AOL’s budget cuts across the board have been well reported, but the bloggers were the most vocal about it (as bloggers tend to be).
Many bloggers have reportedly left. The group behind TVSquad is doing something a little different, though. They haven’t left, but much of the team has launched a directly competing blog called CliqueClack. The writers continue to punch the time clock at AOL, but my guess is their heart and soul is going into the new blog. The topical overlap is 100%.
Editor Joel Keller wrote a post on TVSquad today talking about the “evolution” of the blog, including coverage of less shows. He didn’t mention the new CliquClack site (where he also now works), but some readers noticed a press release on CliqueClack in their email, and the comments are full of thoughts on the dual blogs.
There’s nothing AOL can do to stop their bloggers from competing, but what will be interesting is if they keep the team on as well.
Thats pretty shady of them. AOL has two options here.
1) Fire the blogger
2) Buy the blog
I think option 1 is a better way to go. I wonder what mike would do if one of his writers started a competing blog while working at techcrunch.
that is bad play from the bloggers. AOL probably do have something in the job contracts about who you can work for while employed. I’m sure some restraint of trade. Could come into effect.
I know I’d be fired if I started a competting business while employed. AOL is in enough trouble without it’s own staff underminig it
From AOL’s perspective, I don’t see an issue. If the bloggers stay and make the new blog successful, then AOL has a chance of grabbing it. if they leave or are let go, what does AOL get ?
Sometimes it’s not always an emotional decision.
Sam, AOL barely wants the bloggers around in the first place, which is why they are setting up shop outside. AOL paid too much for the blogs, (sorry TechCrunch, although you should be happy) and is not able to pay per article the way they have been, plus AOL Time Warner wants to dump most of what is AOL and its holdings.
Oddly, more eyeballs will still go to the AOL sites due to having established past.
Listen to u all with your shame on you, shame on me bullsh!t. I think AOL should buy those bloggers out for less than what they are worth and send them on their merry way especially if you choose to continually stay in the same camp which is currently being burned to the ground! Wise the f@ck up people!!
Its an SEO competition more than anything else – the insurrection has to show that they can extract more from their post in advertising dollars as compared to when they were with AOL.
SEO people please chime in – what’s the best CMS? Drupal?
AOL has budget cust now? WOW!!!
As someone very close to both sites, let me set the record straight.
There’s nothing “shady” or “bad” about this new site. CliqueClack was started by the ex-editor of TV Squad. He was leaving TV Squad anyway, not to start a new TV site. He started the new site not as a “competitor” to TV Squad but just because he likes writing about TV and wanted to keep doing it.
As for working for both, AOL has told the bloggers directly that they don’t mind them writing for competing sites. In fact, they encourage it. And there are no non-compete clauses in the contracts. Writers there have been working for different TV blogs and publications for months even years already.
As for the writers doing the new site while still working for TV Squad, it’s just like any other freelance situation. You write for as many sites and publications as you can. How else can a writer make a living? AOL in general is going through many changes right now and we all know they’re making cuts across all of the blogs/sites. There’s nothing wrong with both sites existing, even with the same people working on both.
Bloogers had became a new internet power. Don’t under estimated that
my money is on aol to win the battle . aol is the company that just wont die.
Ha ha. Suuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrre it is.
A fool and his money are soon parted.