What Happened to My Pajamas?
Today PJ Media sheds its pajamas and officially becomes PJ Media.
Actually, we have had a couple of names before this. The first one — OSM — was a fiasco.
I can’t recall the exact moment after we launched in November 2005 I learned that there already was an OSM (Open Source Media), but I certainly remember how I felt — I needed this like the proverbial hole in the head.
After about six months of deliberation, Glenn Reynolds, Charles Johnson, Nina Yablok, Ed Driscoll, Steve Green, Richard Fernandez, Sandra Rozanski, myself and the rest of the gang involved in the formation of the blog media company we had always called — among ourselves — PJ Media had decided upon the more “professional” name of OSM for our public debut.
And that is the name we announced at our snazzy (in retrospect a bit too snazzy) launch party at New York’s ‘W’ Hotel — only to find out that it was already taken by a tiny Internet radio show called “Open Source.”
Straight out of the box, our fragile startup company were the bullies on the block. We were ridiculed across the Internet — for a while appearing as number one on Technorati as a symbol of that humiliation — and many were predicting our demise in a year or less. I even began to believe it myself.
But within a week we returned to our roots as PJ Media, a name derived from an attack by CBS News exec Jon Klein on Blogosphere critics of then-CBS anchorman Dan Rather, who were insisting Bush National Guard papers Rather promulgated on the network were forgeries. Said Klein: “You couldn’t have a starker contrast between the multiple layers of checks and balances at 60 Minutes and a guy sitting in his living room in his pajamas.”
Oh, really? Well, Rather was soon out of a job and the guys and gals in their living rooms became PJ Media — and we’re still here a half-dozen years later.
The Open Source misnaming was perhaps our lowest point, but we have had our share of further setbacks, notably when we had to disband our blog network because the business model wasn’t working.
But we have had our share of successes too, among them our unique on location reporting of the first democratic elections in Iraq, our early and extensive coverage of the Tea Party movement, the expansion into PJTV with our original brand of video “digitorials” from Bill Whittle, Andrew Klavan, and others, pioneering coverage of the Climategate revelations and the dubious activities of the United Nations surrounding Durbans II and III, and, most recently, the media-leading expose of malfeasance in the U.S. Department of Justice by whistleblower Christian Adams.
We have had numerous well-known figures from the political world, the punditocracy, and the entertainment community contributing to our sites. We have been linked everywhere from Real Clear Politics to the Drudge Report.
As our traffic has risen consistently, so has the level of writing and reporting. Some have even told me our lineup of XpressBloggers (as of today “PJ Columnists”) — from the remarkable Victor Davis Hanson to the mysterious Zombie — compares favorably with the oped writers at the New York Times. (Well, maybe that’s damning with faint praise.) Today we are stronger than ever with Aaron Hanscom guiding the PJM side and Chad Mann at PJTV. The new Tatler and Lifestyle blogs are thriving. PJ Media has been among the highest-ranking conservative/center-right media websites on Alexa for several years. We are now close to the top.
Congratulations. Keep it coming.
Congratulations. Keep it coming!
As a fan of JCAdams, found pajamasmedia and enjoyed it. Name change must be for reason but not clarified. Prob is I was reading David Goldman’s article on Bombing Iran. Skimmed it first and comments, returned to article. Something wrong. A comment I saw on first pass was missing upon review. David had replied to a comment by explaining he had been mad when writing the article. A reply to that explanation joked about use of word “mad.” The comment was missing in second pass. I hoped what I thought wasn’t true and there was an explanation so sent my own response to David asking about the disappeared reply. Went back again and found that my question/reply too had disappeared. Is it the SOP of pjmedia now to allow writers to clip out replies that they don’t like without giving explanation or courtesy of advising readers that they indeed saw a comment that the writer deleted? Please advise all of us. Thank you.
Love the site and read it every day, but had the same experience as “Concerned” a
few weeks ago. I posted a reply to a comment and when my REPLY appeared, the comment I was replying to had disappeared. My comment sat there making no sense at all. I tried to get an explanation, but to no avail.
As to the name change, two thumbs down. When the British soldiers tried to ridicule the American colonists, singing “Yankee doodle goes to town a’riding on a pony”, we embraced the term and proud Yanks saved Europe in two wars.
When the enemies of Inigo de Loyola’s Society of Jesus called them Jesuits as a term of derision, they accepted and gloried in the name.
There are many more examples of turning an intended insult into a symbol of pride. Pajamas Media could be one of them. Don’t be ashamed of it.
Illegitimi non carborundum. Don’t let the bastards get you down.
Congrats and kudos on the newest development in PJ Media’s evolution. Whatever you’re called, your loyal readers will always be grateful for your continued existence and we salute your growing success.
Hail, PJ Media!
Distance aside, and regardless of name, you are a favorite
Dear Roger and the Gang: Congratulations on the new launch! Best wishes for continued success.
Those who told you the following, compares favorably with the oped writers at the New York Times. are damning you all with their total inability to read the difference.
It’s kinda relative. For me -and to many conservatives, it means nothing. But thi assertion can be good for other people (independent, swinging, undecided and even leftist ones). Between us, of course, I very much prefer a VDH article instead of the entire NewJerk Times.
Congratulations to Roger and everyone else at PJM for your increasing success. I love the new name, by the way. I especially love the new Lifestyle and Tatler sections. Keep flying a “bold flag with bold colors”.
I like it – good luck and wishing you the best!
Roger,
Off topic – but can you or others comment on how the leftists Foxman and Harris at ADL have demanded that Jewish groups sign a “pledge” not to use Israel as a campaign issue?
In other words, nobody should dare question the policies of the Obamessiah on Israel, abonimable though they are.
