There are growing concerns among Vice Media staffers regarding the potential closure or significant downsizing of the company's flagship news website. This comes six months after the brand was acquired by a group of its former lenders following a bankruptcy filing. Editors from various departments within Vice recently met with their teams to address the situation. They revealed that despite seeking clarification from management, they have not received a response.
The top editor of Vice News, during a virtual meeting with staff, expressed his disappointment at the lack of communication from senior executives, including the CEO. He emphasized the importance of the website and the impact its potential closure would have on their work. The editor also mentioned that his proposed plan to restructure the newsroom was not accepted by management, and there is still no budget in place for the year.
Staff members raised concerns about their job security, with questions about their next paycheck and the status of their company-issued laptops. The uncertainty among employees was further heightened by a recent tech update that disabled a tool allowing them to download Google data in bulk. However, this update was unrelated to the ongoing business decisions within the company.
Vice Media's financial struggles have been evident since filing for bankruptcy last year, which led to the cancellation of its flagship show and a series of cost-cutting measures. The company was eventually sold to a consortium of investors, but the challenges seem far from over. Despite attempts to reach out for comments, both Vice and the investment group have remained silent on the matter.
