Thrillist

Last updated

Thrillist
Thrillist logo.svg
Type of site
Private
Founded2004;20 years ago (2004)
Headquarters
New York City
,
United States
Founder(s) Ben Lerer
Adam Rich
Key peopleMeghan Kirsch (chief content officer)
Helen Hollyman (editor-in-chief)
Employees300+
Parent Vox Media
URL thrillist.com

Thrillist is an online media website covering travel. Thrillist was founded in 2004 by Ben Lerer and Adam Rich. In October 2016, Thrillist merged with internet brands The Dodo, NowThis News, and Seeker to form the digital media holding company Group Nine Media, which was acquired by Vox Media in 2022. [1] [2] Thrillist covers national and international travel and experiences, spanning service guides and news, and, as of 2023, 18 cities across the United States. [1]

Contents

Description and History

Founder Ben Lerer (2016) Ben Lerer, Thrillist @ SXSW 2016.jpg
Founder Ben Lerer (2016)

Thrillist was founded in 2004 by Ben Lerer, son of media executive Kenneth Lerer; and Adam Rich, his friend from college. They graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2003 and moved to New York City. Rich initially served as president, and Ben Robinson served as the Chief Creative Officer. Lerer and Rich sent the first Thrillist email newsletter in 2005 to 600 friends. [3]

In May 2010, Thrillist acquired online men's fashion retailer JackThreads. [4]

In March 2011, TMG hired Eric Ashman as chief financial officer from The Huffington Post . In 2012, Ashman was charged with committing accounting fraud by the SEC while working as CFO at The Street and was "barred from acting as a director or officer of a public company for three years." [5]

In February 2012, Lerer announced the creation of the Thrillist Media Group (TMG), which combined Thrillist, deal site Thrillist Rewards, and JackThreads. In August 2012, the media group led a $13 million fundraising round, from OAK, the Pilot Group, and Lerer Ventures. [6]

In March 2013, TMG discontinued Thrillist Rewards, citing slow growth, and also launched The Crosby Press, a site designed to market JackThreads products by providing content aimed at a target audience of men in their late teens to early twenties. [7] By May 2015, The Crosby Press had been closed by TMG. [7] In October 2013, TMG launched the tech site Supercompressor, which focused on gear and gadgets for a young male audience. Supercompressor was discontinued as a site in September 2015. [8]

In September 2015, TMG announced it raised $54 million in total from European publisher Axel Springer, Oak Investment Partners and SBNY. As part of the transaction, Thrillist separated its businesses, with Thrillist Media group operating the media site, Thrillist, while the e-commerce company operated JackThreads. [9]

In October 2016, TMG merged with The Dodo, NowThis News and Seeker to form Group Nine Media. The newly formed holding company received a $100 million strategic investment from Discovery, Inc. [1]

In February 2017, JackThreads laid off most of its staff in preparation to "cease operations as an independent company." A number of customers subsequently experienced problems with returns, canceled orders, and items that never shipped. [9]

Following the layoffs of more than 25 employees, the Thrillist editorial, video, and distribution staffs announced plans to unionize with the Writers Guild of America East. [10]

In July 2017, Thrillist hired entertainment industry veteran and former MTV and GoPro executive Ocean MacAdams to lead the digital brand. [11]

In late September 2018, after more than a year at the bargaining table and a staff walkout, the Thrillist Union and management reached a collective bargaining agreement. The deal included a guaranteed 8.5% raise for all employees in its first year, as well as a salary floor of $50,000/year. "This represents a victory not just for the editorial employees of Thrillist, but for our entire industry," the Thrillist Union's bargaining committee said of the contract. "Through collective action we've made our workplace better and helped set a standard we hope other digital media shops can follow." [12]

In 2022, Vox Media acquired Group Nine Media, bringing Thrillist into the Vox Media portfolio. [2]

Leadership and Editorial Staff

In 2019, Thrillist hired Meghan Kirsch, formerly Vice Media's SVP of marketing and creative, as its chief content officer. [13] That same year, the media brand named Helen Hollyman, Founding Editor of Vice's Munchies, its new Editor-in-Chief. [14]

After Group Nine Media's merger with Vox Media, Thrillist became a part of Vox Media's Lifestyle "pod," comprising Thrillist, Eater, POPSUGAR, and Punch. Later that year, Amanda Kludt, former Editor-in-Chief of Eater, was named Group Publisher of the Lifestyle sites. [15]

In 2023, Lindsay Schrupp, formerly of VICE Media's Broadly, was named the Editor-in-Chief of Thrillist. [16]

