Monday, May 2, 2016

Why Business Insider Is Losing Employees

From CNN Money:

Here's what Business Insider employees just said about why people are leaving
As 2015 drew to a close, it felt as though the year -- and the future -- belonged to Business Insider.
Emboldened by a $343 million sale to the German publishing giant Axel Springer, the company's co-founder, Henry Blodget, set his sights on global domination.

Business Insider, Blodget declared in November, was poised to become the "financial publication of record for the digital generation." He has shared with staffers another ambitious goal -- attracting a billion readers to Business Insider's constellation of sites.

But while Blodget was discussing his lofty vision, morale inside Business Insider's Manhattan newsroom had arguably never been lower.

The announcement of the sale to Axel Springer in September was followed by an exodus among Business Insider's editorial staff, which former employees have attributed to mismanagement on the part of a former top editor and exhausting pressure to grow the company's audience.

Four more staffers announced that they are leaving this month -- including a top editor on Wednesday -- bringing the total number of post-sale departures to 24, by CNNMoney's count.

The exodus has included some of Business Insider's most high-profile reporters and editors: Hunter Walker, Sam Ro, Caroline Moss and Julia La Roche.

Blodget, a former stock analyst who agreed to a lifetime ban from the securities industry to settle allegations that he gave out fraudulent advice, tried to ease concerns over recent departures during a staff meeting held last Wednesday at the company's headquarters.

He told those gathered in the newsroom that turnover is actually an encouraging sign because it means that employees are succeeding....MORE