Also, point out how the Emergency Committe for Israel and the Republican Jewish Coalition told them to stuff it.
I remember that comment being said re some guy in his pajamas..it was hysterical. So when I saw the name of the site,I made the connections and I laughed even harder. Great name, greater site. PJ or pajamas, just keep it as terrific as it is.
May you all go from strength to strength
Not just the writers are in pajamas- am sitting in my living room in my pj’s, as I read this (really!).
Does this make me a PJista? Loud and Proud!
Congrats and good luck.
Tevagirl I am sitting here in my fruit of the looms as I do quite often. but I like PJ’s,
I am doing the same sitting in my pj’s
The moment I came upon PajamasMedia.com, I understood the name. Why? Because I did so while in my pajamas, sitting at my computer, writing messages to friends, family, others related to Israel, what’s going on in the USA, etc. etc. etc. I CONNECTED, IDENTIFIED with the bloggers, with the articles… THANKS ever so much for never giving up!
And MAZEL TOV on the new name. May you go from strength to strength!
Sweats.
Badly “pilled,” polished seat and elbows, heavily and irreparably coffee stained fleece bathrobe! Best wishes to the new PJMedia.
Sitting here, as always, in my daks at 0430 in Woy Woy, NSW.
Tee shirt and shorts. Congrats to PJ Media and to all your excellent writers and staff. You are far and away my favorite media outlet. Long may you run!
This does, of course, beg one question…when will we see a spinoff of PJM called “Commando Media”?
But in all seriousness, I find most of the contributors to PJM a pleasure to read and am continually amazed by the level of thought, consideration, and discourse here, particularly over at Belmont Club! Even if in the most remote of fashions, I am honored to be associated with such people.
Keep up the good work, and continue to fight the good fight!
80% T-shirt and boxers, 20% in the tub!
Hmmm, perhaps you and I and all the other ladies are PJsistas while the menfolk are PJmistas.;)
I liked the old name it was bold and had meaning. The name Pajamas Media was at one time a name of pride and in the face of the Main Stream media. Today it moves one step closer to being a part of the Main Stream Media that it once loathed.
This. Beat me to it.
Pajamas has clear meaning. PJ offers no meaning. It is just another sterile name, following the trend of sterility, a love of meaningless letters for names. Why not call it X-Media or Z-Media? I mean, that’s sexy, right? PajamasMedia goes sterile mainstream. Sheesh. All this intellect here, and still mindlessly striving to conform.
It wasn’t broken. Why the F*** did you feel you needed to fix it?!? For respectability?!? Dear God!
/rant
Well, yeah. Seconded. How much gravitas does an Apple have, for instance? Pajamas was a good attire.
Agree. For better or worse, “Pajamas” was In-your-face to the Mushroom Media. Why back out from that?
At least you got rid of (or whatever) that psycho, Charles Johnson.
I’m with ya on the adios to Charles Johnson. I remember the days (a loong time ago) when his site was one of my first hits of the day. I also remember it’s speedy devolution. Removing the LGF icon from my bookmarks toolbar is still an act I recall with great fondness.
Yeah, I actually looked back there a week or two ago and he was out-Kossing Kos. I totally didn’t recognize the place. (I suppose it was pretty obvious which way the wind was blowing when he took down the Cox & Forkum graphic.)
Agree. He used to be really good – now he’s gone completely round the bend. Wonder what happened? I just hope that doesn’t happen to PJMedia.
“Pajamas” are often referred to as “PJs”.
Yeah, it’s OK, I guess.
You kinda ruined it though.
Let me add my voice of thanks for your past efforts and congratulations on your new step into the future. I like the new format too. Everything PJ does is clearly displayed and accessible right there on the first page.
You’ve got a great bunch of reporters, writers and video personalities who add far more value to the national debate than most of the legacy media do combined.
Your work on teaching people the truth about our founding principles will shine like a bright light well into the future.
This name change is rather disturbing to me, at least in the way you’re presenting it. What you seem to be saying is that you are ashamed of the old name and your history as a company. This confuses me because you have a lot to be proud of, and your name reflects your rebel nature as a bunch of guys in pajamas defying the system. That’s what you are and staying that way is true to your values as an organization.
Are you trying to say you have different values, grown-up values? But isn’t the whole idea of the site that you are rebels and will not give up being rebels? It seems to me that if you want grown-up values, we’re stuck with Iowahawk’s National Topsider – Someone who is grown up, and who has therefore given up on changing the system.
Obviously you can name your site whatever you want, and I will certainly keep on reading it, but I think the huge goodwill that exists in the old name should not be so readily abandoned.
Now, if you say you want a shorter URL I will sympathize. But what you seem to be saying is that you want to hide who you are in order to become something else. What is this something else? Why do you feel a need to be more corporate? It seems like the wrong direction to me, even though I, of course, wish you continued success.
D
It’s a fine line PJ must tread, as Roger pointed out — between pride of ownership of such a unique brand, and reaching out for as much readership as possible.
I approve of the evolution. “PJs” will always mean pajamas to those of us in the know, and which the curious can always find out. But the format of using initials creates less of a distraction in the minds of the reading public, and the name ought not to take away from the content.
You’ve scored a hit, in my opinion, folks — well done, and keep up the good work!
Mazel Tov! Tsu Dayn Gebortstog!!! Biz ein hundred un tvansik!!
Now let’s get Obummah OUT!!
I love this site, no matter what it’s officially called! It’s still Pajamas Media to me. Best wishes and keep up the good work!
I have to say, I always hated the name pajamas media. Same with “Newsbusters” if those guys are reading. Sorry to be blunt about it! Just figured I’d get that out there.
