Tag: Vice Media Group

Singapore – Vice Media Group has announced that it will cease publishing new content on its main news site Vice.com, as well as announcing more layoffs across its staff, according to an internal memo Bruce Dixon, group CEO at Vice Media Group, sent out across its employees.

According to the memo, Vice Media will look into partnering with established media companies to distribute their digital content, including news, on their global platforms, as the company fully transitions to a studio model.

“After careful consideration and discussion with the board, we have decided to make some fundamental changes to our strategic vision at Vice. We create and produce outstanding original content true to the Vice brand. However, it is no longer cost-effective for us to distribute our digital content the way we have done previously,” Dixon said.

While he did not specify how many employees, Dixon said that the company will be ‘eliminating several hundred positions’. He also noted that Refinery 29, Vice’s standalone website focused on young women stories, will remain as a standalone business. The memo did not mention, however, on the current standing of Virtue, Vice’s in-house creative agency.

“I know that saying goodbye to our valued colleagues is difficult and feels overwhelming, but this is the best path forward for Vice as we position the company for long-term creative and financial success. Our financial partners are supportive and have agreed to invest in this operating model going forward. We will emerge stronger and more resilient as we embark on this new phase of our journey,” he added. 

The company had previously announced bankruptcy earlier in 2023, and was acquired by investment companies Fortress Investment Group, Soros Fund Management and Monroe Capital for US$350m. Prior to this, it had also announced several layoffs, including the entirety of its newsroom team in Asia-Pacific.

Aside from Vice Media Group, the media industry has been taking a hit this year, with media entities such as Time, Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, Forbes, and Business Insider all announcing staff reductions earlier this year. In APAC, CNN Philippines recently shut down due to financial losses, effectively laying off its entire workforce.

Singapore – Following its declaration of bankruptcy earlier this year, VICE Media Group is set to be acquired by three investment companies for US$350m. The companies set to acquire the digital media group include Fortress Investment Group, Soros Fund Management and Monroe Capital.

The acquisition has been approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, with the total purchase to be in the form of a credit bid for substantially all of the company’s assets, in addition to the assumption of significant liabilities upon closing. Some of these assets include its main news arm VICE News, entertainment website Refinery29, creative agency VIRTUE, film production house Pulse Films as well as its VICE Studios and VICE Distribution subsidiaries.

Bruce Dixon and Hozefa Lokhandwala, VICE’s Co-Chief Executive Officers, said, “Following a robust court-supervised process, we are pleased to receive Court approval for this transaction, which we believe represents the best path forward for VICE. The relationships we have built with our audience, creators, distribution partners, brand and agency constituents are foundational to VICE, and we look forward to strengthening those relationships as we continue to deliver the award-winning storytelling and journalism that VICE is known for.”

Meanwhile, Brian Stewart, managing director at Fortress Investment Group, commented, “VICE produces incredibly compelling and distinctive content that reaches global audiences every single day. As VICE moves into its next chapter, we look forward to working closely with the Company’s leadership team to execute on its strategy. We have confidence in the management team and believe that the Company is now well-positioned to build on its strong legacy to create significant value for all its stakeholders.”

VICE Media Group applied for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May this year, causing a wave of global layoffs across its team, which included axing the entire VICE World News‘ APAC newsroom team. It also follows a recent wave of media-related layoffs globally, including from BuzzFeed News, sports news network ESPN, business media company Insider, and mass media group Vox Media.

Singapore – VICE World News, the current affairs channel under digital media and broadcasting company VICE Media, has announced a wave of layoffs globally, including the entirety of its newsroom team in the Asia-Pacific region.

Natashya Gutierrez, who served as the editor-in-chief for Asia-Pacific at VICE World News, tweeted out that she is grateful for the reporting she and her team had done in the region, adding that they will always be proud of the stories they have shared throughout their stay at the company.

https://twitter.com/natashya_g/status/1651851065053306881

Other newsroom members that were affected include Alan Wong, managing editor for APAC; Sahar Habib Ghazi, editor for South Asia; Alastair McCready, editor for Asia-Pacific; journalist JC Gotinga; Greater China and East Asia reporter Rachel Cheung; Japan-based reporter Hanako Montgomery; South Asia journalist Pallavi Pundir; senior reporter Gavin Butler; Southeast Asia reporter Koh Ewe; and Thailand-based journalist Caleb Quinley.

Wall Street Journal first reported that VICE World News looks to sell itself, and recently hired an interim finance chief to commence the media buy-out.

The news comes after a recent wave of media-related layoffs globally, including from BuzzFeed News, sports news network ESPN, business media company Insider, and mass media group Vox Media.

Jakarta, Indonesia – VICE Media Group has announced its first content partnership with Spotify for the Southeast Asia market. It begins with Indonesia through the release of five original local video podcast series which aim to reflect Indonesia’s vibrant and diverse music, youth and cultural scenes. 

This series of five Spotify Original Video podcasts, created and produced locally by VICE Media’s team in Jakarta, will include three daily and two weekly video podcasts. 

