This morning, Derek announced that he was leaving the post of Managing Editor at The Truth About Cars. His replacement is ShiftAndDrive.com’s Mark Stevenson.
As some of you will remember, I held the position of Editor-in-Chief pro tem at TTAC from July 12, 2013 to August 1, 2014. Strictly speaking, I was not replaced in that job; the EIC position was assigned to the corporate ownership at VerticalScope in Canada. TTAC has not had a public EIC since last August. However, as Managing Editor Derek has, in large part, set the tone and direction of the site, within the guidelines set down by the owners. Mark Stevenson is now Managing Editor and will do what Derek used to do.
Derek, by the way, has a great new job and I know he can’t wait to tell everyone about it. I think he’s going to have a lot of success.
I’ve fielded a few emails about my role in the change of leadership so rather than send a bunch of emails back I’ll just detail it here:
- I was not consulted by VerticalScope prior to or during the leadership change. I was neither informed about the change nor canvassed for my opinion.
- At no time was it ever suggested that I return to the EIC role, temporarily or otherwise.
- VerticalScope management has made it absolutely plain to me that they have no desire or willingness to return me to that role.
- Had they asked, I’d have done it, on a short-term basis, because I am passionate about the future of TTAC and the reader community.
- I wish Mark the very best as he steers the site towards a more manufacturer-friendly, less-controversial future.
- Nobody at TTAC or VS has given me any insight as to my future as a contributor.
- But, given the chance, I’d like to continue writing for the site and interacting with the B&B.
- In the event that I leave TTAC, you can find me here and at Road&Track.
I hope that clears things up. Thanks for reading.
Wow both Autoblog and TTAC got a leadership change on the same day. May you live in interesting times.
“•I wish Mark the very best as he steers the site towards a more manufacturer-friendly, less-controversial future. ”
Sad what TTAC has become.
Wait….seriously?
I cannot think of a better way to ruin the site than that, short of bringing back the bad old days of BS. Its already toned down quite a bit from what it was 5 years ago…what are they doing next, taking autoblogs strategy of reprinting press releases?
maybe a Buzzfeed-style collection of listicles?
“We test drove 20 rental cars. You won’t believe what we found in the glove boxes!”
“Here are 11 things you can do while sitting in traffic.”
Dammit. I am also passionate about TTAC. I don’t have these sweat equity you do, but I enjoy it. I liked where it was going.
this seems rather sudden, I don’t think it was very long ago he re-affirmed TTAC’s goal never to candy-coat shit.
wonder if Ford of Canada hired him as an apology for that little flap a few years ago 🙂
I’m guessing this is fallout and /or damage control for pissing off manufacturers and advertisers. I find I spend too much time on TTAC reading about cars I don’t care about and reading the same stupid comments from the same people. I’m going to quit following and just read Jack here…. Much more interesting and entertaining.
The new boss was off to a great start today…
Such a shame.
I’ve subscribed to R&T pretty much because of you. If you leave there I’ll be upset.
Bullet 5 = uh oh.
Psychedelic non-sequitur ….. Does any one know where I can get that BMW “the ultimate douche-bag machine” t-shirt ?
I find myself frequenting TTAC less, but the upside is I visit here for my JB fix.
Is it just me, or are you trying to hump the guitar whilst playing it? 😀
TTAC will be fine.
I prefer the site to Jalopnik and Autoblog but it is hardly the last outlaw that some of the regulars like to believe. Bertel was a big-time advocate of VW, Toyota, and Nissan. during his reign. Cain and Dykes do most of the reviews over there these days and both defer more to balanced analysis than the poetic Dr.Seuss berating of the Farago era. The readers also BEGGED to bring back DeMuro , who might be the laziest popular automotive writer ever. Anyway if Marc is terrible the revolving-door masthead that VS has fostered will ensure a new managing editor will be in soon enough.
I would much rather see Steve Lynch back, and more stuff from Sa(n)jeev and Ronnie. The only interesting (in my opinion) thing Demuro has written as far as I’m concerned is the bits on the carmax range rover warranty.