PJ Media is better. Best of luck!
Best wishes on your changes and site update. I enjoy and appreciate your work.
Roger…Don’t take off the pajamas…NO, MY EYES!! arrggg!
I love PJ Media, it’s never boring and now I can get there with less typing.
Okay, so what would PJ stand for, if pajamas is too frivolous now that we’re growing up? ABC is American Broadcasting Corporation, and the other acronyms stand for some real words.
How about Perspective Journalism? You could have one of those simple drawings
showing the horizon, the vanishing point, and the lines that artists use to give drawings perspective and three-dimensionality, as a logo.
Congratulations and keep the truth coming. You guys are a bright spot in a very dark time.
Just my own point of view….I began reading PJM about 18 months ago. I most usually also read the commemts. Unlike other news articles with comments I find those written here to be mature, on subject, without rancor, informative and well-written ( that is, without expletives, dirty words, or hate.) Whatever your name, many many thanks for this site. I am wheel-chair bound, and have only my computer for seeking news. God Bless you all !!!!
Congrats Roger. Pajamas Media is one of my favorite sites. I’ll echo DanS @16 and MarcH @11. Just one thing – I would put the columnists names on one side of the screen. When I clicked on the site this morning I was wondering what I was looking at. I accidentally figured out that I had to scroll down to see the layout I had gotten used to.
I like the change. It’s tighter. More steamlined. Sexier — hotcha!
Thank you for this wonderful blog. I look in every single day.
Unfortunately the name change has come up against my companies blocking software. It now considers “pjmedia” a streaming media website and blocks all websites that contain that name. Oh well, I guess I’ll read Instapundit at home instead of during my lunch hour.
Get onto your website folks to change the icon (the pajama jacket is still showing up on the tab in my browser). And good luck!
I am sorry to see Pajamas Media blend facelessly into the current fad of abbreviations replacing real names. In time, most of the Modernized-Initialized sites will fade into obscurity.
WorldNet Daily has become WND. Wow. Is that ever meaningful.
How many people remember what ABC once stood for?
Does AT&T bring to mind the history of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company?
‘PJ Media’ now comes across as a video store.
So true. How many people know what the original name for Nabisco is? (National Biscuit Co.)
Well, I would have stuck with Klein’s “pajamas” slur as a source of pride. You’ll still have some splainin’ to do calling it “PJ.”
Anyway, you’ll always be “Pajamas” to me.
Very cool new look and name. Congratulations and many wishes for PJ Media’s continued success.
PJ Media certainly reminds us of your “Pajamas” origin, and I really like the tone of “Voices from a free America…”, a superb “in your face” mission statement. Please keep up the good work!
Sounds good. Liked the “old” name, but agree with, and like, the change. Glad the OSM name did not work out — especially today, as it could have been confused as another “Occupy” somewhere, until, that is, you went to the website.
“One day I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I don’t know.”
—Groucho Marx as Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding in “Animal Crackers”
C’mon; somebody had to quote it.
LOL! I recently spent an evening watching a trifecta of Marx Brothers movies and haven’t giggled so much in a long time. Thanks for the laugh. Yes, somebody had to do it. There is ALWAYS a Buzzsawmonkey in every crowd!! LOL
Congratulations, it sounds like you and the team sees this as a transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Please, do not lose the touch of youthful abandon (and courage) that attracted me in the first place and keeps me (and I am sure many others) coming back every day.
Looking forward to PJ Media for the next twenty years.
Ahhh, growing pains. Congratulations on your success and future growth. I hope your new PJs fit well for you and the gang Roger. Now, let the rallying cry go forth, New PJs for Everyone!!
You can’t get rid of me that easily, Roger!
I found you anyway and I am going to be here ever step of the way. I was hoping that you might go the other way…you know…have a section titled “Victor’s Secret” or “Delicate Loungerie”…but, that’s probably just me, huh?
On a serious note, congratulations and thank you for all you do.
A rose by any other name…would not be as sweet as truth served to those of us starving for it. Mazel Tov, my friend.
Another thing that sets PJ apart is your honesty. I love the way this story refers to previous mistakes in a matter-of-fact way. This is what we have come to expect from the best of the blogosphere, honest discussion and a humble willingness to admit mistakes and correct them openly. That builds trust, and creates a great role model for all writers.
Thank you for your leadership. It makes a difference!
Congratulations on a successful and needed reporting organization. With so much left leaning bias in the MSM we need organizations that will report accurately and fairly what is going on. The MSM will not do that so PJ Media, Fox News and a few others carry the ball for good reporting and excellent coverage of events.
to me you will always be MR PAJAMAS. (Dan Rather, hahahahahahaha, that was great)
CBS,
who has the last laugh?
Congratulation Simon and the gang
Have been with you from the start (and from the end of Rather). Hope you will somehow find a way to use Pajamas in your new logo. Hate to see just another boring alpahbet media. But as noted- “A Rose By Any Other Name—-” Many thanks !
Now that you’ve changed your name — I approve — when are you going to add a writer from the conservative/populist wing of the Republican Party? I used to call it Pat Buchanan wing, but he left the party. How about economic nationalist wing?? I KNOW THEY LIVE.
“from the remarkable Victor Davis Hanson to the mysterious Zombie — compares favorably with the oped writers at the New York Times.”
You compare favorably with ye olde NYT columnists such as William Safire and Russel Baker. The current group at the Times compares unfavorable with the proverbial monkeys at typewriters.
Love Love Love the site! Check it out numerous times a day to get latest updates (you guys are way ahead of the curves). Furthermore, there’s nothing better than reformed liberals – thanks Roger! Came to your site from RealClearPolitics. I scan many news sites on any given day, and yours is by far my favorite. Keep up the good work, independence, and above all unwavering support of traditional values.
