Statement from WGAE Members at NowThis on Vox Media Decision to Spin Off Company
NEW YORK, NY (April 13, 2023) – The following is a statement from Writers Guild of America, East members at NowThis regarding Vox Media’s announcement that the video news site will be spun off to be an independent company:
First thing yesterday morning, with only a few minutes of warning, the NowThis staff was called into a company-wide meeting for a major update on the future of our brand. Vox Media, which acquired NowThis and the other Group Nine Media brands just over a year ago, has spun off our company while maintaining a minority stake and a seat on the board. NowThis will become an independent company, with substantial investment from media network Accelerate Change.
To say we are unsettled would be an understatement. Many of us in the unit have endured several company transitions, from being purchased by Group Nine, to restructuring the newsroom countless times, to being acquired by Vox — all changes that have impacted our daily work, our benefits, our morale, and our lives.
NowThis management is insistent that this is a positive step for the company, and we would like to take them at their word. Much of what we have heard from Accelerate Change is heartening. The network’s values and mission seem closely aligned with our own, and we appreciate that its leaders met with our staff yesterday to share their vision for our partnership. They told us they have no plans to lay anyone off and are committed to honoring their obligations under our collective bargaining agreement.
However, we remain wary at this early stage, particularly in light of the unpredictability we have faced since our acquisition by Vox. A little more than a year ago, Vox promised us that they were committed to our growth, and now we are being asked yet again to trust a new group of leaders with our future. A number of unanswered questions remain, including about critical issues like who our health insurance provider will be, and we are anxiously awaiting more information.
Despite the uncertainty, there is one thing we know for sure: The members of the NowThis Union will continue to stand together and support each other through this new chapter. We will stay vigilant in ensuring that the terms of our CBA are respected and that all members of our unit feel empowered to ask questions as this major shift occurs. Our collective spirit has carried us through our previous transitions, and our commitment to fight for one another will never waver.
ABOUT THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA, EAST
The Writers Guild of America, East, AFL-CIO (WGAE) is a labor union representing writers in film, television, broadcast and streaming news, podcasts, and online media. The Guild negotiates and administers contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of its members; conducts programs, seminars and events on issues of interest to writers; and presents writers’ views to various bodies of government. For more information on the Writers Guild of America, East, visit wgaeast.org.
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