Sports on Earth writers and editors laid off

[DrewJo]

Story here:
http://awfulannouncing.com/2014/say-goodbye-to-sports-on-earth-as-you-know-it.html

It's unclear how many people lost their jobs, but "95%" was thrown around on Twitter.

(Edit: I see now this was being covered in the Gannett thread, too. Sorry for the double-posting.)

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

I know the site has been criticized but no one wanted this outcome.

 

[JayFarrar]

I hope Patrick Hruby, who self reported on the Twitterz that he was one of the people let go, finds a place to land and quickly.

His stuff on college sports have been must reads for me.

Also, why would anyone quit their job to go to an online startup? They all seemed to have crashed and burned, even those owned by ginormous legacy media companies.

 

[Batman]

Also, why would anyone quit their job to go to an online startup? They all seemed to have crashed and burned, even those owned by ginormous legacy media companies.

One of many, many reasons that, as bad as the newspaper industry has gotten, I'm thankful I still have a job at one. Has any media company ever actually MADE money off the internet? Even the ones who went that direction from the start?
It seems like every internet media company's business model is to follow the HuffPost example/Ponzi scheme: Play off of writer's egos and delusions of gaining "exposure" in exchange for little or no pay, all the while making promises of a steady paycheck down the road; get a few A-listers who are actually paid (and who may or may not have been laid off from newspapers) to gain some credibility; then, at the first hint of turning a profit, sell to someone bigger.
The people who founded the site make gobs of money. Everyone under them is screwed -- after being screwed over -- and usually ends up out of work within six months of the sale as the bigger company realizes the profit it invested upon was all smoke and mirrors and pulls the plug.
And that's with the "successful" ventures. Hundreds of others probably go tits up within a year, or have starts and stops as money comes and goes.
Unless I get to the point where there's no other choice, I have absolutely no desire to stake my future and my family's well-being to that circus.

 

[Steak Snabler]

All that may be true, but with USA Today Sports Media Group and MLB Advanced Media backing it, SOE seemed a little more credible than most online startups.

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

It might explain why Posnanski's stay there was so short.

 

[Fran Curci]

SOE was very nice, but it didn't seem like it could ever make money. Do you know many people -- aside from people in the business -- who regularly read it? Similarly, Grantland has some great material, but could it survive without full subsidy by ESPN?

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Similarly, Grantland has some great material, but could it survive without full subsidy by ESPN?

That's the $100,000 question. And I think we all know the answer.

 

[dreunc1542]

SOE was very nice, but it didn't seem like it could ever make money. Do you know many people -- aside from people in the business -- who regularly read it? Similarly, Grantland has some great material, but could it survive without full subsidy by ESPN?

Grantland comes up pretty often in my group of friends, and most of them aren't journalists. I don't think SOE has ever come up. I went there today for the first time since its first week.

 

[Alma]

I hope Patrick Hruby, who self reported on the Twitterz that he was one of the people let go, finds a place to land and quickly.

I'm sure he will. The best of them always find a place to land.

 

[Alma]

Similarly, Grantland has some great material, but could it survive without full subsidy by ESPN?

That's the $100,000 question. And I think we all know the answer.

Of course not. Although I could see ESPN keeping on some of the NBA writers.

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

Any regional cable heft, such as Comcast or NESN.

 

[GBNF]

Chuck Culpepper's work for Sports on Earth has been absolutely brilliant. Very sad to see him go.

 

[TGO157]

Y'all don't think Deadspin makes a profit?

 

[Fredrick]

Also, why would anyone quit their job to go to an online startup? They all seemed to have crashed and burned, even those owned by ginormous legacy media companies.

One of many, many reasons that, as bad as the newspaper industry has gotten, I'm thankful I still have a job at one. Has any media company ever actually MADE money off the internet? Even the ones who went that direction from the start?
It seems like every internet media company's business model is to follow the HuffPost example/Ponzi scheme: Play off of writer's egos and delusions of gaining "exposure" in exchange for little or no pay, all the while making promises of a steady paycheck down the road; get a few A-listers who are actually paid (and who may or may not have been laid off from newspapers) to gain some credibility; then, at the first hint of turning a profit, sell to someone bigger.
The people who founded the site make gobs of money. Everyone under them is screwed -- after being screwed over -- and usually ends up out of work within six months of the sale as the bigger company realizes the profit it invested upon was all smoke and mirrors and pulls the plug.
And that's with the "successful" ventures. Hundreds of others probably go tits up within a year, or have starts and stops as money comes and goes.
Unless I get to the point where there's no other choice, I have absolutely no desire to stake my future and my family's well-being to that circus.

That is one great, perceptive take. I thought about that the other day, just what you said ... how the only way these cites "succeed" is to do what you say. Get sold and the founders make huge bucks and everybody else like you say, is screwed.
There are a lot of smart people who work in media and you are one of them. Nice post.

 

[Joe Williams]

Before it vanishes from the scene forever, I must take this moment to say how God-awful a name "Sports on Earth" was for a Web site. Now Sports Six Feet Under.

 

[JackReacher]

Before it vanishes from the scene forever, I must take this moment to say how God-awful a name "Sports on Earth" was for a Web site. Now Sports Six Feet Under.

Such a red-hot take. We thank you.

 

[Songbird]

Similarly, Grantland has some great material, but could it survive without full subsidy by ESPN?

That's the $100,000 question. And I think we all know the answer.

Of course not. Although I could see ESPN keeping on some of the NBA writers.

I see it staying around awhile, even a good while. Grantland may not generate much cash yet it's a pretty large society suckling on ESPN's teat. It hung around after the big splash and built itself. Would love to see the metrics. At any rate, ESPN would be foolish to drive those eyes away.

ESPN still operates under the "All Your Sports Are Belong to ESPN" mold.

Grantland survived. Grantland isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[BTExpress]

Y'all don't think Deadspin makes a profit?

Don't think it would survive without its mothership (Gawker Media), if that's what you're asking.

 

[Boom_70]

Similarly, Grantland has some great material, but could it survive without full subsidy by ESPN?

That's the $100,000 question. And I think we all know the answer.

Of course not. Although I could see ESPN keeping on some of the NBA writers.

I see it staying around awhile, even a good while. Grantland may not generate much cash yet it's a pretty large society suckling on ESPN's teat. It hung around after the big splash and built itself. Would love to see the metrics. At any rate, ESPN would be foolish to drive those eyes away.

ESPN still operates under the "All Your Sports Are Belong to ESPN" mold.

Grantland survived. Grantland isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Does ESPN "The Mag" turn a profit? I'm thinking highly doubtful and it's just
around to promote the ESPN brand and drive people to the sports that
ESPN is putting money behind.