Reports have come out that Mashable editor Ben Parr has been fired.
John Murrell at AllThingsD reports that word got out that Parr was no longer with Mashable, when emails to him were returned with a message simply saying, “no longer here”. AllThingsD shares a short message from Mashable, which simply said, “confirming the terms of departure were termination.”
His author bio page on Mashable now says, “He is best-known as the former editor-at-large of Mashable…,” and “Ben is currently working on a yet-to-be-announced project. He also recently completed his first sci-fi thriller novel, Desel. His previous experience includes project management for Facebook applications and content management in the web health space.”
Matt Lynley at Business Insider reports:
Parr had originally intended to stay until July next year after receiving a $250,000 cash bonus, according to several sources familiar to the matter.
Several sources described Parr’s brand on the site as “critical,” which prompted Mashable CEO Pete Cashmore to offer him an impressive package to stay.
Lynley points to another piece he posted last week, with a deeper look at what’s been going on internally at Mashable, which includes a new editor in chief (Lance Ulanoff from PC Mag), and the loss of some writers. He also says sources indicate founder Pete Cashmore is looking to sell it like the Huffington Post sold to AOL.
In another post on Business Insider, Christopher Parr of Pursuitist says, “Hack technology site Mashable continues to implode. After loosing some of their best talent, including Jolie O’Dell and Jenn Van Grove, Mashable editor-at-large Ben Parr has been fired. Parr, one of the few remaining writers with any talent at the link-bate Mashable, has been with the site since 2008.”
Pretty harsh.
On Friday, Mashable named a new “deputy editor” and the expansion of its tech coverage. That editor would be Chris Taylor. Ulanoff wrote, “Taylor joined Mashable in January as San Francisco Bureau Chief and has proven himself as an insightful editor and leader. He will now oversee the development of reporters, while working closely withMashable’s editor-in-chief to select, develop and coordinate news coverage across the site.”
New tech reporters include: Samantha Murphy and Pete Pachal.
Parr just posted his big “Goodbye to Mashable“. In that, he says:
As for what’s next: I am considering several opportunities right now and will definitely keep you all posted as to my future plans. I want to leverage the national platform that I have built and use it to help, empower and reach as many people as I can. I’m exploring options in the media world, the entertainment world, the startup world, the venture capital world and elsewhere. But as always, I’m open to suggestions.
I do intend to continue writing and commentating about the technology and entrepreneurial world, though. Therefore, I will continue my Social Analyst column on BenParr.com for now.
I remain an advisor to NerdsUnite Productions, Tracks.by, Code Academy, Women 2.0 and a few other startups. And I am always interested in working with other brilliant entrepreneurs with ambitious business ideas.
He doesn’t talk about the circumstances that led to his departure. He has not responded so far to our request for comment.
Lead image from BenParr.com
