What a great piece, unsurprising because you are a one-of-a-kind writer and thinker. I'm sorry if I was one of the loathesome vainglorious assholes and I want to apologize for it.
I've wondered what that post-sale period was really like for you (no need to explain here, just saying, I've wondered). I know it was miserable for me, not merely because of the impact on my job but because it was so painful to watch xoJane -- which had been this incredible, absolutely unique, transformative space -- get slowly dismantled. At the time I felt like I was being made part of the fuckery, it's why I left, but with more experience and hindsight since I am pretty sure Time Inc never intended it to flourish. Obviously we all have our individual perspectives. I am so proud of having been a part of it in its best days though. I still meet people today who tell me it had a huge impact on them.
I agree that Time wasn't behind it. It was a completely odd and uncomfortable time there. (I had also gone in being forced to make compromises in staffing but thinking that the editor in chief, Norm Pearlstine, who had always been a supporter, would remain so and would help me make things right with the staff once I got there. He ended up being the opposite of a supporter. I'm still not sure why he dislikes me and my work but he does to this day, according to people we know in common.)
I'm so so glad you are proud of part of your time at XoJane. I am proud of a lot of the work we did, but I thought it was my worst overall performance as an editor in chief. I'm not proud of how I ran things there. I regret that a lot, and I'm not surprised when anyone says anything negative about what it was like to work there.
What a great piece, unsurprising because you are a one-of-a-kind writer and thinker. I'm sorry if I was one of the loathesome vainglorious assholes and I want to apologize for it.
I've wondered what that post-sale period was really like for you (no need to explain here, just saying, I've wondered). I know it was miserable for me, not merely because of the impact on my job but because it was so painful to watch xoJane -- which had been this incredible, absolutely unique, transformative space -- get slowly dismantled. At the time I felt like I was being made part of the fuckery, it's why I left, but with more experience and hindsight since I am pretty sure Time Inc never intended it to flourish. Obviously we all have our individual perspectives. I am so proud of having been a part of it in its best days though. I still meet people today who tell me it had a huge impact on them.
I agree that Time wasn't behind it. It was a completely odd and uncomfortable time there. (I had also gone in being forced to make compromises in staffing but thinking that the editor in chief, Norm Pearlstine, who had always been a supporter, would remain so and would help me make things right with the staff once I got there. He ended up being the opposite of a supporter. I'm still not sure why he dislikes me and my work but he does to this day, according to people we know in common.)
I'm so so glad you are proud of part of your time at XoJane. I am proud of a lot of the work we did, but I thought it was my worst overall performance as an editor in chief. I'm not proud of how I ran things there. I regret that a lot, and I'm not surprised when anyone says anything negative about what it was like to work there.
Thanks for talking to me here!