Gawker announces layoffs as the publication turns to politics
The media organization’s leaders sent lengthy memos explaining its new direction, but staff members had already complained about being fired callously.
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On Tuesday, Gawker Media announced that it would cut seven full-time editorial positions at Gawker, Jezebel and Gizmodo, along with at least eight freelance positions.
The layoffs are part of a new strategy; Gawker is rebranding itself as a news and politics publication. Jezebel will cover celebrity and entertainment news. Gawker also announced it would hire six new editors to make its vision a reality.
The layoffs weren’t well received, partially because the staff members cut were summoned to a conference room via a direct message, and then saw that they were deleted from the organization’s internal messaging platform, Slack.
Several former employees took to Twitter to vent their frustration:
Gawker colleagues find out who’s been laid off as they’re kicked off Slack https://t.co/0Y3c8H5t8o via @ericsundy pic.twitter.com/CEQHatgX2o
— Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) November 17, 2015
haha anybody hiring?
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