Consumers Union Buys Consumerist
We are thrilled to announced Consumers Union has purchased The Consumerist, effective 1/1/09.
What changes?
- Chris and Carey are back!
- Meghann Marco is promoted to co-executive editor and will reign supreme alongside Ben Popken.
- The only ads will be for Consumer Reports and Consumers Union-related stuff.
- There will be a new privacy policy and user agreement. We will let you know when they're up and you can check them out.
- Our voice, content, or independence.
- The blog stays free and open, no paid-subscription required.
- You keep your same commenter login and name.
Here is the press release:
CONSUMER REPORTS’ PUBLISHER ACQUIRES GAWKER MEDIA’S CONSUMERIST.COMAmerica’s most trusted consumer advocate bolsters new media offerings;
Purchase comes during period of organization’s continued growthYonkers, NY—Consumers Union (CU), the highly trusted, independent publisher of Consumer Reports magazine and ConsumerReports.org, has purchased Consumerist.com from Gawker Media. The popular consumer watchdog blog will operate independently of Consumer Reports publications and be the first property housed under a new non-profit entity called Consumer Media LLC. The change in ownership will be in effect as of January 1, 2009.
“We’re delighted to add this vibrant site to our portfolio of information products,” said Jim Guest, President and CEO of Consumers Union. “The Consumerist community is passionate about fair retail practices, truth in advertising, product safety, and other topics that Consumer Reports has championed for more than 70 years. The site is a perfect fit for advancing our mission of creating a fair, safe, and just marketplace.”
Gawker Media launched Consumerist.com three years ago. Its monthly traffic of more than 10 million page views exceeds the web sites operated by many daily newspapers. “We are thrilled to join the Consumers Union family, where Consumerist.com will benefit from an incredibly powerful and iconic brand, while maintaining autonomy housed under a separate division. Consumerist.com is now assured of a strong, healthy future,” said Ben Popken, Editor of Consumerist.com.
Consumer Reports was launched in 1936, and does not accept advertising so as to maintain its independence from the products and services it rates. Starting immediately Consumerist.com will no longer accept ads. “The continuous growth and success Consumer Reports enjoys is proof that there is strong appetite for high-quality, unbiased content,” said John Sateja, Executive Vice President of Consumers Union. “Consumerist.com, with its history of building community, shining a light on unfriendly consumer behavior, and having a little fun while they’re at it, is a natural complement to our growing organization.”
Despite current publishing industry challenges, Consumer Reports and ConsumerReports.org have experienced robust growth across print products and online during the last seven years. Monthly newsstand sales have more than doubled to 190,000 in 2008 from 83,845 in 2002. Subscriptions rose 12 percent to 4.3 million from 3.9 million during that period and continue to trend upward. There are 3.3 million paid Web subscribers to ConsumerReports.org, the largest paid-subscriber site in the world. According to a recently released Harris Poll, Consumer Reports is the most trusted organization in America.
About Consumers Union
Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, is an expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers. To achieve this mission, CU tests, informs, and protects. To maintain independence and impartiality, CU accepts no outside advertising, no free test samples, and has no agenda other than the interests of consumers. CU supports itself through the sale of information products and services, individual contributions, and a few noncommercial grants. CU’s flagship publication, Consumer Reports magazine, has a circulation of 4.3 million and continues to expand, while the magazine’s Web site ConsumerReports.org has more than 3.3 million paid subscribers and is the largest subscription-based Web site in the industry. In addition, CU has successfully launched and expanded Consumer Reports on Health, Consumer Reports Money Adviser, and, most recently, ShopSmart magazine.
Consumers Union to Buy a Blog From Gawker [NYT]
(Photo: papalars)
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Comments:
Congrads!!!
Sweet?
Good news.
Hello CR, goodbye Gawker Artists? :(
Glad to hear this blog is going to survive.
i am really glad to hear this! and that the Chris and Carey are coming back... i miss the weekend updates
YAY! Welcome back, Chris and Carey. I've missed you.
Wonderful news. Congratulations!
OH OH OH! Will they let you into the secret room where they have people shave different sides of their faces with different razors? Or the one where people try to wash 10 gallons of clothes to test machine durability?
I want to see all of the secret testing stuff!
Welcome back Chris and Carey. Hope you enjoyed yer vacation. :)
Ta Ta Denton, don't spend it all in one place!
@m4ximusprim3: Oh, and will there still be stars? It's always been an ambition of mine.
I like to think of myself as Fievel in "Fievel goes west", looking out the window at the same star as OMG! Ponies!
Yeah!!! Hopefully...
How long until we have to be a CR online subscriber to post?
Mazal tov! May this lead to only good things for everyone at Consumerist central! {ProfJonathan}
I am very happy to read this. Sounds like a good match.
What happens when you have to post a story about the shady ripoff practices of Consumer Reports?
Congratulations, and welcome back Chris and Carey.
Hot Damn! Consumerist was too good to die.
Welcome back Chris and Carey! Meghann, congrats on the promotion. And Roz, now your ban-hammer will be tested for comfort, durability and value.
I sure hope the Consumerist voice does remain truly independent and does not end up a paid subscriber benefit to Consumer's Reports or such.
w00t!
Hooray! Consumers Union doesn't know it yet, but you guys are taking over... :)
What wonderful news!
Why dont they just buy Gawker so everything can still be a happy unity?
This is not a dig at the site or its mission, but given its soon-to-be-former status as Gawker Media's loss-leader blog, the purchase price could very well be a figure that Nick *could* spend in one place. I'm just glad that CU was willing to take it off his hands - Consumerist becoming part of CU makes a lot more sense that a lot of other buyouts I've seen lately.
Couldn't have done better than that. Way to go, Consumerist!
I hope you'll be able to take the archive of useful Consumerist articles with you...
By the way Ben, can we have a list of contact info at CU (Specifically Kevin McKean)? I would like to express to him how much I approve of their purchase, and how angry I will be if he tries to mess with anything.
Thanks! BTW, congrats on the salary bump. Remember, new cars are a waste of money! Buy used!
Congrats, and I like the picture that goes with the story. :-)
Hooray!!!!!
This is good news. But are they going to make you guys test toasters and washing machines now?
I really like The Consumerist pretty much like it is now. Hopefully the new owners won't screw up a good thing.
Well-played, my friends... :-)
Please, please can I keep my little lamb (no its not a sheep)!
Sounds like a wonderful match. Congratulations on the sale. Oh, and enjoy the move to Yonkers. ;)
Man, this is awesome! Welcome back Carey and Chris! Congratulations to you all!
Nice, I get to keep reading and making snarky remarks.
AWESOME!!! Hurray!
This was like my dream scenario for this site and it came true! Look forward to seeing everyone back in action in the new year!
Awesome. Of of my favorite blogs!
...Oh, and don't forget to rollover your Gawker pension plan and 401k...
Fantastic news, and welcome back, Chris and Carey!
Hurray! I imagine that like a bad ex-boyfriend, Gawker will regret letting y'all go.
Whoo! Happy New Year Consumerist! This is great news indeed.
I blame the victim...err...congrats!
SWEET!!
I hope we get grandfathered in for fee-free reading.
(I know, it's that kind of talk that got Consumerist sold in the first place.)
Welcome back Chris and Carey!
I was thinking of getting a CR online subscription - or maybe even paper mag. I keep reading them when I'm at my aunt's house, and they're to my liking. This reminded me that I was thinking of doing that. Your plan is working!
Bravo! There's nothing bad about this. Make sure you get white lab coats.
Yay.
Great news. Long live Consumerist!
Oh, and happy new year too.
I, for one, welcome our new Consumers Union overlords.