NEW YORK — Irreverent feminist website Jezebel is making a comeback less than a month after being shut down.
Paste Magazine, a digital pop culture publication based in Atlanta, announced Wednesday that it was acquiring Jezebel.com from G/O Media, which closed it and laid off its staff earlier this month.
In an announcement on its website, Paste said it “acted quickly to try to save Jezebel after learning of its closure, calling the site “a beloved platform with a strong focus on women’s issues, pop culture and social commentary.” The acquisition was first reported by the New York Times, which said it was an all-cash deal, although no figures were disclosed.
Paste founder and editor-in-chief Josh Jackson said the acquisition of Jezebel means the critical information and content Jezebel readers have come to rely on will live on.
“Our mission has always been to provide insightful, thought-provoking content that resonates with diverse audiences. Jezebel’s unique voice and dedication to storytelling make it a perfect addition to our portfolio,” Jackson said in a prepared statement.
G/0 Media had said it would close Jezebel after trying unsuccessfully for months to find a buyer for the 16-year-old site. G/0 Media, which also owns Gizmodo, Quartz, the Onion and the Root, said the closure was part of a restructuring to deal with economic headwinds and a tough digital advertising environment. But G/0 Media CEO Jim Spanfeller said at the time that he had not given up on the idea that Jezebel could find a new home and relaunch.
“We have been working on the sale of Jezebel for months and are pleased that the site has found a new home,” Spanfeller said in a prepared statement.
First launched in 2007 by Gawker Media at the height of the blogosphere, Jezebel quickly gained a passionate following with its combination of sharp commentary on gender politics and incisive pop culture reporting. However, like many other digital publications, Jezebel has struggled to find a sustainable business model in recent years as digital advertising plummeted.
Paste said the acquisition of Jezebel “is poised to bring together the strengths of Paste Magazine’s established presence in the media landscape with Jezebel’s influential position in addressing contemporary issues.”
Paste did not immediately return an email requesting further details. The New York Times reported that Paste is looking for a new editor-in-chief for Jezebel before hiring writers.