Reception

Thrillist has a robust digital footprint and presence across the most influential social platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook, reaching over 12 million people a month across digital platforms. [17] [18]

Thrillist is the recipient of four James Beard Foundation media awards. [19]

Related Research Articles

HuffPost is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and covers politics, business, entertainment, environment, technology, popular media, lifestyle, culture, comedy, healthy eating, young women's interests, and local news featuring columnists. It was created to provide a progressive alternative to conservative news websites such as the Drudge Report. The site contains its own content and user-generated content via video blogging, audio, and photo. In 2012, the website became the first commercially run United States digital media enterprise to win a Pulitzer Prize.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuff (company)</span> New Zealand news media company

Stuff Ltd is a privately held news media company operating in New Zealand. It operates Stuff, the country's largest news website, and owns nine daily newspapers, including New Zealand's second and third-highest circulation daily newspapers, The Post and The Press, and the highest circulation weekly, Sunday Star-Times. Magazines published include TV Guide, New Zealand's top-selling weekly magazine. Stuff also owns social media network Neighbourly.

Kotaku is a video game website and blog that was originally launched in 2004 as part of the Gawker Media network. Notable former contributors to the site include Luke Smith, Cecilia D'Anastasio, Tim Rogers, and Jason Schreier.

<i>The A.V. Club</i> Online newspaper and entertainment website

The A.V. Club is an online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. The A.V. Club was created in 1993 as a supplement to its satirical parent publication, The Onion. While it was a part of The Onion's 1996 website launch, The A.V. Club had minimal presence on the website at that point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Lewis (journalist)</span> British media executive (born 1969)

Sir William John Lewis is a British media executive who serves as the publisher and chief executive officer of The Washington Post. He was formerly chief executive of Dow Jones & Company and publisher of The Wall Street Journal. Earlier in his career, he was known as a journalist and then editor.

Kenneth Lerer is an American businessman and a media executive. He was the chairman and co-founder of The Huffington Post, an American news website acquired by Aol in 2011. He is also a managing director of Lerer Hippeau, and chairman of Betaworks and BuzzFeed.

The Verge is an American technology news website headquartered in Lower Manhattan, New York City and operated by Vox Media. The website publishes news, feature stories, guidebooks, product reviews, consumer electronics news, and podcasts.

The International Business Times is an American online newspaper that publishes five national editions in four languages. The publication, sometimes called IBTimes or IBT, offers news, opinion and editorial commentary on business and commerce. IBT is one of the world's largest online news sources, receiving forty million unique visitors each month. Its 2013 revenues were around $21 million. As of January 2022, IBTimes editions include Australia, India, International, Singapore, U.K. and U.S.

Vox Media, Inc. is an American mass media company founded in Washington, D.C. with operational headquarters in Lower Manhattan, New York City. The company was established in November 2011 by CEO Jim Bankoff and Trei Brundrett to encompass SB Nation and The Verge. Bankoff had been the CEO for SB Nation since 2009.

<i>SB Nation</i> American sports blogging website

SB Nation is a sports blogging network owned by Vox Media. It was co-founded by Tyler Bleszinski, Markos Moulitsas, and Jerome Armstrong in 2003. The blog from which the network formed was started by Bleszinski as Athletics Nation in 2003, and focused solely on the Oakland Athletics. It has since expanded to cover sports franchises on a national scale, including all Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, and National Football League teams, as well as college teams, mixed martial arts and professional wrestling, totaling over 300 community sites. In 2011, the network expanded into technology content with The Verge, leading to the parent company Sports Blogs Inc. being rebranded as Vox Media. SB Nation operates from Vox Media's offices in New York City and Washington, D.C.

<i>Polygon</i> (website) Video game website

Polygon is an American entertainment website by Vox Media covering video games, movies, television, and other popular culture. At its October 2012 launch as Vox Media's third property, Polygon sought to distinguish itself by focusing on the stories of the people behind video games and long-form magazine-style feature articles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Refinery29</span> American digital media and entertainment company

Refinery29 (R29) is an American multinational digital media and entertainment website focused on young women. It is owned by Sundial Media Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NowThis News</span> American progressive news media website

NowThis Media is an American left-wing progressive social media-focused news organization founded in 2012. The company is specialized in creating short-form videos. Their target audience are Millennials.

Barstool Sports is an American blog website and digital media company headquartered in New York City that publishes sports journalism and pop culture-related content. It is owned by David Portnoy, who founded the company in 2003 in Milton, Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vice Media</span> American-Canadian digital media and broadcasting company

Vice Media Group LLC is a Canadian-American digital media and broadcasting company. As of April 2024, Vice Media encompasses four main business areas: Vice Studios Group ; Vice TV ; Virtue ; and Vice Digital. It was cited as the largest independent youth media company in the world, with 35 offices.

