When it comes to rape cases, Vox News takes the side of the female victim. The editorials advocate a “Believe Her” policy, which requires the accused man to prove his innocence. This approach is standard among liberal publications. While its small-l liberal stance is strong, the data-driven journalism on sexual assault cases is excellent.
Group Nine
Group Nine combines the powerhouse digital media brands NowThis, Seeker, and VOX news to create a new media company with a global reach. The media company is part-owned by Discovery Communications and employs more than 800 people in its New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and London offices.
The deal is an all-stock transaction, with Ben Lerer, Group Nine’s founder and CEO, taking a board seat. The new company will continue to operate the publications as they do today. The merger will create one of the largest media companies in the United States. The new company will maintain a 75% ownership in each company.
The company plans to keep building and expanding its businesses once the deal closes. Vox Media plans to continue hiring across the organization and focus on higher-growth lines of business. The merger is expected to close in early 2022. As the company grows, it plans to focus on editorial networks and faster-growing lines of business.
Group Nine was formed as a roll-up play in 2016, combining digital media sites. It has since acquired comedy studio JASH and women-focused lifestyle brand PopSugar. The company is led by Ben Lerer, the founder of Thrillist and son of venture-capital investor Ken Lerer. In total, the company has raised $200 million. The merger makes Group Nine one of the largest publishers of digital media.
The combined companies have 350 million social followers and are active in film and television production. Vox produces content for Netflix and Group Nine has a first-look deal with Discovery+. Discovery is Group Nine’s major investor. Group Nine has also acquired Complex Networks and BuzzFeed, both of which have been profitable for years.
Vox Media includes the iconic print magazine, a fast-growing entertainment studio, a podcast network, and successful commerce and licensing businesses. The company also hosts popular events and conferences and runs a successful licensing business. So, what’s next for the companies of Group Nine? While all this may seem like an exciting merger opportunity, it’s important to keep an eye on the market cap and other factors that may affect the deal.
The company is also expanding into other forms of media. The company has acquired Preet Bharara’s CAFE Studios and has announced a new podcast, “Land of Giants.”
BuzzFeed
If you’re a reader of online news, you’ve probably noticed a buzz about the BuzzFeed for VOX news deal. The deal puts Vox on the path to becoming a publicly traded company, and it’s certainly a big deal. Vox has over 75 million unique visitors every month, while BuzzFeed has 192 million.
The two companies plan to combine their platforms and offer the ownership of the two companies to the public. This deal is a big step for Peretti, who has been vocal about consolidating the media industry. His ultimate goal is to consolidate other digital publishers under BuzzFeed.
This move will help consumers, as more outlets will give them more choices. It’s also good news for existing publishers. With this deal, they’ll have a competitive kick in the pants, a chance to make more news.
Both BuzzFeed and Vox have made standard production deals with Netflix. While the companies don’t reveal dollar amounts, the deals typically cover the production costs of the shows. In exchange, the publishers will receive revenue from show budgets, but they won’t own the content. While many critics will view this as giving away intellectual property, Vox sees it as a way to attract a new audience to their content.
It’s not surprising that the two media giants are forming a partnership to make original video. The news portals have been thriving in the past few years, and they’re now both looking to tap into their audience. While the Wall Street Journal and New York Times have been thriving, other media companies have fallen behind. The New York Times has benefited from a strategy of charging for online access, which has helped them stay profitable.
While BuzzFeed isn’t a conventional media company, it’s still a highly successful one. The two companies have previously discussed merging, but those talks haven’t materialized. But the group’s new SPAC listing could allow it to be more ambitious.
Vice Media
Vice Media is in the process of restructuring itself. CEO Nancy Dubuc, who took over for founder Shane Smith a year ago, has been tasked with cleaning up the company’s culture and finances. The company is reportedly seeking investors who can fund the sale of some of its assets.
Vice Media began in 1994 with a small magazine called the Voice of Montreal. It covered a wide range of topics, including music, art, and drug culture. It was a reaction to the Montreal Mirror, which was viewed by the alternative English-speaking scene as being too mainstream.
At the time, the Voice of Montreal was located in Montreal’s Plateau Mont-Royal/Mile-End neighborhood, which was home to a burgeoning subculture. The Voice of Montreal covered events such as Godspeed You! Black Emperor, the Dummies Theatre, Arcade Fire, and more.
The company’s podcasts and video content have earned it several nominations, including two in the Best Podcast category. The company’s in-house brand studio worked with various partners to produce content that appealed to a diverse audience. For instance, the company’s podcast “Black Beauty” chronicled the history of Black beauty and called attention to the inequality in the cosmetics industry.
Vice Media has previously been on the hook for large cash payments to TPG, but it renegotiated its terms and plans to go public. The company is also considering a merger with another media company called Axios. The deal could also clean up the ownership structure of the company, which has been reducing its value to go public. It is also expected to generate about $400 million in revenue this year and an annual growth rate of more than 25%.
The company also faces controversy over allegations that it is sexually harassing a former employee. An investigation by Vice found that the allegation was without merit. Another report from VOX News alleges that the company paid a male co-founder more than a female employee. While Vice’s CEO denied these allegations, he was suspended after accusations that he pushed a former colleague into his lap at a company party.
Disney’s investments in Vice Media have also raised concerns about the future of the company. While Disney isn’t willing to say anything about its stake in Vice, it is worth at least $1 billion. Disney has already invested $400 million in the company. However, there is no guarantee that the investment will return the money.
Refinery29
Refinery29, a website that provides fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content, has raised more than $50 million in funding from investors. The company uses editorial staff to create a unique, stand-out experience for its readers. While many online magazines and news sites are ad-based, Refinery29 stands out from the pack.
The site began as a niche fashion blog but quickly evolved into a media outlet that tackles societal issues such as pay gaps, sexual harassment, and more. In 2016, the site also launched the 67% Project, a campaign to highlight plus-size women and promote female representation. In addition, the website launched a money-diaries project, which challenged women to openly talk about their finances.
The site is currently facing slowdown, and the editorial staff is considering unionizing. The site’s digital media industry is facing a slump, and Refinery29 aims to stay competitive. Employees are seeking more employment security, business transparency, and staff diversity. They are asking for a collective bargaining process, and management is currently in Las Vegas at CES.
Refinery29 and Vice were originally considered a way to reach elusive millennials. However, the two sites have been losing their appeal to advertisers. The new owners hope to capitalize on that by integrating the two sites. They also plan to increase their investment in premium content. If this works out, then they have a chance to be even more influential in the future.
Refinery29 has faced criticism after former employees spoke out publicly about the company’s lack of support. The company’s official mission is to empower women, but some staff members found its work culture inconsistent with their ideals. Many said they were underpaid, and some were racial minorities. The video team was headed by a male manager who reportedly verbally abused female staffers in public.