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Rob Manuel @robmanuel.bsky.social

Record Scratch Freeze Frame. "You're probably wondering how I got here."

I am one of the eight IGN members laid off. During my three years at IGN, I worked for some of the best creators and writers around. I will miss them all dearly.

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IGN Union @ignunion.bsky.social

Today, IGN laid off eight extremely valuable members of our union and workforce via directive from our parent company, Ziff Davis. This, after two incredibly successful live events IGN Live and SDCC, and yet another corporate acquisition.

Please take a moment to read and share our full statement:

Today, IGN Entertainment announced that it would be laying off eight members of the IGN Creators Guild. This is 12% of our bargaining unit, and comes just days after our sister union, the Ziff Davis Creators Guild, underwent similar layoffs impacting 15% of their members. It also comes just months after our multibillion-dollar parent company, Ziff Davis, instituted a company-wide buyout that shrunk our unit numbers, with the express intent of avoiding future layoffs. And it comes just a little over one year after three of our members were laid off almost immediately after our union went public. The company has told us that the reason for this layoff stems from a Ziff Davis-mandate to cut costs despite several quarters in a row of year-over-year revenue increases, to which IGN Entertainment responded by coming for our members' jobs. This is perplexing to us, as we are told again and again that IGN Entertainment has had a tremendously successful year thus far thanks to their hard work. In just the last few months, our members have been absolutely essential to major events and livestreams, including San Diego ComicCon, Summer of Gaming, and IGN Live. Every single person impacted today was involved in and critical to the success of those events. Meanwhile, IGN Entertainment continues to spend money on costly acquisitions, only to turn around and gut those companies in the same way it is cutting away at IGN itself. For instance, last year, it acquired Gamer Network, and almost immediately laid off a number of staff critical to making those sites successful. The company has not responded to the union's questions about whether its budget for future acquisitions is being reconsidered as a cost-saving measure alongside these other apparently necessary personnel cuts. At a time when it is more necessary than ever to support its creators, IGN Entertainment is choosing to eliminate the individuals who ensure IGN remains competitive as generative AIthreatens our reach. We have been told that expert opinion pieces, original interviews, and work that leverages our staff's deep knowledge of gaming, tech, and entertainment are all essential to combating AI summarization and regurgitation of our work. Management has responded by cutting several individuals who do that exact work, as well as others whose job it is to ensure that these written and video pieces are published in a speedy manner — another component of combating AI we're told is critical. This continued cycle of repeated, aggressive cuts to our staff and being asked to do more with less, only for management to continue to spend on new business it isn't interested in sustaining cannot continue. We will enforce our interim agreement that guarantees better severance and other protections to laid off members, as well as demand additional support for those impacted. We will continue to bargain over our first contract with the aim of enshrining even better protections against further layoffs, working conditions continuously degraded by understaffing, and the encroachment of generative AI. And we won't stop fighting to ensure IGN remains the best destination for trustworthy, original, exciting, and creative work covering video games, entertainment, and tech. While IGN Entertainment management may not value us, we value one another and the incredible work we can do together. Behind the articles, videos, social posts, playlists, and maps of IGN are human beings, not just numbers on a spreadsheet to be pushed around when some number at the top isn't big enough. Without us, there is no IGN.

Replies

  6. z.serenityforge.com profile picture

    Zhenghua Yang (Z) @z.serenityforge.com

    So sorry to hear that Rob. You've been such a great friend, someone who consistently went out of your way to help us and others like us. Your work and kindness will always be remembered and you should be very proud of yourself for building up IGN to what it is today.

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  9. rusmclaughlin.bsky.social profile picture

    Rus McLaughlin @rusmclaughlin.bsky.social

    Damn, man... very sorry to hear. But I know -- and much as it might feel otherwise, you know it, too -- this had zero to do with you as a person, your talent, or your accomplishments.

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  20. geminibros.bsky.social profile picture

    Adam Rosenberg @geminibros.bsky.social

    Dammit. Rob, I'm so sorry. You worked hard (in the midst of some geriatric-ass processes) to do right by that audience and highlight diverse points of excitement on gaming's horizon. I know you'll carry that energy into whatever is next but woof. Big mistake on ZD's part today, with all of you. ❤️❤️❤️

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  26. jordangb.bsky.social profile picture

    Jordan @jordangb.bsky.social

    So sorry to hear this Rob. It has been a pleasure working with you from time to time. Hope you can find something deserving of your talent quickly and if there’s anything I can do to help please shoot me a DM anytime at all!

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