Vox Media

Vox Media, Inc.

Company type	Private
Industry	Mass media
Founded	November 1, 2011 (2011-11-01) in Washington, D.C., United States
Founder	Jim Bankoff, Trei Brundrett
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Area served	United States, United Kingdom
Key people	Jim Bankoff (CEO), Trei Brundrett (COO)
Products	Digital media brands including New York, The Verge, Vox, SB Nation, Eater, Curbed, Vulture, The Strategist, Intelligencer, The Cut, Grub Street
Number of employees	400+ (2020)
Website	www.voxmedia.com

Vox Media, Inc. is a U.S.-based mass media organization originally founded in Washington, D.C., with its main operational headquarters located in Lower Manhattan, New York City. The company was created in November 2011 by CEO Jim Bankoff and Trei Brundrett through the merger of SB Nation—a sports blog network established in 2003—and The Verge, a technology news platform launched concurrently with Vox Media. Bankoff had been at the helm of SB Nation since 2009.

The portfolio of Vox Media includes prominent editorial properties such as New York, The Verge, Vox, SB Nation, and Eater. The New York brand umbrella also encompasses titles like Intelligencer, The Cut, Vulture, The Strategist, Curbed, and Grub Street. After incorporating Recode into the Vox platform, the company discontinued the Racked brand. Its media outlets operate on Concert, a proprietary advertising platform, alongside WordPress.

Vox Media’s organizational structure features divisions such as Concert, Vox Creative, Vox Entertainment, Vox Media Studios, and the Vox Media Podcast Network. By 2020, the company maintained offices in cities including San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin, and London. As of June 2010, its network spanned more than 300 websites employing over 400 paid writers. According to Comscore, as of November 2023, Vox Media was ranked as the 35th most visited media company in the United States.

Origins in sports media

In 2003, freelance writer Tyler Bleszinski launched Athletics Nation, a fan-centric sports blog dedicated to the Oakland Athletics. It quickly became the second most trafficked site on the Blogads network after Daily Kos. Around 2005, Bleszinski collaborated with Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas and political strategist Jerome Armstrong to create the sports blog network SB Nation, building on the foundation of Athletics Nation and expanding to cover additional sports teams.

By 2008, former AOL executive Jim Bankoff joined SB Nation as an advisor before being appointed CEO in January 2009. Under his leadership, SB Nation grew into a network of specialized sports websites. By February 2009, it encompassed 185 blogs; by November 2010, it attracted 5.8 million unique visitors—a 208% year-over-year increase—earning recognition from Comscore as the fastest-expanding sports website at that time.

Expansion into diverse content verticals

In 2011, Jim Bankoff enlisted former AOL Engadget staff including editor-in-chief Joshua Topolsky to develop a technology news outlet that would complement SB Nation’s audience. Launched on November 1, 2011, The Verge was led by Topolsky. Simultaneously, Bankoff and Trei Brundrett formed Vox Media as the parent entity for both brands, transitioning SportsBlogs, Inc. into Vox Media, Inc., with Brundrett moving into roles as chief product officer and later chief operating officer.

The company ventured into gaming journalism in 2012 with the launch of Polygon, headed by former Joystiq editor Christopher Grant. In 2013, Vox Media expanded its footprint by acquiring Curbed Network which included blogs focused on real estate (Curbed), culinary topics (Eater), and fashion retail (Racked).

April 2014 marked the debut of Vox, a general news platform emphasizing explanatory journalism under former Washington Post columnist Ezra Klein’s leadership. In May 2015, Vox Media acquired tech news outlet Recode, founded by industry veterans Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. Trei Brundrett was elevated to COO in 2017.

That same year, Vox Media entered into a revenue-sharing partnership providing technology infrastructure and advertising sales support for Bill Simmons’ sports site The Ringer.

Amid difficulties monetizing video content, early 2018 saw layoffs affecting approximately 50 employees as Vox shifted its strategic focus toward podcasting and its Vox Entertainment division.

