First Look Media is an Americannonprofit media organization founded byPierre Omidyar in October 2013 as a venue for "original, independent journalism".[1][2] The project was started as a collaboration withGlenn Greenwald,Jeremy Scahill, andLaura Poitras with a promised $250 million in funding from Omidyar.[2][3][4] The organization announced plans to support multiple publications, the first of which wasThe Intercept, launched in February 2014.
A second publication was announced in February 2014 that would focus on financial and political corruption, headed byMatt Taibbi. Although the name of the publication was not publicly announced, the nameRacket was reportedly chosen.[5] The publication was to be launched autumn 2014[6][7] but in October, it was reported that Taibbi was on leave after "disagreements with higher-ups".[8] On October 28, Omidyar stated in a press release that Taibbi had left First Look.[9]
In December 2014, First Look Media announced the launch of Reported.ly, a social media news service led byAndy Carvin.[10] However, in August 2016, Reported.ly said FLM has "chosen to part ways with us," and was planning to shut down.[11]
In January 2015,Betsy Reed joined as the editor in chief ofThe Intercept, replacing John Cook.[12] Shortly thereafter, she hired Charlotte Greensit as managing editor in April 2015.[13]
In February 2016 First Look Media announced they would be partnering withMatt Bors to relaunchThe Nib.[14]
In May 2017, First Look Media relaunched the Press Freedom Defense Fund[21] to fund first amendment court cases.[22]
In June 2019, First Look Media decided to stop fundingThe Nib and laid off its staff as of the end of July 2019.[23]
On October 29, 2020, Glenn Greenwald announced his resignation from The Intercept and First Look Media, citing editorial censorship of his story concerning theBiden–Ukraine conspiracy theory and allegations concerningJoe Biden's conduct with regard to China, and also citing attempted interference with his contractual right to publish rejected stories elsewhere.[24] Greenwald published his resignation letter and rebuttal.[25][26] Betsy Reed, The Intercept's editor-in-chief, disputed Greenwald's accusations and claims of censorship, and accused him of presenting dubious claims by theTrump campaign as journalism.[24][27][28]
On November 30, 2020, Laura Poitras was fired by First Look Media, allegedly in relation to theReality Winner controversy.[29][30] More recently, the Topic Studios unit of First Look Media inked a first look deal with Loveless.[31]
On January 9, 2023, The Intercept announced that it would restructure as an independent non-profit organization, with financial help from First Look.[32]
In February 2015, senior investigative reporterKen Silverstein, who had been hired in December 2013, announced his resignation. Writing inPolitico, Silverstein described First Look as "a slowly unfolding disaster, not because of editorial meddling from the top, but because of what I came to believe was epic managerial incompetence. …For all of the bean counting and expense account-approving that Omidyar's organizational structure imposed on us, they were shockingly disinterested [sic] in the actual journalism. …Top management was so aloof that it was hard to figure out who was in charge."[33]
^Omidyar, Pierre (October 28, 2014)."Important Announcement" (Press release). First Look Media.Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. RetrievedOctober 29, 2014.