Hosted by some of the best in the industry, these video podcasts will cover a myriad of today’s hottest topics, such as current and emerging Indonesian musicians, artists and movie stars; the latest music news and trends and a look at what young Indonesians think of their country today and their place in society. 

The VICE Spotify Original Video podcast series will be amplified across VICE’s extensive social and editorial network, which has 10 million monthly unique users in Indonesia and 3.3 million combined followers. 

It is expected that more than 86% of the listeners are aged between 16 and 34, with 63% living in urban areas with top cities including Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Makassar and Depok. 

Nilesh Zaveri, managing director at VICE Media Group APAC, said, “VICE is trusted by young audiences to cut through the noise to deliver a distinct perspective on today’s music and culture as well as what’s coming next. This exclusive partnership with Spotify represents a significant opportunity to create distinctive video podcast content for Indonesia’s youth, and we look forward to exploring additional opportunities to bring the VICE brand to more audiences, across media platforms, throughout Asia Pacific.” 

Meanwhile, Carl Zuzarte, head of studios for Southeast Asia at Spotify, commented, “2022 has been an amazing year of growth for us in Indonesia. We introduced new format innovations such as video podcasts, amongst others to further build upon the podcast ecosystem in Indonesia, whilst also expanding on the podcast experience on Spotify for our creators and users to enjoy.”

He added, “Also, we’re always on the lookout for top content creators to work with to deliver best-in-class content for our users to enjoy. That is why we’re excited to partner with VICE Media Group to present this stellar slate of five Video podcasts featuring collaborations with Indonesia’s most current and popular cultural creators, artists and musicians.”

Singapore – VICE Media Group’s multinational digital media platform Refinery29 announced that 29Rooms, its ten-week immersive event celebrating culture, cause, and creativity, will be making its debut in Asia. 

The event is made in collaboration with VICE’s creative agency Virtue APAC, alongside lead producer Two Four Seven Group, The Carrot Collective, and partner brands. They will be providing strategic, creative, and marketing consultancy capabilities and will help activate innovative brand experiences for 29Rooms.

Beginning in Singapore from February to April next year, 29Rooms will be featuring creations curated by special collaborators, partners, and creators. This aims to showcase the contributors’ creativity and deliver a series of thought-provoking experiences that reflect today’s culture and conversations.

The inaugural edition of 29Rooms Asia will centre on the ‘Lost & Found’ theme, aiming to encourage guests to ‘rediscover, reimagine and redefine the meaning of possibilities’, through experiences from art, culture, fashion and beauty, and music, amongst others.

“In a region with diverse cultures, creativity and causes, there is no better place to mark the international launch of 29Rooms Asia than in Singapore,” said Lesley John, managing director of Virtue APAC.

She further explained, “Guests across ten weeks can expect a broad program that will entertain, inform and offer fresh perspectives. Virtue, which builds brands from inside culture, is excited to be working with our other creative partners to deliver this landmark experiential event.”

Cory Haik, chief operating officer of VICE Media Group also commented, “Singapore is undeniably one of the most exciting international cities in the world. 29Rooms brings people together in a celebration of creativity, and there’s no better place for its international debut than Singapore; the hub of art, culture and technology in Asia. We can’t wait to inspire the local community with the magic of 29Rooms.”

The event is officially backed by the Singapore Tourism Board and is set to become one of the city’s biggest calendar events.

29Rooms, launched in 2015, has been gathering creatives, artists, and visionaries in the USA. It has also reached over 300 million through online and offline platforms and welcomed guests from over 24 countries.

Singapore – VICE’s agency Virtue in APAC has launched a new paid internship program called ‘Underground’ to discover the next generation of marketing creatives. Said program will run three times a year, and will launch its pilot in Singapore.

Three interns will be selected for each intake to work alongside Virtue’s teams in account management, strategy and creative, during three to four-month long placements at its regional hub in Singapore. Participants will gain exposure to all aspects of Virtue’s operations inline with its ‘borderless’ approach to work and belief that collaboration across the agency delivers strong outcomes for clients.

This program has been initiated, designed and developed by some of Virtue’s talents, including business director Victoria Fernandez, strategy director Zoe Chen and associate creative director Nuno Dores.

Applications are now open to all Singapore-based candidates – with no background in marketing required – for the next Virtue Underground which starts in August.

Successful candidates will shadow their respective teams, work on Virtue’s portfolio of leading regional and global clients, participate in new business pitches, have weekly check-ins and mentoring, targeted training sessions and will develop an ‘Underground Report’ on emerging cultural forces in Asia.

Fernandez said, “Virtue builds brands from inside culture and that’s why it is important for us to understand not just what’s happening now, but what’s coming next. Leveraging the power of VICE, including global and regional editorial insights and the latest platform analytics, Virtue Underground complements this by bringing culture shapers into the agency to learn what inspires them, while offering the opportunity to gain experience from some of the best in the industry and work on some of the world’s biggest brands.”

