It's official: Gawker has a new editor. Two, in fact: Gawker has confirmed to ETP that writer/blogger Emily Gould (left) will be joining the site as editor, replacing recently-departed editor Jessica Coen. Also joining the team will be writer Doree Shafrir (right) in the newly-created position of associate editor.
Gould was actually anointed from within the Gawker ranks — 'tis she who is the anonymous book editor who pens Gawker's newly-popular "Unsolicited" column (er, make that formerly anonymous). She is — or, depending on that revelation, was — an associate editor at Hyperion Books, and is the co-author of her own book to boot. Gawker commenters looking to be plucked from the netherworld below the posts, take note: Emily is also a commenter, and said comments can be found here (including some on "Unsolicited" posts - how meta! How sprezzaturrific!). Decide whether you like Gould before she even starts here, here and here; we're fans of the extra-long setup for the news peg here. Gawker HQ also confirms that she "has a lot of tattoos." Hired!
Shafrir is a frequent contributor to Slate, plus the NYO, Radar , NYmag online and edits new lit mag The Crier. Number of tattoos: Unknown. Judge her accordingly, as per the Gawker dictum.
Gould and Shafrir join current editor Alex Balk plus Gawker managing editor Chris Mohney, who has held the position since July, when Gawker reorganized the site's editorial management. Along with their vid-and-photoshop guy Richard Blakely and their army of interns and contributors, Gawker continues to unfurl into a giant, sprawling mass of web content that is both tart and smart, and even occassionally has heart, but would probably never, ever make that rhyme. The point is, it seems to be growing. Consider yourself warned.
Related: Is Emily Gould the New Gawker Editor? [Daily Intelligencer]
