Eric Griffith

Author of some books. Writer/Editor for Chief cook and dishwasher. He's a Dad. Views and opinions are all mine, duh.

[Ziff Davis Creators Guild @zdcreatorsguild]

On Jan. 14, our parent company Ziff Davis laid off 5 of our members, days after our successful CES showing as the CNET Group. This is the third round of layoffs since Ziff acquired CNET in 2024. We’re sick of our members being on the chopping block.

Read our statement below:

[Ziff Davis Creators Guild @zdcreatorsguild]

Today, @ziffdavis is laying off 23 valuable ZDCG members — right after finalizing 5 more corporate acquisitions. @ziffdavis is choosing a spending spree over its workers.

We are aggressively enforcing our strong contract to ensure their rights are protected.

[PCMag @PCMag]

I was too tempted by its mix of power and portability to wait for the iPad Air to go on sale, but if you've been patient, now is the time to strike to score an amazing deal. https://t.co/VFSpmcs7Kh

[PCMag @PCMag]

Amazon Prime Day is here once again, and with it, a deluge of deals. Let us help you navigate the storm of sales to find the best bargains possible on tech actually worth buying. Shop our curated list here!

https://t.co/IGwTG6ahS0

[PCMag @PCMag]

It's Microsoft's 50th Anniversary today, and with all that time comes many advancements in tech. Some, however, aren't as well known as the probably should be. Take a look back with us as we rewind the clock and glance at some of Microsoft's forgotten innovations.

[PCMag @PCMag]

Not every idea is a winner. We've already discussed some forgotten innovations during Microsoft's now 50-year tenure. Let's pivot to the products and services that didn't make the cut.

[NewsGuild of New York @nyguild]

Picket underway outside @nytimes

[Sascha Segan @saschasegan]

A deal happened today (@ziffdavis @CNET) which culminated THREE DECADES of tech media backstory. Follow along with me in this Long Post if you like. (hi @LanceUlanoff @DonWilmott) I worked at ZD from 2003-2022.

The Web as we know it appeared in 1994. Around that time, two titans of tech journalism arose: ZD Net, the online arm of 70-year-old magazine publisher Ziff-Davis, and CNET, one of the first Web-centric media brands. The two were each other's top rivals during the First Tech Boom.

In 2000-2001, Ziff-Davis was going through a bunch of ownership changes because of Tech Boom financial engineering. CNET bought ZD Net and all of ZD's Web sites from ZD. Then ZD bought some of the URLs back and started sites like https://t.co/iwxs9DK42E. But https://t.co/GaHlpGvleG stayed with CNET, confusing everyone for the next 20 years.

For more than a decade, the two rivals lived on the 10th and 11th floors of a building in midtown Manhattan, sometimes trading staff or (see below) entire Web sites. We'd eyeball each other's review units as I rode up the elevator with @danackerman, @RogerWCheng and other CNET stalwarts of the Web 2.0 era. There was literally a hole in the floor that the two teams would pipe music through to amuse/annoy each other.

In the early '00s CNET thrived under CBS ownership and ZD went legit, chapter-7 bankrupt because of a bad leveraged buyout. Around 2010 ZD got bought by a very smart man, @VivekRShah, who plays a long game. He's like the Buffett of tech media. Slowly, patiently, over the years, he's been collecting other tech media properties when their valuations get low enough - @IGN, @mashable, @lifehacker, etc. He even re-bought Computer Shopper, which ZD had sold to CNET and CNET then sold to someone who didn't know what to do with it.

CNET, on the other hand, got cut loose by owners CBS in one of their periodic corporate seizures and picked up by Red Ventures, who mismanaged it.

So now, after 30 years, Shah is bringing the two brands together. I hope the teams have a great time. I only wish it had happened ten years ago, when I would have gained a lot of great new coworkers.

[NewsGuild of New York @nyguild]

FOR HUMANS, BY HUMANS: A group of prominent writers from @TheAtlantic has penned a letter to the magazine's EIC and CEO on AI, demanding a contract that includes language to protect jobs and their journalism. Read on for more..... https://t.co/YNvhFJW5nm

[Ziff Davis Creators Guild @zdcreatorsguild]

WALKOUT AVERTED: We have reached a tentative three-year contract agreement with @ziffdavis, averting our planned walkout over #PrimeDay. Among the highlights: Guaranteed wage increase of up to 3 percent and industry-leading AI protections.

[NewsGuild of New York @nyguild]

TICK TOCK @ziffdavis: Our @zdcreatorsguild members are ready to do whatever it takes to get their contract -- including walking off the job next week over #primeday2024. @ziffdavis management: Time is running out ! #trusttheworkers -- read more here https://t.co/ULBFPUyQ3X

[Ziff Davis Creators Guild @zdcreatorsguild]

FIVE DAYS AWAY from Prime Day and one day until we’re back at the bargaining table — The preparation for our walk out continues! Today we are outside @ziffdavis HQ making signs and getting fired up for our potential work stoppage, unless management gets real on our contract.

[PCMag @PCMag]

Everything you need to be productive and secure on your PC is on this list, and it's all totally free. https://t.co/JqBtCo5NUR

[IGN Creators Guild @IGNUnion]

All of you had our backs when we when public! Please extend that same solidarity to our sibling union as they fight for their teams at Mashable, PC Mag and Lifehacker.

Let's get a huge wave of signatures on this petition! #TrustTheWorkers

[Ziff Davis Creators Guild @zdcreatorsguild]

SIX DAYS AWAY: As @ziffdavis execs gear up for Prime Day, we are preparing to do whatever it takes to get our contract — including walking off the job.

[Ziff Davis Creators Guild @zdcreatorsguild]

We are hitting the streets again today — we won't quit until we get our contract.

[Ziff Davis Creators Guild @zdcreatorsguild]

We are back on the ground this week, passing out informational fliers to let people know we deserve a fair contract from @ziffdavis #trusttheworkers

[NewsGuild of New York @nyguild]

TRUST THE WORKERS: (1 of 2) Our @zdcreatorsguild is out passing out these fliers to let @ziffdavis execs know they are not backing down....

[Josh Roberts, Author of THE WITCHES OF WILLOW COVE @joshwhowrites]

I have news!

[Josh Roberts, Author of THE WITCHES OF WILLOW COVE @joshwhowrites]

**Cover Reveal!!** It’s finally here! I’m absolutely in love with the cover to my next novel, THE CURSE OF WILLOW COVE, coming October 8 in hardcover, paperback, and ebook from @owlhollowpress. #mglit #spookymg #booksforteens