Gothamist: The Rise, Fall, and Relaunch of a Hyperlocal News Network
Founded in 2003, Gothamist began as a dedicated news blog for New York City, created by publisher Jake Dobkin and editor Jen Chung. What started as a single city focus quickly evolved into a broader network of "-ist" sites, pioneering a style of hyperlocal digital journalism that captured the pulse of major urban centers across the United States and beyond.
The Expansion of the "-ist" Network
Following the success of the New York site, Gothamist LLC expanded its footprint. In February 2005, the company launched Bostonist and Seattlest, followed by Phillyist in June 2005. By June 2014, the network had grown to include several major American hubs, including LAist (Los Angeles), DCist (Washington, D.C.), Chicagoist (Chicago), and SFist (San Francisco).
The network also ventured internationally with the launch of Londonist and Shanghaiist. Some sites followed different ownership paths; for example, Torontoist was launched by the American company but transferred to Ink Truck Media in 2009, and later acquired by St. Joseph Communications in 2011. Similarly, Londonist was transferred to the startup LDN Creative in 2010.
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Despite its reach, the network faced challenges. Phillyist shut down in January 2011, and Bostonist was closed in October 2011 after it was determined the site generated only 1% of the network's total traffic. Despite these closures, the network remained financially viable for a time, with a 2015 estimate from Income.com placing Gothamist's monthly revenue at approximately $110,000.
Acquisition and Controversial Shutdown
The trajectory of the network changed significantly in 2017 when Gothamist and its related blogs were sold to Joe Ricketts, the owner of DNAinfo. Shortly after the acquisition, the site removed several archived stories that were critical of Ricketts. Founders Dobkin and Chung defended the move, stating it was a decision to avoid covering the owner, comparing it to how Bloomberg News handles coverage of its own founder.
The situation escalated on November 2, 2017. Just one week after Gothamist writers voted to unionize with the Writers Guild of America, East, Ricketts announced that both DNAinfo and the "-ist" network would immediately cease operations. All content was taken offline, though archives were restored the following day.
This sudden shutdown drew widespread criticism, with many viewing it as retaliation for the unionization efforts. Former reporters further alleged that the original owners, Dobkin and Chung, had cooperated with Ricketts to discourage the union movement.
The Path to Relaunch and New Ownership
The silence was temporary. On February 23, 2018, a consortium of public radio stations—WNYC, KPCC, and WAMU—announced the joint acquisition of Gothamist, LAist, and DCist. This move brought the sites back to life, returning news content to their respective cities. WAMU officially relaunched DCist on June 11, 2018.
Other "-ist" properties found diverse new homes. Chicagoist was acquired by the artist Chance the Rapper, a move he first announced in his song "I Might Need Security" on July 18, 2018. SFist was purchased by Impress3 Media in January 2019 and relaunched the following month.
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The relaunch also brought a shift in labor relations. On January 7, 2019, WNYC and the union SAG-AFTRA reached an agreement to recognize more than 25 digital employees of New York Public Radio, including the Gothamist staff. However, the network continued to face instability; in April 2021, WNYC laid off 14 employees (4% of its staff), including the editor-in-chief of Gothamist. More recently, WAMU shut down DCist in 2024.
Key Facts
- Founded: 2003 by Jake Dobkin and Jen Chung.
- Network Reach: Expanded to include major cities like LA, DC, Chicago, San Francisco, London, and Shanghai.
- 2017 Crisis: Sold to Joe Ricketts, then shut down immediately following a unionization vote.
- Public Radio Era: Relaunched in 2018 via WNYC, KPCC, and WAMU.
- Notable Acquisition: Chicagoist was purchased by Chance the Rapper in 2018.
| Site | City | Key Transition/Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Gothamist | New York City | Acquired by WNYC/KPCC/WAMU in 2018 |
| LAist | Los Angeles | Acquired by WNYC/KPCC/WAMU in 2018 |
| DCist | Washington, D.C. | Relaunched by WAMU (2018); shut down (2024) |
| Chicagoist | Chicago | Acquired by Chance the Rapper (2018) |
| SFist | San Francisco | Acquired by Impress3 Media (2019) |
| Torontoist | Toronto | Acquired by St. Joseph Media (2011); Daily Hive (2019) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Gothamist shut down in 2017?
The network was shut down by owner Joe Ricketts on November 2, 2017, immediately after the staff voted to unionize with the Writers Guild of America, East. This led to widespread accusations of retaliation.
Who currently owns Gothamist?
Gothamist was acquired in 2018 by a group of public radio stations, including WNYC, KPCC, and WAMU.
Did all the "-ist" sites survive the 2017 shutdown?
While all were initially taken down by Joe Ricketts, several were relaunched under different owners. However, some, like DCist, were eventually shut down again (in 2024).
How did Chance the Rapper become involved?
Chance the Rapper acquired Chicagoist in 2018, announcing the purchase through his song "I Might Need Security."
What happened to the critical coverage of Joe Ricketts?
Following the acquisition of the network by Ricketts, several stories critical of him were removed from the archives, a move the founders claimed was a decision to avoid covering the owner.