The Special Projects Desk is the investigative unit of Gizmodo Media Group, which includes Deadspin, Splinter, Gizmodo, Jalopnik, Jezebel, Kotaku, Lifehacker, and The Root. Established in 2017, Special Projects is dedicated to in-depth reporting on politics, gender, media, entertainment, sports, and technology, and collaborative initiatives among the GMG sites.
Keep reading, and you will:
• Learn what kind of stories we’re looking for;
• Learn how to send tips and stories to Special Projects as securely (and anonymously) as possible;
• Find the names and contact information of our individual reporters and editors.
Our Focus
Special Projects seeks to publish true, thoroughly reported stories that bring power to account. We are especially interested in stories that other outlets and journalists shy away from for fear of disrupting access to politicians, celebrities, or business leaders. Any story that illuminates the inner workings of a major institution—a secretive startup, for example, or a prestigious Hollywood studio—will pique our interest.
The members of Special Projects team have successfully pursued a wide range of stories and investigations that exposed, among other things, Facebook’s creepy privacy violations, the dark inner workings of a popular New York City self-help group, the American health care system, the depredations of then-Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson, the provenance of the lost live-action Sailor Moon show, and our company’s owners. There’s a good chance we’ll be interested in your story, too.
How to Contact Us
Our main email address is tips@gizmodomedia.com, which is best for sending a quick note. If you want to email us securely, be sure to use an email client enabled with Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) and encrypt your message using our public PGP key, which can be found here.
You can send us documents anonymously and securely through our SecureDrop.
Our main phone number is 917-999-6143. It is capable of receiving calls and messages on a number of platforms, including iMessage, Signal, WhatsApp, Line, and Allo. You can download our vCard here, or directly message our number through any of the apps listed above.
The easiest and cheapest way to securely contact us is the United States Postal Service, through which you can send letters, documents, thumb drives, tax returns, and DVDs. Our address is:
Gizmodo Media Group
Special Projects Desk
2 West 17th Street
Floor 2
New York, N.Y. 10011
If you wish to remain anonymous, be sure to omit any identifying information, such as a return address, on the parcel itself. And, when you mail the letter or package itself, it’s best to use prepackaged stamps and deposit the parcel in a blue post office box or mail drop that isn’t located near your office or residence.
Our Staff
Tim Marchman, Special Projects Editor
marchman@gizmodomedia.com | PGP Key
Kashmir Hill, Deputy Editor
kashmir.hill@gizmodomedia.com | PGP Key
Cecilia D’Anastasio, Senior Reporter Special Projects/Kotaku
cecilia.danastasio@gizmodomedia.com
Anna Merlan, Senior Reporter
anna.merlan@gizmodomedia.com | PGP Key
Molly Osberg, Senior Writer
Email: molly.osberg@gizmodomedia.com
If you’re not sure who to contact, email tips@gizmodomedia.com and we’ll direct you to the right person. You can also call or message 917-999-6143 using any of the apps listed above.
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