Web journalists: ‘Fast, competitive, ruthless, sensationalist’ and willing to do anything for the story

The Gawker Media-owned blog Gizmodo  bewitched millions of people after it bought an iPhone prototype and posted pictures of the phone on the Web. The idea of buying a scoop, a practice called “checkbook journalism,” is highly criticized in the media world. But Gawker founder Nick Denton isn’t sure why. “It’s hardly surprising that Web journalists should be fast, competitive, ruthless, sensationalist — and willing to do most anything for the story,” he …