On Tuesday, Axios CEO Jim VandeHei told staff (in an email that used Axios’ “smart brevity” format) the company is laying off 50 people, or about 10% of its employees. These are the first layoffs in the 7-year history of the company, which until now seemed to have dodged the icebergs that had torn holes into many of its competitors; it was so successful, in fact, that Cox Enterprises bought Axios for $525 million in 2022. Its founders — VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz — stayed on to continue running the company.
In his memo, VandeHei mentioned that reader attention is “scattering across social, podcasts, individual creators and influencers, partisan websites and more,” and that this coupled with AI models’ ability to summarize news makes now “the most difficult moment for media in our lifetime.” In April, VandeHei had told The New York Times he was concerned the rise of AI would “eviscerate the weak, the ordinary, the unprepared in media,” and that Axios’ strategy would shift toward live events, membership programs, and premium newsletters.
Axios’ Detroit and Tampa Bay reporters both posted about being laid off, as did a national news editor. The visuals team was hit particularly hard, according to Axios’ managing editor of data visuals.
NEW: Axios is laying off 50 people across the company. CEO @JimVandeHei just sent out this note — which says the layoffs are because of “changes in the media business” pic.twitter.com/lLVemNFh0N
— Katie Robertson (@katie_robertson) August 6, 2024
There’s just something so unsettling that they used the Axios “smart brevity” bulletpoint format to fire their staffers.
WHY IT MATTERS: You will no longer have a job. https://t.co/oVWTUhUFVE
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) August 6, 2024
Axios laying off people in smart brevity style and doing it as a news dump right before the vice presidential announcement is heartless stuff.
— Scott Nover (@ScottNover) August 6, 2024
Everything else aside here—notable that VandeHei essentially cites AI as a threat to Axios’ business model https://t.co/zJbmTYLzVI
— Damon Beres (@dlberes) August 6, 2024
it’s a sad day for those of us at Axios that are losing beloved colleagues — i promise our internal email format is not the most gutting thing about this news and saying so is not very nice to those laid off!
— Ashley Gold (@ashleyrgold) August 6, 2024
119 comments:
sugar defender ingredients
I’ll immediately snatch your rss feed as I can not find your email subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly allow me recognise so that I may subscribe. Thanks.
Lovely just what I was looking for.Thanks to the author for taking his clock time on this one.
Cellucare review
I like this web blog very much, Its a very nice situation to read and receive information. “Do pleasant things yourself, but unpleasant things through others.” by Baltasar Gracian.
Fitspresso review
I adore gathering utile information , this post has got me even more info! .
sugar defender supplement
This blog is definitely rather handy since I’m at the moment creating an internet floral website – although I am only starting out therefore it’s really fairly small, nothing like this site. Can link to a few of the posts here as they are quite. Thanks much. Zoey Olsen
I and my buddies were looking at the nice guides on your web page then suddenly I got a horrible feeling I had not thanked you for those strategies. The guys were definitely as a result happy to learn all of them and now have pretty much been tapping into those things. Appreciation for getting really helpful and then for using this sort of incredible subjects most people are really desirous to discover. Our honest apologies for not expressing appreciation to earlier.
Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is really informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. Many people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Very interesting topic, thanks for posting. “Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts.” by Dan Quayle.
Hello I am so happy I found your web site, I really found you by mistake, while I was searching on Google for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a marvelous post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the minute but I have saved it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the superb job.
Fitspresso reviews
Very interesting info !Perfect just what I was searching for! “People everywhere confuse what they read in newspapers with news.” by A. J. Liebling.
Javaburn reviews
What¦s Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It absolutely useful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to give a contribution & aid other customers like its aided me. Great job.
This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it.
I got what you intend, thanks for putting up.Woh I am pleased to find this website through google.
Trackbacks:
Leave a comment