In April 2019, Vox acquired Epic magazine and incorporated it into the newly established Vox Media Studios division alongside Vox Entertainment and the Podcast Network. Later that year, New York Media—the publisher behind New York magazine—was also acquired by Vox Media.

Following California’s Assembly Bill 5 legislation in 2019, Vox Media replaced more than 200 California-based freelance writers for SB Nation with roughly 20 full-time employees to comply with updated labor laws.

During the COVID-19 pandemic from May to July 2020, about nine percent of Vox’s workforce was furloughed.

In early 2021, editorial leadership changes included Lindsay Peoples Wagner becoming editor-in-chief of The Cut and Swati Sharma taking over as editor-in-chief of Vox, both bringing substantial editorial expertise. That year also saw Vox Media implement a ban on fossil fuel advertising as part of its climate change commitment. In April 2021, they expanded their podcast portfolio by acquiring Cafe Studios—the publisher of Preet Bharara’s show Stay Tuned with Preet.

August 2021 brought acquisition of mixology-focused site Punch, enriching content offerings within Vox’s Eater brand.

On December 13, 2021, Vox Media announced a merger agreement with Group Nine Media; this transaction was completed in February 2022. Investors from Group Nine—including Warner Bros. Discovery—now hold a combined 25% ownership stake in Vox. In February 2023, Penske Media Corporation became the largest shareholder with a 20% stake; Jay Penske joined the board of directors.

In May 2025, amid widespread layoffs affecting most staff including Editor-in-Chief Christopher Plante, Vox sold its gaming site Polygon to Valnet. Reports indicated that at least twenty-five union members were among those laid off. The Vox Media Union criticized both the layoffs and sale during ongoing contract negotiations. Polygon’s group publisher Chris Grant publicly expressed dissatisfaction over Valnet’s lack of communication throughout the transition process.

Funding

In December 2014, Vox Media completed a financing round of $46.5 million, led by the growth equity firm General Atlantic, which placed the company's valuation near $380 million. Earlier investors comprised Accel Partners, Comcast Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Allen & Company, Providence Equity Partners, along with angel investors such as Ted Leonsis, Dan Rosensweig, Jeff Weiner, and Brent Jones. The Series C financing in May 2012 valued Vox Media at $140 million, while a subsequent Series D round raised an additional $40 million, pushing the company’s worth beyond $200 million.

By August 2015, NBCUniversal injected $200 million into Vox Media, driving its valuation past the $1 billion mark. Comcast, NBCUniversal's parent corporation, already owned a 14% interest through various subsidiaries.

Union

In January 2018, Vox Media formally acknowledged the Vox Media Union, which was established by editorial employees with backing from the Writers Guild of America, East. On June 6, 2019, more than 300 unionized workers organized a walkout in response to unsuccessful labor negotiations, temporarily disrupting the majority of Vox Media’s websites.

During the spring 2020 furloughs caused by the COVID-19 crisis, the union secured commitments preventing layoffs, additional furloughs, and salary reductions through July 31. Furthermore, severance packages were improved for employees laid off between August and December. Staff at New York Magazine are represented separately by a distinct union affiliated with NewsGuild-CWA.

Litigation

In September 2017, Cheryl Bradley, who formerly managed SB Nation's "Mile High Hockey" site, initiated legal action against Vox Media alleging unpaid overtime wages despite working between 30 and 50 hours per week. The case expanded as other plaintiffs joined and was granted class action status by the U.S. District Court for D.C. in March 2019.

A second class action lawsuit was filed in California in September 2018 under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This case potentially includes 258 claimants seeking $6.3 million in damages and was later transferred to federal court pursuant to the Class Action Fairness Act.

Additionally, multiple copyright infringement lawsuits have been brought against Vox Media by plaintiffs represented by attorney Richard Liebowitz.

Properties

Vox Media consists of five principal media brands: The Verge (covering technology, culture, and science), Vox (general news), SB Nation (sports), Eater (focused on food and nightlife), and Curbed (real estate). The company also owns digital publications such as Select All, The Strategist, New York Magazine and its related sites, Daily Intelligencer, The Cut (fashion and beauty), Grub Street (culinary topics), and Vulture (pop culture). Previously operated or owned properties include Racked (retail), Recode (technology news), and Polygon (gaming).

