Observer Media
IndustryOnline and print media
Founded2007 (2007)
FounderJared Kushner
HeadquartersManhattan, New York City, US
Key people
  • Joseph Meyer (Chairman & Publisher)
  • James R. Freiman (Chief Executive Officer)
Websitewww.observermedia.com

Observer Media is an American online media company.[1][2][3] The company was formed through several acquisitions, including acquisition of The New York Observer in 2007.[4][5][6] Observer Media is based in Lower Manhattan, New York City, and was owned by businessman Jared Kushner until 2016, when he transferred his ownership into a family trust, through which his brother-in-law Joseph Meyer took over his former role as publisher and chairman in 2017.[7][8] It currently publishes the Commercial Observer and Observer.[9][10] As of November 2016, Observer Media announced it would no longer print the New York Observer. The Observer site is a consolidation of several notable online properties, including The Gallerist, BetaBeat, NY Politicker, and PolitickerNJ.[11][12]

History

In 2007, Jared Kushner began acquiring and merging several print and online media publications into the Observer brand, including The New York Observer, BetaBeat, Gallerist, NY Politicker, SCENE Magazine, and PolitickerNJ.[13][14] These acquisitions became integrated into the website observer.com (Gallerist was integrated in September 2014, PolitickerNY in March 2014, BetaBeat in January 2015, and PolitickerNJ in August 2016).[15]

In March 2012, Observer Media launched The Commercial Observer, a commercial real estate publication.[16] The organization has since received various awards, including "NAREE's 65th Annual Real Estate Journalism" award,[17] "Best Team Report Silver" award (2013),[18] and "Best Weekly Newspaper Report Silver" award (2014).[19] The Commercial Observer publishes at commercialobserver.com, and also publishes weekly print edition.

Joseph Meyer now owns the company through his investment firm Observer Capital, and serves as chairman and publisher. Jared Kushner has no ownership stake in and has no role in the company.

James R. Freiman was named CEO of Observer Media in November 2022. Previously, Michael Rose, the former president of What to Expect, a subsidiary of Everyday Health, was named CEO of Observer Media on October 9, 2019.

Format

The Observer online site includes three main content categories: Business, Arts & Entertainment. Observer Media discontinued a print edition called The New York Observer in November 2016. The Commercial Observer online site includes sections such as Leases, Finance, Sales, Design & Construction, Technology, Markets and Events.

Controversy

In April 2016, former editor-in-chief Ken Kurson was criticized for providing "input" to Donald Trump in a speech given at the annual AIPAC conference.[20] The Observer was also criticized in 2014 for an investigative piece on former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.[21] In July 2016, Observer staff journalist Dana Schwartz published an open letter to her boss Jared Kushner criticizing him for his involvement in Trump's (Kushner's father-in-law) presidential campaign.[22] Shortly thereafter, Kushner responded to the letter defending his contributions to Trump's presidential campaign.[23] Both articles were widely circulated in social media, and attracted attention from various media outlets.[24]

References

  1. ↑ "The Education of a Publisher". The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Jared Kushner Names Brother-in-Law New York Observer CEO". New York. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  3. ↑ "How Jared Kushner Became Donald Trump's Mini-Me". Vanity Fair. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Jared Kushner's Trump Card". Bloomberg. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Jared Kushner's Second Act". Esquire. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Who Is Ivanka Trump's Husband? Jared Kushner Is A Success In His Own Right". Romper. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  7. ↑ Stoeffel, Kat (April 12, 2017). "What Should Happen to Jared Kushner's New York Observer? Media Pros Offer Advice". The Hollywood Reporter. Hollywood Reporter.
  8. ↑ "Linkedin".
  9. ↑ "Jared Kushner". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Observer Media Group Launches New Real Estate Site: LivingThere.com". The Observer. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  11. ↑ "A New 'Observer'". Politico. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  12. ↑ "The New York Observer Lost Its Pink Paper Today". Animal New York. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Developer Jared Kushner Sells Puck Building Penthouse for $28 Million". Mansion Global. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  14. ↑ "A Brief History of the 'New York Observer' as Reported by the 'Times'". The Awl. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Web site's 'bris' cartoon offends politicians, ADL". NJ Jewish News. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  16. ↑ "New York Observer Starts a Paper on Real Estate". The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  17. ↑ "NAREE's 65th Annual Real Estate Journalism Award Winners". Naree. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Real Estate's Best News Outlets: Reporters from Bloomberg, Inman News, HomeSource, The New York Times, Virginian Pilot, AJC Win Big at NAREE". SkyLine Views. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. ↑ "7th annual Pulse Healthcare Conference: Facilities of the Future". New York EventsList. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  20. ↑ "New York Observer Editor Doesn't Regret Involvement With Donald Trump's AIPAC Speech". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  21. ↑ "A New York Observer Article Brings a Spat in Trump's Orbit". The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  22. ↑ "An Open Letter to Jared Kushner, From One of Your Jewish Employees". The Observer. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Jared Kushner: The Donald Trump I Know". The Observer. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  24. ↑ "A Conversation with Dana Schwartz, Who Just Called Out Her Trump-Supporting Boss". Esquire. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
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