Way to go Roger. Keep it up. Some of the best stuff on the internet.
Congratulations on your continued success. No one who has not run an internet media company can fathom how hard it is! Your name change is appropriate and wise, but I’d be a loyal reader regardless of whether you called yourself Pajamas Media, PJ Media, Victoria Secret media, or anything else.
This regular reader of your site agrees with the name change. Those who know you refer others to you, and often receive a comment on the name. Thanks for explaining the origins.
A terrible decision. But inevitable. After all the most important thing in the world is to be formidable. Pajamas Media was so…so…vulnerable. Not PJ. Build that fortress strong.
Your redirect from Pajamasmedia.com to PJMedia.com is wrong.
For SEO purposes you should be using a 301 Permanent redirect – instead you’re using a 302 temporary redirect.
This can/will cause you to lose search engine traffic.
Whoever is setting up your server needs to switch the redirect.
Good luck!
Totally understandable change. The most important thing is I still have a site to read everyday where I am able to find free thinking, spot on journalism. Unlike the guy who removed the Jihadi catching a football and replaced him with advertising bars and leftist rhetoric, I am excited and secure knowing that PJmedia will continue to accompany my daily morning coffee. Roger a big thank you for all of the fine reporting and excellent writing staff.
The first PJM article I read was “The Mansoor Ijaz I Know”. I’ve been hooked ever since. Keep up the good work.
@Mr. Roger Simon
“After about six months of deliberation, Glenn Reynolds, Charles Johnson…”
Before Chuck jumped the shark and fell over a cliff, could you clarify what happened when this shook out 6 years ago? There were some rumors about LGF & Mr. Johnson floating around, but it remained a mystery.
Most of the time I think rebranding is stupid. This time I think it makes sense and is a good move. Keep on truckin’!
“Looking to the future, this name change — or, more properly, name evolution”
“Evolution” is NOT a more appropriate term.
Maybe if “OSM” and “Pajamas Media” spent some time in the back of a Buick and birthed “PJMedia” a few months later it’d be evolution. But if you thought about it and made the change based on your volition then it’s not evolution; it’s intelligent design.
Cars don’t evolve.
Computers don’t evolve.
Websites don’t evolve.
WE MAKE THEM BETTER.
Ditto the aboves. Looks like the right move at the right time.
So you decided to “kick off your bedroom slippers”?
As an avid reader, probably from the very beginning, I am very grateful for the excellent commentary on politics, culture, affairs foreign and domestic, and expect PJMedia to grow and gain influence. Thanks a lot!
Well, as long as you don’t change your approach too much & of course, keep up the great work you already do. Feel free though to keep your cute little bathrobe icon that graces everyone’s “favorites” tab.
you should definitely have the latest headline for each columnist on the columnist drop down menu, like you did for pajamas xpress
Good move Mr. Simon, time to move onto the next phase.
And btw, the recent additions to your columnist staff are awesome. Spengler himself, Barry Rubin, Christian Adams, Belladonna, and the prolific Bryan Preston are gold.
You have become the best political site and have the best commenters as well.
And I also like that you have stuck with some of the less conservative writers as well, and span domestic and international affairs. The tone is spot on, just diverse enough, and always provocative.
‘Cept it waren’t broke….
(In fact it was right up there with some of the best things available on the web.)
Well, whatever. Good luck with the new name and format!!
Congratulations, thanks, and best wishes for the future !
Here is wishing you all continued success! I am very glad I found this blog. PJ is one of my top 3, go to, news and opinion sources. The fact that contributors on occasion interact with the reader in the comments is huge. Thank you all for the great work.
Thanks for all the hard work you’ve put in making this such a great website.
Looking forward to many more successful years ahead.
Crap, now I have to do a multi-factor authentication to one of the corporate outgoing security devices to access instapundit because pjmedia.com is not in the “Allow” list.
Hopefully it will eventually make it to the not0block list.
Congrats on the success. I hope you manage the growth well. As for me, I preferred the days when I had the time to read everything that was of interest to me on this site. Those days are long gone as you added more content. It is a job just to keep up with Ed Driscol and Richard Fernandez. I recently reupped my subscription to PJ Media, not that I have the time to watch all the videos but just to support the site. I do have a request: would you provide the option to pay via Paypal? No big deal but I prefer that option. Thanks for the good site.
Comfortable in PJs, it’s still the first or second place I visit every day. Whether in pajamas, jeans or a three piece from Armani, keep up the great work!
I’ve been honored to play a small role at Pajamas Media, and I look forward to a bright future for PJ Media. My best wishes for every success with your new name and format!
Robert
Fine job, Roger — I remember when it was even possible to email you and Michael J. Totten and get responses!
I think you abandoned your blog model a bit early, and wish you could find a way to have a more semi-official blogs. Including many of them in PJ Tattler might be enough, tho I’d suggest you push your regular bloggers to look for at least one “link of the day” every day, so there is new, fresh, different, yet still GOOD, stuff every day.
I actually keep Glenn at Instapundit on top over PJ; and seldom bother with PJTV — I wish you would have transcripts (automatically made by voice to text computer) of the Videos, so it could be better searched and referenced.
Keep up great work!
Congratulations on the “new clothes”, though I will still refer to you affectionately as pajamas media. I am very grateful to you and all of your contributors for shining a light on important issues. I will continue to check in every morning in my pjs. I wish you continued success!
I finally got the innuendo in the title.
Congratulations and well done.
Keep it coming.
But you’re NOT professional, you’re a destructive echo chamber.
