Tech news site Ars Technica struggles in England

Tech news site Ars Technica has struggled to gain a foothold in Great Britain, reports Jessica Davies of Digiday.

Davies writes, “The magazine publisher, which debuted the technology-focused site in the U.K. two years ago, has all but ceased its U.K. operations — a stark reminder that nothing is certain in digital.

“The site’s U.K. URL will remain for now, but it will be staffed by just one person — Ars Technica UK consumer editor Mark Walton — and a mix of freelancers. The publisher confirmed four editorial staffers were laid off. Previously, there were six full-time editorial staffers and a deep bank of freelancers. U.K. editor Sebastian Anthony, who oversaw the site’s British debut, and news editor Kelly Fiveash are among those who have left.

“A Condé Nast Britain spokeswoman said Ars Technica will continue in the U.K. and that the cuts are part of an ongoing restructuring. But with just one permanent staffer, it’s unclear how long the site will last. For now, Walton will report directly to U.S.-based Ars Technica founder and editor-in-chief Ken Fisher and Wired Media Group editor Greg Williams.”

Read more here.

Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.