SB Nation

Established in 2005 by Tyler Bleszinski and Markos Moulitsas, SB Nation originated as a blog centered on the Oakland Athletics. It has since grown into a nationwide sports blogging network that covers all major American leagues—MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL—as well as college athletics and soccer teams, comprising over 300 community sites. The network’s expansion into technology content with the launch of The Verge in 2011 led to rebranding from Sports Blogs Inc. to Vox Media. Jim Bankoff has held the CEO position since 2009. In 2016, SB Nation ventured into radio broadcasting through a collaboration with Gow Media via SB Nation Radio.

The Verge

Established on November 1, 2011, The Verge is a technology news platform created by former Engadget personnel, including editor Joshua Topolsky and editor-in-chief Nilay Patel. During the site's development phase, the team maintained content flow through a temporary site called This Is My Next. Topolsky characterized The Verge as a progression from their earlier projects at AOL.

By February 2014, The Verge had reached an audience of 7.9 million unique visitors according to ComScore, underscoring its significant presence in technology media.

Vox

Debuting in April 2014, Vox focuses on explanatory journalism with Swati Sharma as its editor-in-chief. In May 2015, Vox Media broadened its holdings by acquiring the technology news outlet Recode, which is known for organizing the exclusive annual Code Conference featuring prominent figures in the tech industry. By May 2019, Recode was fully merged into Vox under the name Recode by Vox, strengthening Vox Media’s position and business strategy within tech journalism.

Eater

Eater is a network dedicated to food and dining, providing restaurant reviews and industry news. Founded in 2005 by Lockhart Steele and Ben Leventhal, it initially concentrated on New York City's culinary scene. The platform expanded nationally in 2009, covering nearly twenty cities by 2012. Vox Media acquired both Eater and the Curbed Network in late 2013. By 2017, the network operated 25 local sites throughout the United States and Canada and launched its first international edition in London. The site has earned four James Beard Foundation Awards and is currently led by editor-in-chief Amanda Kludt.

New York magazine

New York is a biweekly magazine centered on culture, politics, lifestyle, and especially New York City. On September 24, 2019, Vox Media acquired its parent company, New York Media.

The magazine’s digital platform, NYMag.com, relaunched as a news-focused site in 2006 and features several branded verticals:

• Intelligencer: news coverage
• The Cut: topics related to women
• Grub Street: food and dining
• The Strategist: shopping guidance
• Vulture: entertainment and pop culture
• Curbed: real estate. Originally founded in 2004 by Lockhart Steele, Curbed expanded into 32 U.S. markets before being acquired by Vox Media's parent company in November 2013 for between $20 million and $30 million in cash and stock. In May 2020, Vox integrated Curbed into NYMag.com as one of its verticals.

Former

Technology news outlet Recode was acquired by Vox Media in May 2015 and later incorporated into the Vox brand as Recode by Vox in 2019.

Polygon

Launched in 2012 as Vox Media’s third digital property, the gaming website Polygon covers news, culture, reviews, and video content. Its founding team included editors from outlets such as Joystiq, Kotaku, and The Escapist. Initially releasing content under "Vox Games" on The Verge, it officially launched independently as Polygon later that year. The site focuses on long-form storytelling about game developers and players while employing a direct sponsorship advertising model.

Chris Grant served as Editor-in-Chief from 2012 until 2019 before advancing to Senior Vice President overseeing both Polygon and The Verge. Christopher Plante took over as Editor-in-Chief until 2025. In May 2025, Vox Media sold Polygon to Valnet.

Racked

Racked was a style-oriented retail and shopping website acquired by Vox Media in November 2013 as part of the Curbed Network purchase. By December 2014, the site recorded 11.2 million page views and attracted 8 million unique visitors. It featured both national coverage and local editions for cities including Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, and San Francisco. Britt Aboutaleb held the position of editor-in-chief until Racked was merged into Vox in September 2018.

