Deadspin Faces Mass Resignations Over G/O Media Editorial Mandates
Nearly all of Deadspin's editorial staff resign following management orders to stick strictly to sports and the firing of an editor. The mass exodus marks a dramatic escalation in the ongoing conflict between the site's writers and private equity owners.
Several prominent writers at Deadspin resign en masse today following escalating tensions with G/O Media management. The departing staff members, including Laura Wagner and Tom Ley, leave the sports-focused site after private equity firm Great Hill Partners takes control and appoints Jim Spanfeller as chief executive.
This mass exodus follows the firing of editor Barry Petchesky for refusing to stick exclusively to sports coverage. G/O Media editorial director Paul Maidment issues a memo demanding the site only cover sports, despite data showing that political and cultural content significantly outperforms traditional sports posts.
The resigning staffers also protest aggressive auto-playing advertisements that severely degrade the user experience, prompting at least one major advertiser to pull its campaign. The Gizmodo Media Group union releases a statement acknowledging the departure of their Deadspin colleagues as the site faces an uncertain future.