If you’re wondering why ATK content has become so bad lately…
When ATK got bought out by Private Equity, new leadership are cowardly and won’t take an ounce of constructive criticism.
- Fired the app and website QA team, no replacements when product team members left. The app gets so many complaints that they laid off 12% of the entire company today to reinvest the money into app technology
- Let go of half the reviews team and piled work on the remaining few staff (generally reduced staff with escalated posting timelines)
- Dan Souza is a selfish “no-man” who turns down any idea that doesn’t benefit his personal brand. Example 1: Celebrity podcast that’s entirely unrelated to the ATK brand. Could add more examples but I’ll play nice…
- Hired a New York-based freelance production company of assholes who do all of the Netflix projects instead of the Boston local in-house full time unionized employees. That crew also once bullied an intern until she cried and treated culinary staff like dirt until HR got involved
- Just two people do all of the work putting content on the free streaming platforms and Netflix plus scheduling and troubleshooting, despite video being one of the largest revenue sources for the company. Most media companies have entire streaming departments, but ATK refuses to identify as a media company.
- Declared no promotions or raises. Luckily thanks to the union there is a guaranteed annual 3% cost of living wage adjustment, but employees have no growth regardless of dedication and quality of work.
- executive management has a vendetta against employee satisfaction, which is proven to increase company performance and revenue. Management punishes employees who have launched team building initiatives. Plus employees who were hired remotely were let go at fault of living too far from the office (all of C Suite lives out of state and gets paid travel and hotels)
- Trying to add sponsorships to every project despite how much it hurts audience trust. Fudging the numbers to look better for sponsors… but reviews articles are still objective, even if social media videos show off a specific product
There are so many talented people whose hands actually make the recipes, books, magazines, newsletters, photos, videos, and tv shows you love. We read your comments, and we agree. Criticize the management’s decisions that reduce the quality.