Four Motherboard Staffers Depart to Launch 404 Media

In a significant shakeup in the tech journalism landscape, four editorial staff members from Motherboard, Vice Media’s technology news outlet, are departing to start their own media company, 404 Media. Jason Koebler, Emanuel Maiberg, Joseph Cox, and Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai are the driving forces behind this new endeavour.

Motherboard’s Key Staffers Embark on New Venture

Jason Koebler, Motherboard’s editor-in-chief, along with Emanuel Maiberg, managing editor, Joseph Cox, senior staff writer, and Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai, staff writer, have made the decision to leave Vice Media’s Motherboard. The quartet brings a wealth of experience and expertise in technology reporting and will use this to power their new media venture, 404 Media.

The Vision of 404 Media

The newly formed 404 Media aims to deliver uncompromising, robust journalism with a focus on technology, privacy, and internet culture. It is slated to be a reader-supported venture, relying on subscriptions rather than advertising. The company also plans to offer a range of benefits to subscribers, including access to exclusive stories and newsletters.

Rising Trend of Journalists Turning Entrepreneurs

This move reflects a growing trend in the media industry of journalists branching out to create their own outlets, driven by a desire for editorial independence and a sustainable business model. It follows a similar path taken by other high-profile journalists who have left established media companies to start their own independent platforms.

The departure of these four key members from Motherboard signifies a shift in the tech journalism landscape. 404 Media, with its focus on reader-supported journalism, could potentially pave the way for a new model of independent, subscription-based media outlets in the technology sector. The success of this venture could inspire more journalists to venture out on their own, fostering a more diverse and vibrant media ecosystem.