Chorus

Introduced in 2008, Chorus was created as an advanced publishing platform specifically designed for SB Nation to enhance content production, commenting, forums, and multimedia distribution. It also incorporated analytics tools aimed at improving audience engagement and content planning. In 2014, the platform drew prominent figures like Ezra Klein and Melissa Bell from The Washington Post. The founders of Curbed, Eater, and The Verge have credited Chorus as a significant influence in their collaborations with Vox Media.

In 2018, Vox Media transformed Chorus into a software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering, licensing it to publishers such as Funny or Die and The Ringer. The Chicago Sun-Times became the first traditional newspaper to implement the platform in October 2018. However, due to a downturn in advertising demand, Vox announced in December 2022 plans to phase out Chorus by halting new client onboarding and providing existing users with an 18-month transition period. By 2023, Vox had migrated its own publications from Chorus to WordPress VIP.

Concert

Vox Media partnered with NBCUniversal in April 2016 to launch Concert, a premium advertising network designed for brand-friendly campaigns that reached over 150 million users across their digital properties. By May 2018, New York Media, PopSugar, Quartz, and Rolling Stone had joined the network. According to Comscore, Concert’s audience encompassed nearly 90% of all internet users. The network also introduced Concert C-Suite, targeting executive-level audiences through brands like CNBC, Recode, The Verge, and Vox, thereby broadening its appeal to senior decision-makers.

Vox Creative

Vox Creative serves as the branded entertainment arm of Vox Media. In October 2017, it debuted The Explainer Studio to offer its distinctive explainer-style content to brand collaborators. Notably, Vox Creative’s 2016 campaign for "Applebee's Taste Test" earned the Digiday Video Award for Best Video Ad, showcasing its innovative approach and leadership in branded storytelling.

Vox Media Studios

Established in April 2019 under company president Marty Moe, Vox Media Studios consolidated Vox Entertainment, Vox Media Podcast, and the acquired Epic magazine units into a unified studio. This division quickly rolled out new projects including the YouTube series Retro Tech, hosted by Marques Brownlee.

Vox Entertainment

Created in March 2015 to bolster Vox Media’s presence in online video content, Vox Entertainment produces original programming for major platforms. Its notable projects include American Style on CNN, Netflix’s Explained, PBS’s No Passport Required, and YouTube’s Glad You Asked. Leadership is provided by president Marty Moe'. In 2016, vice president Chad Mumm received accolades on both the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and Varietys "30 Execs to Watch," reflecting the division’s strategic vision and industry impact.

Vox Media Podcast Network

The Vox Media Podcast Network represents the company’s nonfiction audio division with a broad range of shows covering business, technology, news, policy, sports, and culinary topics. Prominent programs include Stay Tuned with Preet hosted by Preet Bharara, Recode Media with Peter Kafka alongside Recode Daily, The Verge’s The Vergecast, Vox’s The Weeds, Vox Conversations, Today, Explained, Switched on Pop, Impeachment, Explained, Unexplainable, Pivot featuring Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway, as well as Celebrity Memoir Book Club and Vox Quick Hits. The network earned "Podcast Network of the Year" honors at the 2020 Adweek Podcast Awards, underscoring its influential role and leadership within audio media.

Forte

Launched in December 2019, Forte is a first-party marketing platform developed by Vox Media that offers marketers direct access to its consumer base, enhancing both its business strategy and market reach.

Reception

In 2016, Inc. magazine nominated Vox Media for "Company of the Year," recognizing its approximately $100 million revenue generated in 2015 alongside a monthly audience of 170 million unique visitors who consumed 800 million pieces of content. The following year, Fast Company honored Vox Media as one of the world’s "most innovative" media organizations due to its strategic expansion of high-quality content. Additionally, the company was named among Washingtonian’s "50 Great Places to Work" in Washington D.C., while earning a score of 95/100 on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index—highlighting its commitment to corporate culture and diversity initiatives.