Summary

Jezebel, an influential feminist online magazine that significantly impacted the author's life and writing, has been shut down by its parent company G/O Media.

Abstract

The author expresses deep sorrow over the closure of Jezebel, a magazine that played a pivotal role in shaping their understanding of feminism and sex positivity. After 16 years of operation, Jezebel's shutdown by G/O Media has resulted in the loss of 23 editorial positions and numerous writing jobs. The magazine, known for its bold and taboo-breaking content in the late 2000s, had a profound influence on the author during a tumultuous period in their life, offering a unique perspective on sexism, self-care, and political activism. Despite its impact, Jezebel faced an identity crisis and shifted its focus to current events and politics, moving away from its original niche. The author reflects on the pain of unfulfilled dreams and the broader challenges facing publishing, speculating that Jezebel's closure may be part of a trend in the industry under G/O Media's management.

Opinions

The author has a strong emotional attachment to Jezebel, viewing it as a source of inspiration and a beacon of feminist thought.
Jezebel is credited with normalizing discussions around sex positivity and feminism, which was groundbreaking during its early years.
The author has repeatedly sought employment at Jezebel, indicating a deep-seated aspiration to contribute to the magazine's mission.
There is a sense of frustration and loss regarding the magazine's shift in content and the perceived mismanagement by G/O Media.
The author questions whether Jezebel could have survived without the influence of G/O Media, suggesting a lack of understanding of the modern media landscape by the parent company.
The author predicts further closures within G/O Media, reflecting a broader skepticism about the company's approach to publishing.
Despite the closure, the author remains grateful for Jezebel's influence on their personal and professional development.

Rest In Peace, Jezebel

The online magazine that got me into feminist reading just shuttered.

You know, it’s rare that I talk about the magazines I read — the media that really changed my route on thinking. It’s with a very heavy heart that I have to say one of the magazines I always aspired to write for just shuttered.

Yep. After 16 years, Jezebel has closed down.

For those not in the know, G/O Media, the parent company that owns Jezebel, just announced they were shutting down the site. This clears out 23 editorial positions as well as a plethora of writer jobs.

I’ll be the first to say that Jezebel was a major influence on my younger years.

In the late 2000s, Jezebel was a newish site that really grabbed my attention. I was a college kid who had just started a horrific downward spiral involving drugs, a mental collapse due to sexual abuse, and of course, time being trafficked.

Jezebel was one of the very few sites that I read religiously. It was one of the only places where you could read articles about sexism with a sex-positive lean to them. That was a bold, bold move back then.

This was a magazine that made me feel okay with being sexually open — something that was still extremely taboo back in the day. It covered feminist rock groups, self-care, relationships, and political policies.

I’m not going to lie. I’ve applied to Jezebel several times as a writer. It was always something I aspired to. When I write about feminism and sex positivity, I really try to channel that same spirit that old school Jezebel had.

Hell, I used to doodle a comic back in college. One of the characters in it was called “Jezebel,” which was an homage to both the magazine and the KMFDM Song “Juke Joint Jezebel.”

The way I figure it, those writers inspired me. Why not pay it forward, right?

As someone who always dreamed of writing for Jezebel, this is painful to read.

Is there a word in the English language for “the pang of hurt knowing you won’t achieve a particular dream?” If so, I would like to know it because I am really feeling it right now.

My heart goes out to the writers and editors who wrote for them. It’s not easy watching a publication you cared and wrote so much for shutter its doors. A lot of people, myself included, know that kind of pain.

I can’t help but feel like Jezebel could have survived if it wasn’t co-opted by G/O. But, I don’t know enough about the financials to say that for certain.

It was clearly bound to happen, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn't sting.

To be fair, Jezebel was going through a major identity crisis when they shut down. As someone who has been on sites like that, I could see the writing on the wall. It didn’t make the sting any better.

I took a look at their current writing and most of it deals with current events, politics that better fit on a politics-only site, no sex articles, and random ads for tech sales. I mean…look at it.

Don’t get me wrong, there were some feminist articles on there. However, most of them were in the entertainment industry and were clearly about movies. When it wasn’t that, it was about political elections and abortion rights.

It was getting to be monotonous, compared to what a feminist magazine could be. That’s not the writers’ fault, nor is it entirely the editors’ fault.

The bigwigs at G/O were likely trying to capitalize off a major site that requires a lot of maintenance through affiliate sales and ad sales. You literally can’t do that anymore. It’s not profitable enough!

I doubt this will be the only closure we’re going to hear from G/O Media.

Publishing has been getting harder and harder to crack. I’ve been getting the feeling that G/O Media doesn’t really understand how the new face of media looks — and if they do, then they aren’t here to make much money off it.

It feels weird to know that the magazine that really got me into writing feminist work shuttered. So long, and thanks for all the inspiration. I’m one of many, many people who owe a lot to that mag and the writers who ran it.

So, uh, thank you…

Wherever you are.