Popbitch

The website was the first of a slew of satirical and irreverent UK gossip sites that, often playing fast and loose with journalistic ethics, skirted the limits of defamation law. Its uncompromising ethos of cruel humour gave it a feel somewhat similar to usenet gossip newsgroups.

After falsely accusing a famous British TV celebrity of illegal acts, the board was closed and reopened with board members as editors. The free spirit and anarchy that characterized the early days was heavily curtailed as a result.

However, its rise in profile has continued, with frequent name-checks in newpaper "diary" columns, and it can claim at least a role in popularised terms such as Croydon (or council) facelift, and (a term of abuse contracted from "a face more suited to pushing a pram around a council estate").

It is partly because of this type of neologism that journalist Julie Burchill has heavily and repeatedly criticised Popbitch for a systemic middle class bias, doing little more that denigrating those who get "ideas above their station". Burchill used to be a regular member herself, posting with the name landfill.

Message board posters generally use nicknames to hide real identities and the board has a "no outing" rule to maintain the air as a place were anonymity reigns. Apart from Rich Johnston who posts as richjohnston.

Even toned down, however, Popbitch can claim its share of exclusives—one poster reported David Beckham's move from Manchester United to Real Madrid at least four months before sports pages picked up on the story—then stood by the story in the face of repeated denials.

The site has spawned its own spin-off, Bobpitch, which, unlike its parent, requires registration to view.

External links

• Official home page
• Popbitch message boards