Most of the people here wrote much better, much more sensible stuff BEFORE they were on PJ. Now they just post stupid paranoia and enjoy basking in the warm glow of tribalism.
If you took out all of the content-free “Is Obama the evil communist Islamist master of our doom or just dumber than a lobotomized monkey” topics wouldn’t the number of article drop by 1/2?
I feel embarrassed for the uhm, I think, one writer you have left who has never succumbed to the temptation to hoot like a monkey and write standard template PJ propaganda.
But Josh, Obama IS the evil communist Islamist master of our doom and and while I have never actually met one I am near certain that Obama IS dumber than a lobotomized monkey. Uh-oh, are you now going to call me a raaaaaacist?
Shouldn’t you be occupying somewhere?
Congratulations Roger.
Now the hard part, keep growing and working to preserve liberty and to let the truth flow freely and it will destroy all it’s enemies.
From the challenges of the OSM start to the rebranding as PJ Media, it’s been an interesting journey that I’ve followed from the start. Despite the missteps or the challenges, PJ Media is evolving as needed to continue to provide news, information, and analysis.
I was a regular commentator at LGF as PJ Media started, and while I no longer read or comment on LGF (for nearly 3 years now), PJ Media remains a daily read. The roots of PJ Media, from ‘pajama wearing bloggers’, providing cogent and interesting commentary, analysis, and reporting of events is as strong as ever. With the addition of new contributors like Christian Adams and the expose of the politicization of the DoJ, the future for PJ Media looks very vibrant.
Congratulations!
I hope this means that I can share PJ stuff with others without the loging in or having them register.
Wait a minute! Joe Hicks and Zo Rachel are still part of the PJ family, right?
Bravo!
Congratulations to Roger and the team. May PJM continue to flourish.
I love the name change! I still have my “PJ”s on when reading PJ Media, the same as Pajamas Media. I think the newer, shorter name is more relevant to the larger world, and allows it more legitimacy. Good luck to you, Roger, et al.
Hi Roger, I came here from Little Green Foorballs way back when you first started up. Have sent this link to at least 100 of friends and acquaintances over the years. You are my first read of the day every day. Keep up the good work for another 6 or even 60 years!!
As long as I can still peruse and kibbitz in my pajamas! I might even do a casual Monday for you, but never a Friday
As a libertarian anarchist, I certainly have a different point of view than many others at PJ Media, but I have enjoyed the point of view and editorial and oped pieces from here and PJTV for a long time (I found PJTV after a Tea Party rally in NYC back in 2008, when the Tea Party was mostly libertarians, not republicans… and it was something I could get behind).
My liberal girlfriend would not agree with me watching the “other side” if you will, but I certainly enjoy it, and some of the video bloggers that have been around for a while, especially Alfonzo Rachel, Stephen Crowder, Andrew Klavan, Stephen Green, and Scott Ott…. at least they’re entertaining and they actually have brains.
Pajamas Media had decided upon the more “professional” name of OSM for our public debut.
I’m glad that didn’t work out. Last thing the world needs is another “professional” media group.
Dumb idea. Sounds like you’ve been talking to a marketing consultant. Being one, I know that, typically. the first thing they do is suggest you change your name or logo, because it means changing literature and web sites to generate them few extra bucks, and adds you to their “transformed” list. All you had to do was drop the PPJTV and make the operational changes. “Pajamas” is a brand, and icon. It is distinctive. It registers. To use new-speak – it resonates. It retains the derisive, thumb on the nose character of your origins and continuing philosophies. Now you are just PJM …. not even an acronym …. and you’ll still have to explain the provenance.
You are still the best. I’m sure you’ll not just survive, but thrive. Too bad you’re throwing away a valuable asset.
Congratulations on your growth and maturation into one of the internets media heavy-weights. I have to admit I was skeptical of your initial product, and the chances of it becoming an internet mainstay. Over the years, your band of merry men (and jocular women) have provided us with a wealth of entertainment, opinion, and insightful commentary. Keep up the good work, and here is to your continued success. (By the way, I like my crow served medium rare, with a baked potato on the side.)
Sorry Roger, I hate the new and improved name.
I loved the way that the name Pajamas Media flung the sneers of the self important guardians of truth in the MSM right back into their smarmy little faces. As in, ”hey, we’re the one’s who know how to have fun, fools!” Cyrano would have loved the name;
My nose is Gargantuan! You little Pig-snout, you tiny Monkey-Nostrils, you virtually invisible Pekinese-Puss, don’t you realize that a nose like mine is both scepter and orb, a monument to my superiority? A great nose is the banner of a great man, a generous heart, a towering spirit, an expansive soul–such as I unmistakably am, and such as you dare not to dream of being, with your bilious weasel’s eyes and no nose to keep them apart! With your face as lacking in all distinction–as lacking, I say, in interest, as lacking in pride, in imagination, in honesty, in lyricism–in a word, as lacking in nose as that other offensively bland expanse at the opposite end of your cringing spine–which I now remove from my sight by stringent application of my boot!”
- Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Act 1
PJ Media? Donne moi le break! It’s so,so… corporate. Yeach!
If you wanted more Gravitas, I suggest Acme Media. Wile E. Coyote wouldn’t mind, I’m sure.
Yes, I despise the new name, yet I will continue to read Glen and Wretchard and the others (Will Zombie be getting a new name too?) in spite of the bone headed decision to fix what wasn’t broken. All the reasons given for the change are wimp reasons. Roger, you are definitely not a wimp, who/what got to you?
So take off the Pajamas if you must, but please don’t get to big for your britches!
Long live Pajamas Media!
Well, at least they still have their little bathrobe icon for everybody’s bookmark tab. Count your blessings……
I appreciate your content far more than a name.
