Thread by @JimSwiftDC

I'm just delving into @oliverdarcy's story about the @dcexaminer's work culture here:

cnn.com/2020/02/14/med…

A few thoughts in a thread:

The last time I worked there, MediaDC hired a third-party consulting firm to talk about business practices, something they're not good at.

The consultant came over and started talking with me, and I think I spent 10 minutes before Steve Sparks, the CEO, came over to end it...

(I ran our newsletters and our podcasts, and was a deputy in our web operation.) 10 minutes? Kind of a big part of the business, no?)

Sparks came over to take the consultant out to dinner. We were barely getting started about how their email newsletter vendor was basically nuking our lists for ad spam. Had lots of other things to discuss, never heard from the person again.

Eventually they fired the email vendor. But rehired them a year later. I think they're still there pumping out Trump ads.

So, to my friends at WEX: always be honest. It's the best policy, but if you're a current Examiner employee, don't hold your breath that the people MediaDC hire truly care. Because management is only trying to cover its ass for Denver.

Kudos to the people who bravely spoke out about the toxic atmosphere over there. The rot comes from the top down.

There are lots of good people at the Examiner. Not everyone there believes in sensationalism, fabulism, or clicks at any cost. But that's what management wants.

Also, remember that's why MediaDC murdered TWS and gave them our subscribers. Because WEX was willing to play ball in their culture, and we weren't.

But sure, tell yourselves, WEX suits, that your work is industry leading. This is entirely what you wanted to create.