theCHIVE
Web address | thechive.com |
---|---|
Slogan | Probably the Best Site in the World |
Type of site | photoblog and entertainment website |
Owner | Resignation, LLC |
Created by | Leo Resig and John Resig |
Launched | 2008 |
Alexa rank | 942 (April 2014)[1] |
theCHIVE, or theCHIVE.com, is a photo-entertainment website independently owned and operated by Resignation, LLC.[2] Images appearing on theCHIVE.com are selected by staff from searches of both international and domestic websites as well as daily submissions.[2]
theCHIVE gained attention[3] for a series of internet hoaxes[4] that began in 2007 and were reported as true stories by mainstream media outlets.[5]
History
John and Leo Resig founded Resignation, LLC in August 2007[6] and then launched theCHIVE.com in November, 2008.[7] The CHIVE name was born from combining the two cities in which the brothers lived: Leo was in Chicago (CHI) and John was in Venice Beach (VE).[8] The brothers went on to create additional photo-entertainment websites, all of which are staffed and managed by members of the Resig family.[6][9] On Monday, July 22, 2013 the Austin American Statesman reported that during the summer of 2013 the parent company of The Chive (Resignation Media) was re-locating to a renovated space in downtown Austin, TX.[10]
Hoaxes
Between 2007 and 2010, Leo and John Resig conducted a string of internet hoaxes that, according to Leo, were designed “to entertain and inspire, not to inform.”[5]
Donald Trump Tips
The "Donald Trump tip" hoax involved a doctored photo of a Santa Monica restaurant receipt that was supposedly signed by Donald Trump indicating that a $10,000 tip was left on a bill of $82.27. Trump denied the story's accuracy to Fox News Channel, which had originally published the story as real.[11] Other media agencies also ran the story, including The Huffington Post, E! News, and Access Hollywood.
Teenage texting disaster
The "Teenage texting disaster" hoax occurred in 2008 and involved a fictitious teenager who had accidentally sent a text message to her father stating that she had lost her virginity on the beach.[12] This became an internet meme and was broadcast as a true story by several media outlets.[13]
Jenny quits on dry erase board
Arguably the most famous hoax was "Girl quits her job on dry erase board, emails entire office", which showed several photographs of a woman quitting her job by telling a story with a dry-erase whiteboard.[14] This hoax was also reported as true.[15]
The next day, TheChive.com ran a follow-up series of photos revealing the woman's true identity as a hired actress named Elyse Porterfield.[16] Some news sources suggested the hoax was inspired by the dramatic resignation of JetBlue flight-attendant Steven Slater that took place the day before.[17] However, the Resig brothers told reporters that the idea for the hoax was conceived about a month earlier at a bar in Santa Monica. The pair wrote down the details on paper napkins. The casting for "Jenny" and her photo shoot was conducted a week prior to the JetBlue incident.[5]
Chive Charities
theCHIVE also runs a charity organization called Chive Charities, in which they raise awareness and funds for specific individuals in need of assistance. They have donated to veterans, children with birth defects, shooting victims,[18] fire departments, rescue squads, and many others in need.
The community of people who regularly visit theCHIVE, known as Chivers, have donated over $100,000 to several causes within hours.[18]
References
Notes
- ↑ "Thechive.com Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
- 1 2 Loerzel, Robert. "Confirmed: 'HOPA' hoaxsters are Chicagoans". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
- ↑ Blake, Heidi (2010-08-11). "Pictures of office worker who exposed sexist boss in whiteboard messages were a hoax". London: The Telegraph, UK. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ↑ Lazar, Shira (2010-08-11). "Elyse Porterfield, HOPA Dry Erase Girl Exclusive Interview". CBS News. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
- 1 2 3 Tsotsis, Alexia. "Confirmed: HOPA Dry Erase Girl Is A Hoax, Identity Revealed". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
- 1 2 "Overview of Resignation, LLC". theCHIVE.com. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
- ↑ "theCHIVE Business Profile". Discovering Startups. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ↑ "How theCHIVE got its name". theCHIVE.com. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
- ↑ Kafka, Peter. "Meet the Prankster Brothers Behind 'Jenny,' the Whiteboard-Using, Farmville-Exposing, HPOA Girl". All Things Digital. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
- ↑ "Calif. company behind popular humor website moving to Austin". mystatesman.com. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- ↑ "Report: Donald Trump Leaves $10,000 Tip on $82 Bill". Fox News Channel. 2007-12-06. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
- ↑ "Original Teen Texting Hoax on TheChive". theCHIVE.com. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
- ↑ "YouTube compilation of hoax coverage". Various Sources. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
- ↑ "Original Jenny Quits Hoax on theCHIVE". theChive.com. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
- ↑ Tate, Ryan. "The Quitting Tale That Suckered the Whole Internet". Gawker. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
- ↑ "A word from Jenny". theCHIVE.com. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ↑ Huff, Steve. "Shattered Dreams: Jenny the Dry Erase Board Girl is Fake". The New York Observer. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- 1 2 "Fox31 report on Farrah Soudani". Fox31. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
Further reading
- Suddath, Claire (October 17, 2013). "The Chive's Smut With a Smile". Bloomberg Businessweek.