All right!!!
And a crappier platform too, which takes longer to load, looks crappier, and is harder to read!
High fives all around!
Keep at it. You are a reliable voice. The world would be much worse without you.
Cute new name. Now when some new guy asks why it’s named PJ, you can still tell them the story, or you can make up something else to keep them guessing, maybe something in French (e.g., pyjama, lingerie…)
Kentucky Fried Chicken is now KFC, Washington DC is DC, Cocoa Cola is Coke, and now Pajamas Media is PJ. You Haven’t shed anything… you just are wearing PJs. Now do I have to follow “Suit” (see what I did there?) and call Politisite PS? Good luck with the new name.
Great blog site whatever your name shall be. Congrats and thanks for being here for us.
What I don’t like functionally, and I think has been a step backward, is the elimination of the most recent posts by authors. If Ed Driscoll has something new, I want to see it. If I’ve read it, already, I can skip it.
The old site saved me time, by showing the most recent stuff at the top. That was functionality that was major, I loved it. This version, not so much. Because of the functionality change.
PLEASE bring back the most recent posts by authors first, since it is a major time saver. Thanks.
Well, you may not be sitting around in your Pajamas anymore, but I know that the Trifecta gang are recorded while wearing coat and tie, and PJ bottoms, several times a week!!
So Pajamas, PJs, who cares???
Glad to be a Member and part of the family! Keep up the good work!!!
Roger, one thing I’ve wondered about, and I don’t know if you can (or will) offer any clarification, but what happened to your PJM co-founder that caused him to go off the rails?
He wasn’t comfortable with all the constant hysterical lies and exaggerations, vilification, and winking that plays to barely hidden bigotry and racism among the commenters that comprises PJ-standard tribalism. And good for him.
Didn’t he once have Geller on his site and kick her and her friends off? I thought he was overreacting but you know what the years have proven him right. Those people are now praising Anders Breivik. They’re not against terrorism, they just want people like themselves committing it.
Ok PJ isn’t that bad, but it’s not good.
I remember when I still respected most of the people here, before we elected Obama and they went off the rails, before they started recommending ignorant, anti-science religious fanatics to be president, before they (ok, Zombie) started bashing gays.
You know there’s a picture of me in her archive passing out fliers that she approved of.
Sigh, even Hanson has lost his sense posting here.
Now this site mimics all the antisemite sites, it’s just that you replace Jews with “Obama” or liberals or something. The every problem in the world has a scapegoat. It’s very dispiriting.
I don’t even like Johnson, he goes off the rails himself.. but he has more sense than the lot of you put together.
Please go back to Zucotti Park. Just take a shower first.
Bigots and racists and anti-science religious fanatics! OH MY!
I always love it when my skepticism about the ‘science’ of AGW — massaged data, model voodoo (calibrated to the crummy data, rather than truly bottom up), doubts about the extent of human contribution, lack of transparency, predicatbiliy and truly independent reproducability, concerns about motivations of AGW zealots and opportunists, including hostility to the only practical zero-carbon enrgy (modern nuclear) all gets me branded as ‘anti-science’…
When I have degrees in engineering and computer science and have worked in various technology fields (not energy).
Usually the ‘anti-science’ smear comes from a liberal arts major.
Of course they’e the ones who thought Freud and Marx were ‘scientific’.
While there can be some arguments about AGW there shouldn’t be arguments about teaching evolution in the classroom, but oops, even the (minority of) Republican presidential candidates who believe in evolution can’t admit that publicly anymore.
And Bachmann, no. Perry no… Both have been recommended on PJ. Actually I can understand endorcing Perry, but Bachmann, oh God… She also endorses the idea that all American law must be based on biblical law, so there goes the constitution.
Go back to your drug dealer and ge3t your money back.
Then find a good surgeon and get some good brain cells.
You’ll need them to digest the trash you’ve written here and when you wake up and realise the Grade Z bosh you’ve posted, you’ll need all your flexibility to hide your head back up your gluteus where it belongs.
Both thumbs up from me on the new name.
The only part of this essay I disagree with is the notion that the NYT opinion columnists are even remotely as interesting or perceptive or talented as PJ Media’s. You’re so far ahead that that comparison isn’t just damning by faint praise, it’s genuinely damning.
Onward and upward! Much success to you all!
I think it will take time to get use to the new format. It does look more professional. I hope all of the TV shows are still available. One thing I’ve never known is, how do you choose your journalists or contributors?
you guys should be proud. In my view you are in a class by yourself. A top notch operation all around. I always know that when I click on to your site that there will be a large amount of good content, well written and thought provoking. You’ve assembled a great line-up of contributors here. I wish you much success going forward as PJ Media.
It was becoming increasingly lightweight. Good luck as PJMedia!
Good move. Rock on, PJ Media! I would tell friends about your website and when I gave them the name, they would look at me increduously, and then repeat, “Pajamas Media?”
The new name will make it so much easier!!
L’Chaim!!!
Pajamas Media by any other name is still Pajamas Media.
Keep up the good work guys – I come here every day to see what’s hot even if I don’t post regularly.
OK Roger, I came here to see how serious you really are. Are you aware of the March planned for 11-11-11 in Washington, DC by oath takers across America? According to the email you sent; “Pajamas Media, … on a mission to shed light on the topics and issues important to Americans but often ignored by the mainstream media.”
You said you would “amplifying the voices of other Americans… defend, protect and preserve what made, and will continue to make, America great”. So here I am with the challenge for your statement; “We hope you will visit the new http://www.PJMedia.com today to join us in this important conversation and make your voice heard.” HOPING you amplify and make my voice heard. Here is a link for you, your bloggers, and readers to find out more about this extremely important event that has been ignored by the MSM.
