In what appeared to be a controversial move, Gawker Media, publisher of six niche blogs, launched a paid-for contract publishing service called Gawker Media Contract Publications last week.
Its first project, a Nike-sponsored "Art of Speed" weblog at www.gawker.com/artofspeed, contains commentary and features 15 shorts made by digital filmmakers and other artists. Nick Denton, publisher of Gawker Media, would not disclose the amount of the contract. Nike, which uses a number of different agencies for PR and advertising, did ...