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This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

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We'll Miss You Mr. Defamer

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

Today it became official. Mark Lisanti, the Editor of Defamer since mid-2004, is done as of this Friday:

Of the 9 or 10,000 posts I've done since we started this site, this one is the hardest to write. After almost four years here at Defamer, I've decided it's finally time to move on. In an effort to keep this short and sweet, I'll be climbing out of the blogging hamster-wheel this Friday, and though I wish I had exciting news about where my next paycheck will be coming from (or some great story about why I'm leaving other than "it's time"), I'll probably just be taking a little hiatus to figure out what's next and work on some projects I haven't had the time or energy for...

Defamer has become one of the best, if not the best, Hollywood gossip blogs out there. Combining local Los Angeles news and events mixed with Britarazzi and Posh, Lisanti has caught the eyes of both the media and Hollywood (most noted in our pop culture minds, the blog was scripted as breaking gossip news on HBO's Entourage in an episode). Los Angeles magazine profiled Lisanti and Defamer back in 2005 as "the most influential and intimidating gossip" blog (all coming from " a two-bedroom unit of a nondescript apartment complex in Los Feliz"). Lisanti says he might be spending some of his newly found free time on "lazy afternoons standing in front of the Chinese Theater in a loose-fitting Power Ranger costume." Now that's hot. Rawk it baby. Rawk it.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

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