Tessera

Los Angeles Review of Books @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social · 8mo ago

"How can you go against the times?" @zosha.bsky.social on "No Other Choice": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/no-other-choice-park-chan-wook-unemployment-murder/

Chris Grant @charstring.com · last yr.

14 years ago I pitched what would become Polygon to a startup called Sports Blogs Inc on the unfurnished third floor of a DC townhome. I held a laptop on my knees and went through a deck. Today that same company -- now called Vox Media -- sold Polygon to Valnet.

Vox Media Union @voxmediaunion.bsky.social · last yr.

We are devastated and outraged about today's layoffs, the sale of Polygon, and the loss of staff across Polygon and NY Mag. We stand with our colleagues at @polygon.com com and @nymagunion.bsky.social in solidarity.

Today, the Vox Media Union learned the devastating news that Polygon, home to some of gaming and geek culture’s most beloved and respected journalism, is being sold off to controversial website Valnet. As part of the sale, nearly all of Polygon’s award-winning staff were laid off. Our colleagues at New York Magazine saw additional layoffs today as well.

To say that we are outraged and heartbroken is an understatement. This marks the fifth round of layoffs at Vox Media-owned brands in a six-month period. It has occurred during contract bargaining in which the company has thus far rejected all of the union’s economic proposals, and refuses to offer meaningful counters. This move not only disrespects our colleagues, it blatantly undermines a good-faith bargaining process.

Arguably even more demoralizing is Vox Media’s decision to sell a lauded games website to a company known for alleged exploitative conditions and for devaluing rigorous journalism in favor of churning out content. Vox Media’s lack of respect for Polygon’s reputation in games media, the hard work and passion of its staff, and the robust community of gamers and fans who support it could not be clearer. Losing Polygon to such a company is not just a loss for Vox Media, but for our industry and internet culture as a whole. From a sustainability perspective, it makes little financial or long-term sense, and speaks to a lack of care and consideration for this company and its staff.

The Writers Guild of America East and Vox Media Union will continue to offer help and support to our colleagues at Polygon and New York who are leaving us, just as we have supported our colleagues impacted by previous layoffs around the company. Please stay tuned for more information on how you can support those impacted by these layoffs. We will continue the fight for economic protections and job security in bargaining, where we set new standards for workers in the entire digital media industry.

We stand with you all.

Petrana 冰冰 Radulovic (she/her)@petrana.bsky.social · last yr.

zosha is one of the best people i've worked with at polygon and she really had a talent for taking my long rambles finding the story nugget in them and turning them into sharp, funny, insightful pieces!! a true joy to work with and im just sad we're not gonna be together for stranger things s5!!!

Zosha Millman@zosha.bsky.social · last yr.

I'm among the many (many!) Polygon people getting laid off today. I really really really loved getting to be a TV editor, and I hope to do it again soon (in some form; writing/editing/social/homepage/copy editing/what have you!). Not much else to say beyond: open for work and hire all my colleagues!

Joshua Rivera @jmrivera.bsky.social · last yr.

zosha was my manager and one of my favorite co-conspirators, working with her was so much goddamn fun

Zosha Millman@zosha.bsky.social · last yr.

I'm among the many (many!) Polygon people getting laid off today. I really really really loved getting to be a TV editor, and I hope to do it again soon (in some form; writing/editing/social/homepage/copy editing/what have you!). Not much else to say beyond: open for work and hire all my colleagues!

Daniel Dockery @dandock.bsky.social · last yr.

Zosha is the one of the editors that I worked with the most at Polygon and it was always great. Not just a talented collaborator, but an enthusiastic one. Unfailingly supportive.

Zosha Millman@zosha.bsky.social · last yr.

I'm among the many (many!) Polygon people getting laid off today. I really really really loved getting to be a TV editor, and I hope to do it again soon (in some form; writing/editing/social/homepage/copy editing/what have you!). Not much else to say beyond: open for work and hire all my colleagues!

Zosha Millman @zosha.bsky.social · last yr.

I'm among the many (many!) Polygon people getting laid off today. I really really really loved getting to be a TV editor, and I hope to do it again soon (in some form; writing/editing/social/homepage/copy editing/what have you!). Not much else to say beyond: open for work and hire all my colleagues!