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# Medium: big job cuts and a direction change
- URL: https://onemanandhisblog.com/2017/01/medium-big-job-cuts-direction-change/
- Published: 2017-01-04T23:19:51.000Z
- Updated: 2017-01-04T23:19:51.000Z
- Author: Adam Tinworth
- Tags: business models, ev williams, Medium, publishing strategy

[Ev Williams](https://blog.medium.com/renewing-mediums-focus-98f374a960be?ref=onemanandhisblog.com#.blb0hupeb):

> I’ll start with the hard part: As of today, we are reducing our team by about one third — eliminating 50 jobs, mostly in sales, support, and other business functions. We are also changing our business model to more directly drive the mission we set out on originally.

That’s a big, big cull. Medium’s whole approach to becoming a business is clearly shifting.

The problem?

> Upon further reflection, it’s clear that the broken system is ad-driven media on the internet. It simply doesn’t serve people. In fact, it’s not designed to. The vast majority of articles, videos, and other “content” we all consume on a daily basis is paid for — directly or indirectly — by corporations who are funding it in order to advance their goals. And it is measured, amplified, and rewarded based on its ability to do that. Period. As a result, we get…well, what we get. And it’s getting worse.

## Seeking a business solution

Does he have a solution? No. But he clearly doesn’t want Medium to be part of that problem, so he’s chopped sales staff to reduce burn rate while the site seeks a new business model:

> So, we are shifting our resources and attention to defining a new model for writers and creators to be rewarded, based on the value they’re creating for people. And toward building a transformational product for curious humans who want to get smarter about the world every day.

The buried implication here *seems* to be some form of method for committed readers rewarding inspiring creators – but that’s an assumption. All we can say for sure is that Medium is changing direction, seeks a new way of monetising publishing – and will be doing it with one third fewer staff – and an existing workforce who’ve just lost a bunch of colleagues, and who are keenly aware that their (admittedly well-funded) employer doesn’t have a workable business model yet.

Interesting times at Medium.