digital, mobile and social audiences with our
portfolio of brands that speak to their interests in a passionate, authentic
manner,” added Holguin.
FMG now reaches more than a third of all Americans online
each month with 96 million unique visitors, including its extended network.
FMG’s collection of digital-first brands serve young,
diverse influencers with content that reflects their shared values and
passions. In addition to the Gizmodo Media Group, FMG includes FUSION, The
Root, Flama, Univision Digital, Univision Music, as well as Univision’s
interest in El Rey Network, The Onion, The A.V. Club and ClickHole. FMG also
includes Story House, a content development and production unit.
Narisetti is currently senior vice-president, strategy, of
News Corp., the media and publishing arm owned by Rupert Murdoch.
Since 2013, he has been responsible for acquisitions and
global expansion, while also helping guide and influence the digital growth of
News Corp.’s existing companies in the news, information, publishing, social
video and digital real-estate portfolio, which include The Wall Street Journal;
The Times, London; Harper-Collins; Realtor.com and Storyful, among others.
In India, News Corp. acquired media and publishing firm
VCCircle Network in 2015 and financial advisory firm BigDecisions in 2014,
under Narisetti’s leadership. It also has invested over $30 million for a 25%
stake in real estate website PropTiger.
Prior to News Corp, Narisetti was managing editor of The
Wall Street Journal Digital Network.
Earlier, Narisetti served as managing editor of The Washington
Post (2009-2012). Narisetti spearheaded the Post’s efforts to combine its
separate print and digital newsrooms into an integrated operation.
Narisetti has a MA in Journalism from Indiana University,
Bloomington; and a BA (Economics) and MBA from India.
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