Jeff Jarvis writes: “They are not free — and it most certainly is not responsible journalism — to try to fool the audience about the source of content and to impugn the reputation of a professional along the way.”

It most certainly was NOT the intention of Esquire (or of Gawker or Al Jazeera America) to “try to fool the audience about the source of content” or to impugn your reputation. They published these pieces knowing it as the satire it was and believing the audience was mature enough for satire. To label such a literary exercise “journalism” that is “not responsible” is laughable.

The irony of this whole kerfuffle is that it shows why this satire was so necessary.