Leonine Holding GmbH, also known as LEONINE Studios and formerly known Tele München Group, LLC, is a German media production and distribution company that is based in Munich.

Seeker is an American digital media network and content publisher based in San Francisco, California. The network was established in 2015 within a former independent division of Discovery Communications known as Discovery Digital Networks. Seeker produces online video and editorial content for the digital media landscape, with an emphasis on social platforms and YouTube.

Group Nine Media was an American digital media holding company based in New York City. The company comprises Thrillist, NowThis, The Dodo, and Seeker. The four brands, and former brand SourceFed, merged to form Group Nine Media in October 2016. In October 2019, Group Nine Media acquired PopSugar. In December 2020, Group Nine formed its own corporate SPAC to use the public funding for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination. In December 2021, Vox Media announced its intention to acquire Group Nine. The transaction was completed in February 2022, and Group Nine was folded into Vox Media.

Fatherly is a digital lifestyle brand that provides news, expert advice, product recommendations and other resources for parents. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in New York City.

Eater is a food website by Vox Media. It was co-founded by Lockhart Steele and Ben Leventhal in 2005, and originally focused on dining and nightlife in New York City. Eater launched a national site in 2009, and covered nearly 20 cities by 2012. Vox Media acquired Eater, along with two others comprising the Curbed Network, in late 2013. In 2017, Eater had around 25 local sites in the United States, Canada, and England. The site has been recognized twelve times by the James Beard Foundation Awards.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Discovery Invests in Digital-Media Outlets - WSJ". August 31, 2017. Archived from the original on August 31, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Media, Vox (February 22, 2022). "Vox Media Completes Acquisition of Group Nine". Vox Media. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Thrillist Staff Announces Plan To Unionize | The Huffington Post". HuffPost . March 9, 2017. Archived from the original on March 9, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Is Thrillist The Future of Media? - Speakeasy - WSJ". October 27, 2011. Archived from the original on October 27, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  5. ↑ Ante, Spencer (March 31, 2011). "Chief Financial Officer of the Huffington Post to Leave".
  6. ↑ Del Rey, Jason (February 7, 2012). "Thrillist Hires New Head of Sales, Forms Thrillist Media Group".
  7. 1 2 Foster, Tom (May 29, 2015). "How Ben Lerer Succeeded Where So Many Others Failed".
  8. ↑ "Supercompressor (@supercompressor) | Twitter". December 1, 2015. Archived from the original on December 1, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Axel Springer buys minority stake in Thrillist". USA Today . March 16, 2017. Archived from the original on March 16, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Thrillist Staff Announces Plan To Unionize | The Huffington Post". HuffPost . March 9, 2017. Archived from the original on March 9, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Thrillist Taps GoPro, Current TV Veteran Ocean MacAdams as President (Exclusive) | Hollywood Reporter". The Hollywood Reporter . April 5, 2018. Archived from the original on April 5, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Thrillist Union on Twitter: "🚨IMPORTANT UPDATE ✊ Our bargaining unit has unanimously ratified our first CBA with @GroupNineMedia. Highlights of that deal incl an 8.5% raise; a $50k salary floor; improved severance, sick time, and vacation; and a lot more. Here's our full statement.… https://t.co/gtcX5aVc1A"". July 15, 2020. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2024.{{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  13. ↑ Spangler, Todd (July 8, 2019). "Thrillist Hires Meghan Kirsch, Former Vice and A&E Exec, as Chief Content Officer (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  14. ↑ Spangler, Todd (October 16, 2019). "Thrillist Taps Helen Hollyman, Founding Editor of Vice's Munchies, for Top Editorial Post (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  15. ↑ Media, Vox (March 9, 2022). "Vox Media Announces Leadership for Editorial Brands and Studios". Vox Media. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  16. ↑ Media, Vox (April 24, 2023). "Lindsay Schrupp Named Editor-in-Chief of Thrillist". Vox Media. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  17. ↑ Media, Vox (July 16, 2024). "Thrillist and Vox Media Release Survey on Gen Z and Millennials' Attitudes Towards Travel". Vox Media. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  18. ↑ Digiday (February 8, 2021). "'Not just one thing': How Thrillist plans to rebound from a nearly travel-free 2020". Digiday. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  19. ↑ "The 2023 James Beard Media Award Winners | James Beard Foundation". www.jamesbeard.org. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.