[loteck]

The key rule that Gawker broke here was "Don't make powerful enemies"

Gawker's reputation and missteps aside, this is not a rule any respectable journalism organization would agree with.

[karmacondon]

That was inartfully worded. Respectable journalism organizations don't invade people's privacy in a way that would lose a lawsuit. Woodward and Bernstein were on Nixon's enemies list, but they weren't convicted of a crime or found liable for damages in any court.

If you're going to cross that line, you'd better do so carefully. At the very least don't antagonize someone who can rightfully sue you into oblivion.