Although I’m still no fan, DeMuro at least puts some semblance of effort into his Gawker writing.
His TTAC stuff consists of mailed-in, purposely dense, and painfully forced rants about automotive features or clichéd opened-ended questions that other automotive sites have been asking readers since 1999. He doesn’t even engage the TTAC commenters on their responses to his work with his own replies (which is something he is very good about doing on Jalopnik).
It’s obvious that the guy prefers the Gawker sites and he’s just waving his d*ck at VerticalScope.
Is it just me or does DeMuro seem to be afraid of the TTAC audience?
“I wish Mark the very best as he steers the site towards a more manufacturer-friendly, less-controversial future.”
Ominous storm clouds appear on the horizon.
It would appear that, if this is true, there will be one less critical, independent source of information & opinions regarding current vehicles, and TTAC will slide into the same mold of ball licking Jalopnik/Edmunds/etc. style pandering to manufacturers.
Tragic.
Times sure are changing in the digital auto press!
I’ve lurked at TTAC through the entirety of the BS fiasco, your deftly handled renaissance and Derek’s stint throughout. I’d be lying to say I have confidence in TTAC’s future.
The internet is littered with sycophantic industry mouthpieces. To name them is to elevate them beyond their worth.
TTAC once stood apart in such vocal fashion. During my years as a J-school undergrad, it was my ideal.
I earnestly hope that some tincture of RF’s rebelliousness carries onward.
Otherwise, all is lost.
I haven’t visited TTAC in weeks. I had an epiphany one day while surfing there that I very rarely enjoyed anything on that site, so I decided to remove it from my routine. I found it unfocused, with no point of view except, perhaps, a curious focus on the “Most Popular Cars Sold in Canada This Week”, and a similar, if less frequent, focus on Brazil. (seriously?) The good writers seemed to come and then leave, with nobody replacing them, and no explanation or proper “goodbye”.
It’s obvious that sites on the InterWebz are mostly very loose confederations of mercenary piecework-paid writers. It is what it is, and if that’s the economic model which works, so be it, but it makes be a little sad.
“makes me”.
the only thing that “irritated” me about TTAC (inasmuch as I can be irritated by something I get for free) is that they usually seemed to publish everything for the day by about 11 a.m. eastern time. not fair to compare it to Autoblog, who just regurgitates stuff, but Jalopnik publishes things pretty much throughout the day.
“Manufacturer-friendly” doesn’t sit well with me. Kind of like TrueCar becoming “dealership-friendly.” Makes the voice in my head scream “sell out.” We’ll see.
If TTAC goes to shit, then hey it was a good 4 or 5 years I got out of it. No regrets; nothing good lasts forever.
I wonder how well TTAC can flourish if it doesn’t have its unique selling proposition (USP). For all of its faults, Jalopnik knows what it is, and despite expectations, has managed to not descend into the pit of despair that is Autoblog. At least you know that there is a distinctive voice to Jalopnik. A lot of that is the readership; for all of the changes, its the B&B that’s keeping TTAC what it is.
The other thing about USP’s: It’s great having Alex back at TTAC, but I think the world has moved on. it’s plainly obvious that his main work is Alex on Autos, and the difference is evidenced in viewership between that and the TTAC Youtube channels. I don’t mind following him at both locales, but I feel that the TTAC experience needs to take advantage of being something different… same quality, different tone or different emphasis.
Well that didn’t take long; content at TTAC has already cratered.
A Robert Farago, Jack Baruth and Mike Spinelli supergroup. You guys could build houses out of stacks of hundred-dollar bills.
I think Robert’s already doing that, thanks to TTAG!
Seriously Jack, you need to stop contributing to TTAC. It’s time to kill-off the host organism. After reading Mark Stevenson’s latest editorial, I can only think that Robert Farago must be spinning in his grave. No wait, scratch that part….he’s rolling naked on his bed covered in piles of one hundred dollar bills.