The Hill acted fast and hired Neetzan Zimmerman, who recently left Whisper under really contentious circumstances. The former senior editor at Gawker is known for being a giant traffic hound.
The Capitol Hill newspaper announced Friday that he will be senior director, audience and strategy.
Just two days ago he confirmed to CapitalNY that he had left Whisper after being suspended from the company. He’d been there roughly a year. The contention involved a Guardian expose on whether users were really assured anonymity. The piece caught the attention of Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-Ky.), who asked Whisper to explain itself.
“Neetzan understands the digital world like no one else,” said editor-in-chief Bob Cusack in a statement posted on the website. “His ability to use powerful content to build audiences and drive engagement will be a major asset to The Hill, especially with readers hungry for high-quality political reporting that can fuel conversations on their social platforms.”
Zimmerman called this an amazing opportunity.
“With unique, original and powerful coverage of topics of critical importance, The Hill is perfectly positioned to continue reaching new heights with its digital audiences,” Zimmerman said. “Being able to apply my passion for digital growth to content of this caliber is an amazing opportunity.”
The release barely whispered Whisper — just saying that he was hired to lead their editorial operations in 2014.