The already depressed morale in the “fashion bible” hit a new low as WWD hit backstage after a reporter told staff its complaints that it had been canned randomly last week, Media Inc. learned.
Los Angeles-based reporter Kali Hays was let go on April 19 after four years in a fashion trade publication owned by Pancakes Media, in which she pushed for the removal of an online document that originally ran into newsroom issues Made for employees to speak out, but which had evolved into a forum, sources said, for relentless complaints about the company’s management, including allegations of anti-Semitism, sexism and a general lack of diversity. Sources said.
Hays, a media and retail reporter who was sent from WWD to LA two years ago with a promotion to senior reporter, was informed of her on the last day of the job by Editorial Director Jim Falone. No reason was given, sources said.
Hayes, who previously worked at Law 360 early in his career, was apparently popular within the company. “She was a good reporter,” a former colleague said.
Sources said that about six weeks ago, HR sent a memorandum to Hayes asking him to delete the document. She refused and sent an email to about 50 employees who, according to an insider, refused to take it without a more clear explanation as to why it should be removed.
According to sources, after the exit of The Hague, the document was removed.
A Penske spokesman declined to comment except to say that he had been replaced with another reporter based out of New York City.
“WWD had the wonderful opportunity to add a great media reporter, Marissa Guthrie, to their NY senior editorial team. It is disappointing that anyone will try to mark this advancement, ”said a Penske spokesman. Guthrie was freelancing at that time and earlier in his career worked at The Hollywood Reporter.
Sources said Hays made the document in June last year via Google Docs – initially with the blessings of top brass at WWD and its parent company Penske Media – as a platform for employees for a remote work environment To communicate between form and remote working Black Lives Batter protests. Questions about diversity coverage in many media companies.
“It started with good intentions to raise newsroom issues,” said a source who has access to the document. “But there was rapid caustic and emotional growth in the comments.”
By October, sources said, staffers were using the document to blast a profile praising the diversified efforts by John John Galliano – noted as the creative director of Christian Dior. After a swollen anti-semitic rant In 2011, in Paris, expressing his love for Hitler.
A source noted that every story of Galliano – who has not publicly apologized for ranting Asked for help with their prohibition – Now 10 years old incident needs to be mentioned. But the October tribute was seen as “problematic” because it was a story about his diverse efforts – and was not mentioned, “the source said.
Indeed, documents show that the original profile, published by WWD and written by WWD editor-in-chief and former Paris bureau chief Miles Sokha, praised Galen for showing “too much age, size, color and shape”, Without even mentioning one. Of the 2011 incident. Sucha declined to comment and referred to questions from Pensec Public Relations.
The story has since been updated to include Galliano’s ugly rant. But sources attributed this to internal trauma, which he said resulted in a staff-wide zoom call, with some employees being visually disturbed.
The Google Forum criticized Executive Editor Bridget Foley’s exit on December 31, 2020 after her WWD career before December 30, 2020. People apprehended that Foley – one of the publication’s highest-ranking women – departed without a farewell memo from Pancakes Media CEO Jay Penske or its top editor, Falon.
“People thought it was rude and disrespectful,” a source said.
Hayes declined to comment on his own exit, but said in a statement: “I am very proud of my work at WWD, a reporter and member of the newsroom who spoke on the need for open communication and transparency Took constructive action, which staff and upper management alike recognized, especially during a difficult year. I am hopeful and excited for the future. “
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