First Amendment and Media Law Leader Brings Strong Digital, Magazine and Television Newsroom Experience
MIAMI, FL – FEBRUARY 28, 2017
The Fusion Media Group (FMG) today announced that highly regarded media lawyer Lynn Oberlander will become General Counsel for the Gizmodo Media Group (GMG). Oberlander brings a rich experience in all aspects of media law, including newsgathering issues, IP rights, the critical importance of the First Amendment in protecting journalists and news organizations, and a lifelong commitment to the importance of accurate journalism in a democratic society.
In her new role, Lynn will be responsible for managing all legal affairs for GMG, home to category-leading sites focused on technology (Gizmodo), car culture (Jalopnik), modern women’s interests (Jezebel), sports (Deadspin), lifestyle (Lifehacker), gaming (Kotaku), news and social justice (FUSION.net), and African American news and culture (The Root), as well as ecommerce (deals.kinja.com). She will jointly report to Jay Grant, General Counsel of FMG, and Raju Narisetti, Chief Executive Officer of GMG, and be part of the executive leadership team at GMG. Lynn will start March 20 in New York.
“Lynn is exactly what GMG needs as we deepen, broaden and sensibly scale the passionate digital communities that our sites have attracted by offering accurate, responsible, and often irreverent journalism, as well as through well-tailored, content-led commerce,” said Narisetti. “In joining GMG’s leadership team, Lynn will play a vital role across our newsroom and businesses, at an important growth juncture of our company.”
“Lynn’s extensive background working in a variety of newsrooms, coupled with her commitment to championing and defending fearless, rigorous journalism, make her a great addition to our team,” said Grant.
Oberlander joins GMG from First Look Media Works (FLM) where she has served as General Counsel, Media Operations since early 2014. At FLM she oversaw all legal operations for the company, which included editorial products such as national-security focused site The Intercept and documentary film program Field of Vision, as well as social media news project Reported.ly. She also oversaw FLM’s Press Freedom Litigation Fund, which provides financial support for third-party freedom of expression cases.
Prior to working at FLM, Oberlander served for nearly eight years as the General Counsel for The New Yorker, as well as in key roles at Forbes and NBC among other institutions.
Oberlander’s expertise extends well outside of newsrooms. She is the chair of the Media Law Resource Center, and the former chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Media Law Committee.. Additionally, she has served as an adjunct professor at the New School for Public Engagement since 1998, teaching courses on media, corporate responsibility, and the law.
Oberlander earned her B.A. from Yale, where she was also a News Editor and Columnist for the Yale Daily News. She received her J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.