Singapore – Virtue, the agency from VICE Media Group, has appointed Chris Gurney as its group creative director for its Singapore hub. He joins Virtue’s Singapore regional hub to build and define the agency’s creative vision, lead regional pitches and grow its creative teams to make work that stands out and gets recognised in culture. 

Gurney joins from ADK Connect Singapore where as then chief creative officer he was responsible for implementing and leading key creative business initiatives and acquiring new client partnerships across the Asia and South Asia regions. 

He has spent the past 16 years working at leading agencies across the region developing creative platforms around social change, shopper activation and engagement and innovating brand experiences for consumers through new media, sneaker apparel and installation art.

“The opportunity to work for an agency that places culture at the heart of how it operates was too good to pass up. Virtue offers a new approach on how brands should not just talk at people, but actively engage with them, and I’m looking forward to working with the team and our clients to build brands from the inside of culture,” Gurney said.

Meanwhile, Ciaran Bonass, executive creative director APAC and MEA at Virtue, commented, “Chris is a highly experienced, senior creative leader, who has built innovative brand experiences and creative platforms for major international companies across categories. He joins our team in Singapore at a time when brands are looking to harness culture to reach consumers across the region and is a great addition to our growing creative team in APAC.”

Gurney’s appointment follows Nuno Dores joining as associate creative director and Zoe Chen as strategy director in the past two months.

Singapore – Global multi-platform media company VICE Media Group (VMG) has appointed media executive Lou Wee as its sales and brand partnerships lead in Asia-Pacific. The appointment follows VMG’s continued operations in the region with investments in new hires and an expansion of VICE World News operations.

In his new role, Wee will continue building VICE’s reputation as leaders of branded content in Asia and drive commercial partnerships for VICE World News. With more than a decade of experience at some of the world’s premier media brands, Wee joins from the South China Morning Post. He has also held senior commercial roles at CNBC Asia and The Wall Street Journal Asia, helping pioneer their branded content studios including CNBC’s Catalyst.

Speaking about his appointment, Wee said, “I have worked in advertising sales my entire life and a decade’s been spent within news media alone. There’s no better time to join VICE than now, when brands have increasing options and the advertising growth potential for a media company such as VICE, with a clear and distinct audience differentiator is significant.”

Meanwhile, Myki Slonim, senior vice president for digital in APAC and Middle East at VMG, added, “VICE Media Group is on a roll across Asia, with audience growth flying and our unique storytelling going gangbusters across all platforms. As brands in the region realise the need to connect with younger audiences more through content, we’ve become the go-to partner for them to navigate this space with authenticity, style and scale.”

He added, “Lou brings tremendous expertise in orchestrating meaningful brand partnerships, particularly in the news space in which we have great ambitions for VICE World News across the region.”

In APAC, VICE Media Group operates four media brands, VICE, VICE World News, i-D and Refinery29, with nine offices, more than 150 employees and editorial presences in 16 countries.

New York, USA – Virtue Worldwide, the creative agency under media company VICE, has launched an office inside the metaverse for VICE Media Group (VMG), which will be open to multiple VMG businesses including Virtue and VICE and act as a permanent residence for the group in 3D virtual world browser-based platform Decentraland.

The initiative was created by Virtue Futures – a dedicated innovation division within Virtue that helps brands to innovate in new platforms, technologies and spaces in culturally relevant ways. VMG’s virtual building is designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, the architectural firm behind The Pyramid in Manhattan and Google’s Mountain View North Campus. Built in Decentraland’s open digital world platform, the space will serve as the agency’s virtual innovation lab where teams can experiment with NFTs, DAOs, and Web 3.0, applying insights directly for brands eager to make an impact.

Moreover, the Decentraland HQ serves as the central node in Virtue Futures’ global borderless team setup. Here, clients and collaborators can meet for briefings, presentations and in-situ demonstrations of recent projects. The space showcases a range of digital experiments, and has plenty of hidden extras for curious explorers, including a direct route for young creatives to reach a selection of highly acclaimed global Meta-Mentors. It will also serve as a launchpad for digital field research into the sociology of digital communities.

Morten Grubak, Virtue Futures’ global ECD innovation, said, “The creative opportunities within the metaverse are hugely exciting and as we’re already helping brands navigate this new space it makes sense to have an office there ourselves. Working with the world-renowned architects at BIG, the vision has taken on a new reality.”

Meanwhile, Nancy Dubuc, VICE Media Group’s CEO, said, “Vice has always been about being inside culture, going to places where our audiences are. This is a new frontier filled with potential and once again, we’re proud to be pushing the boundaries.”

Adam De Cata, Decentraland’s head of partnership, shared that they are seeing massive interest from players big and small, but for a lot of the more entrenched actors, it’s more about saying they did it than actually involving themselves with the community. 

“So it brings us great joy to see two such iconic organisations — BIG and Virtue — get their hands dirty with such earnest dedication,” said De Cata.