Vets call for resignations, impeachments in Washington http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=ulcssleab&et=1107988598852&s=210&e=0018KWksCuQa0T0x6lvIb7R-R1F14rQQQ8LtLBhdBjxv3umUCOoEnyNzB8MSxQ7K1HZWUNSeMjNt30SrAcDLNNftxGNpBSfrpM4hmrAOi_fz3VtnRiCQ22WMDJ2G0SygSTRBU-5kAOfOa-C6V1QtTVTQwGUZ2tWIu0jQZQCrdMeBBY=
You can also find this on http://www.facebook.com/groups/VDAoperation/?notif_t=group_r2j.
If these links don’t work just go to either Patriots for America or United States Patriot Union, I’m sure you will find all of the information about this event.
PJM rocks. The collective brainpower at PJM is amazing and the envy of the conservative blogosphere, and head-asploding C4 to the libs. Congrats and continued success!
I approve the name change!
Congratulations!
I’ve actually been wondering about this for a long time- PJ needed to polish up its image given the quality of the reporting and discussion that has been done here. Also, kudos on the writing- while there have always been the stellar writers like VDH gracing these pages, the overall quality seems to have gone up greatly in the last year. Very nice.
I wonder if the new name,’PJ Media,’ is a step up or sideways.
But I must say that this new PJ Media logo is not working for me. Technically it’s proficient but it’s not modern or exciting and doesn’t establish the brand as something rebellious and up to date, which it most certainly is. The old Pajamas logo, the blue bathrobe with the orange trim, had that. This new banner logo has no spirit.
Using the planet Earth in a logo is a classic branding trap. It’s usually intended to say, “We cover the world,” but a globe lacks personality because it says too much. Brands thrive by owning a niche. The Big Blue Marble is too large a concept, in the realm of ideas, to be associated with anything besides itself. And yet it’s over-used by countless small and mid-sizes businesses, trying to advertise their global reach, with dubious results. Ask yourself, what successful BRAND is the Earth attached to?
Here’s a kicker, isn’t Pajamas’ editorial point of view that there are differences between civilizations, and we need to study these differences and leverage them to succeed in peace and in strife? An Earth logo makes PJ Media one big mush! Lose the Earth motif yesterday.
That’s my design critique rant. Here are my suggestions. Think about keeping the PJ Media logo in some way related to the PJTV logotype. Why not work within that font family at least, as you move in the direction of the new name? That way, as we move from page to page, we’ll know we’re moving through related content from the Pajamas family.
It would also buy you time to develop something that would really move you forward.
I hope your insight will be heeded. The globe is as banal as it can get.
I also think the Earth or globe logo is not a good choice.
I think the earth is the best logo because of irony.
It reminds people that no on hear cares about the environment.
Has anyone on this site ever admitted to believing that global warming is happening?
Congratulations for sticking with your blog dream, Roger.
I love the new logo!
Fyi, I came here specifically because I’ve been a longtime follower of Zombie and when he started here, I started reading. It’s been interesting, but I don’t accept some of the name change arguments, if only because comparisons could easily be made to Worldwide Pants Incorporated. Not to say I don’t like “PJ Media” just that Pajamas media was inevitably more creative and unique where PJ Media sounds like just another channel to tune out.
Either way I hope it’s for the best.
Friends:
It matters not a lick to me what moniker you take. You’re my second stop each morning after checking the headlines at Drudge — I start there, but I spend far more time time here. And that time is always informative and entertaining. But most importantly, it sates my need for true journalism.
The expose on Holder’s Justice Department tops the list for me as a retired attorney. Holder’s assault on justice itself is something I never would have believed possible not too many years ago. The work PJ Media has done here may never be fully appreciated by the general public, but I know full well the impact your exposure has had, and will continue to have, on reigning in the corrupt Mr. Holder. I eagerly await the fated day when he is escorted out the door. My thanks to Mr. Adams and team.
If you want a job in the real world, you’ve got to pull up your pants, put on a belt, and tuck in your shirt. So, I can understand the name change. My affections still belong to Pajamas, but I’ll gladly take my news from PJ. Keep up the great work.
To me, the name change is irrelevant. What I care for is the content. And the content is always great. Thank you people at PJ Media, I love reading you !
Congratulations to the whole crew – The Guys and Gals in front of the camera and behind. Thank you very much, for the fun and Great Information & News.
Kudo’s to all.
#hearty_clap
Pajamas are worn by ADULTS.
PJ’s are worn by LITTLE CHILDREN.
Great web site, insightful and informative commentary.
Complete idiot in marketing.
Federal Express became FedEx because it saved millions of dollars in paint. How many airplanes and delivery vehicles are you all painting?
Keep up the good work! I dont care what your name is-you will still be one of my “favorites” on my browser!
The change is fine. Please learn to use the word “myself” correctly. It’s a pet peeve of mine. Nine out of ten writers misuse it.
Insult, or self-deprecating humor? NYTimes vis-a-vis PJMedia? There is no comparison. PJMedia wins hands down…90% of the comments beat the NYTimes.
To one of my two or three favorite sites, congratulations and best wishes. I am forever grateful.
Now I’m in my PJ’s, instead of my pajamas.
It’s great that PJMedia is so successful that it feel the need to adopt a more “mature” name. I kind of liked “Pajamas Media” but who really cares as long as the quality of the content doesn’t change. One thing, though. It would be nice to have article layout default to a single page, I hate always having to click on “View as Single Page.”
good-kinda of a stupid name and my wife thinks i’m trolling lingere sites
Always informational, regularly brilliant and thoroughly articulate writing with a occasional side of humor makes PJ Media an outstanding source of my daily reading and sharing of information, Roger! Thank you for all you do and the substantive articles of such gifted, discerning, adroit and profound writers is nothing short of amazing!
I am one of many who is truly indebted for your efforts and continued search for those concepts and truths that set us free from the ever present arrogant and convoluted lame stream media’s assaults on American minds. Thank you, also, for reminding us that there are still those who possess the courage and compassion to follow their convictions.
Onward and upward, PJ Media! And thank you, Roger L. Simon!
Sally Kay
Still the same shit-laden toilet paper unfit to wipe the hemmorhoidal anus of a diarrhetic warthog.
Frankly I’m going to miss “Pajamas”. It really described me. I can’t remember all the times I sat there in my pajamas working out a problem presented us. However, a rose by any other name………
A rose by any other name
have no issue with your new moniker and logo- but I really hate the new font for the comments section- very hard to read- too delicate
I certainly respect you guys, since the instapundit blog, and through his references many other PJ sites, are now my primary source of news. I also like your comment page, since unlike many others, you dont have to join anything to comment, you just have to give name and email. I especially like instapundit since he is an economic ocnservative, but not a social conservative, pretty much my views, and those of the Tea Party.
In this business, that’s good advice not to look back. (But, in reality, it’s necessary).
But, I think the adage “You better not stumble, or you’ll get trampled to death” is more appropriate. There are a lot more blogs out there to take your place if there’s a chink in your armor.
Thanks for all the great work so far.
I am very sanguine there will be much more to come.
Pajamas, PJ, an Internet media site by any other name and all that. Let’s get down to the basics: Are you making any kind of decent scratch?
Keep up the good work. I suspect you’re a thorn in the sides of many. I like that in a website. And, yeah, give us the dish. What the heck happened to Johnson?
Congrats Roger and friends. Love the new logo.
I never liked pajamas, quit wearing them early on, found reading them more comfortable.
PJTV rocks too!
Hey……….. You’ll always be listed as “Pajamas” on my bookmarks.
Thank you for Pajama Media, Yes I’m still in my pajamas as I reading this. Every morning I go to this website and helps me keep up. I gave up on national a long time ago. Including the supposedly unbiased, and fair Fox. They are getting bad as well. Thank you for breathing fresh air into the distorted news out there. We only seem to get one view point, and what makes me really mad is NPR comes out of our pocket and that is distorted to. Keep bring out the truth. Thank you Pajama Media.
From a true patriot!
I don’t care what you call yourself, just so you keep being honest, doing research and telling the truth!
I always thought the name seemed too… much like ya’ll were still smarting fm that old slight. So this is a bog improvement.
I thought Pajamas Media meant you could only post in your pajamas? Do i have to get dressed now?
In PJ archives, I’ve found articles as old as 4 months still getting comment responses.
Man! Some people have really slow internet service.
Nice to see PJM keeping good archives, but, who makes a comment to an article 4 months old or older?
(At 3 1/2 days after this article has been published, this comment is going to be a waste for comment purpose. But, it still illustrates that old PJM articles have timely information not found at other news sites.)
Congratulations on another step forward in the site’s evolution.
Just one thing I have to ask, is it just me or did the article text font change along with the rest of the branding? It seems to me that the text of the posts (and comments)is sort of thin and fuzzy looking, kind of indistinct. I seem to remember it being sharper and bolder in appearance before. The content is still the best, just a bit harder to read now.
No, it’s not just you. The font is indeed fainter.
“the gang”??? So will you ever refer to yourselves as the usual gang of idiots?;) (ref Mad magazine).
Well, no doubt you know what you’re doing but here in the Antipodes i tend to read you late at night, clad, therefore, in that most homourable of garments, the noble pajamas (though here we spell it “pyjamas”).
I mean, if it’s gravitas you want, can’t you just call yourselves
The Gravitas Times? It quite rolls off the tongue, I fancy.
What am I supposed to wear when reading PJ Media, a Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich? Somewhat uncomfortable i think you’ll agree.
Still, I suppose it’s your Media and you can call it what you want. As long as I have a clear URL, an uninterrupted connection, good reading matter and a permanent supply of brushed cotton and silk, my perusal of your news/commentary will continue unabated, though still with bated breath due to all your exclusives.
Truth bless PJ Media and all who sail within her, and alongside her.
Mr. Simon;
You could have run a contest for name recommendations. This would fit in with all the other campaigns to conjure up book clubs, personal columns, etc.
PJ could be short for peanut butter and jam, among others.
If pajamas was too casual, why not go with T&E Media? (Tux and evening gown).
“DM”? Deposition Media?
“Simon, Inc. News Conference”?
“X-ty Minutes”?
I could care less about the name. It’s the ideas, I am looking for.
The NYT has sycophantic lemmings swimming like baby ducks behind their mother, any comparison to that propaganda bureau is an insult.
Please continue to improve the material and refuse to become complacent.
Roger, congrats and keep up the great work! I’ve been with you since the beginning (and I also fondly remember your old pre-PJ blog) and LOVE PJTV, Tatler, etc. I miss the podcasts a lot but I understand some things have to go to make room and resources for others. Creative Destruction is the American free market way and PJ Media is definitely part of this. In actual fact it is now impossible for me to keep up with everything here because it’s so wide, diverse and busy. There is NEVER not great stuff to read, watch, etc. All around outstanding work over the past 6 years…cannot believe it’s been that long!
And I always thought PJ was for Political Junkie and pajamas was a twist on that. Whatever you call yourself, I will remain a loyal fan, and disseminator of your great vidoes. Can’t wait until your site rivals the ever shrinking MSM in influence.
TFM