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SB Nation Debuts Redesign to Spotlight Its Passionate Community and Reimagine the Sports Fan Experience

SB Nation, Vox Media’s pioneering sports brand built for fans, today debuts a major redesign, reimagining the site experience across its nearly 200 vibrant fan communities. Key to the redesign are features that put SB Nation’s loyal users front and center, along with a premium advertising experience. At a moment when traditional social platforms are increasingly fragmented (RIP sports Twitter), SB Nation is doubling down on its greatest asset: a deeply loyal and hyper-engaged audience that comes back multiple times daily—not just to read, but to talk. “Since its inception, SB Nation has been a home for passionate fans and smart sports conversation,” said John Ness, head of content at SB Nation. “This redesign reflects that DNA, giving our community more ways to engage and putting its voice front and center.” At the heart of the redesign is The Feed, a dynamic new section on every SB Nation site that surfaces content from both sports journalists and the community. From quick takes and trending topics to questions, polls, and embedded social posts, The Feed is built to spark conversation and make it easier for fans to start their own, with longtime commenters and power users getting increased visibility and opportunities to lead the conversation. The redesign will also more prominently spotlight the busiest conversations happening right now and the most talked-about stories on the site. Additionally, the redesign will include a premium advertising experience including a clean new in-feed unit serving relevant ads to the conversations taking place, and a more streamlined experience for logged-in users. “This marks a strategic shift toward even more community-forward publishing, at a time when fans are hungry for spaces that feel tailored to them,” said Ryan Pauley, president at Vox Media. “We also know that our partners are eager to reach those fans in

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Redefining Storytelling: Voices, Mediums, and the Power of the Podcasts Narrative Arc

CHALLENGE, INSPIRE, & PACING CULTURE From the earliest cave paintings to the digital narratives of today, stories remain the foundation of human culture and shape our beliefs, our norms, and our place in it. Storytellers, whether they were ancient poets, playwrights, journalists, or content creators, have always held a unique power to challenge norms, inspire change, and set the pace of culture.   The hunger for meaningful narratives remains palpable. Nearly three-quarters of us, led by the voices of Gen Z (78%), believe we need more storytellers to challenge our thinking about identity and culture. This isn’t just passive consumption; it’s a call for engagement for 70% of consumers. However, in the ever-evolving landscape of human expression, it’s clear that the voices shaping our collective narrative are changing, and with them, the mediums through which we engage with ideas that challenge and inspire us. FROM CHANGE TO CHILL:  MUSICS EVOLVING ROLE For decades, musicians were the pulse of cultural change, giving voice to rebellion, identity, and social causes. From Billie Holiday’s haunting protest in Strange Fruit to Bob Dylan’s anthems of resistance, and from John Lennon’s calls for peace to Madonna’s fearless reinvention of gender and sexuality, music shaped the way generations saw the world.  But, has music shifted from its activism roots? As cultural expression shifts, 62% note that music as a tool for protest is fading – even more true for younger cohorts. Today, music has taken on a different role. Nearly half of us see it as more about entertainment than activism, with genres fragmenting and streaming options multiplying. The anthems that once united generations have given way to personal playlists that reflect individual experiences.   In fact, 48% of Gen Z see it as a platform for personal expression rather than collective action. These trends reflect how

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Vox Media Studios and New York Magazine Celebrate Premiere of “Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure”

Three-Part Documentary is Now Streaming on Netflix  Starting today, Vox Media Studios and New York Magazine’s new documentary series, Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure is now streaming on Netflix. Based on Benjamin Wallace’s reporting for New York Magazine, Gold & Greed tells the story of Forrest Fenn, an 80-year-old man, who hid a fantastical treasure in the mountains north of Santa Fe that spurred a decade-long treasure hunt. People gave up their jobs, families, and even their lives in pursuit of Fenn’s hidden millions. Now, for the community of devoted hunters, this dangerous pursuit of gold has become an obsessive search for the meaning of truth. Gold and Greed profiles something exceedingly rare – a treasure hunt where the treasure is actually found – and the mystery of where it may be hidden again. Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure is the latest adaptation from Vox Media Studios and New York Magazine. Other recent projects include the feature-length documentary Deepfaking Sam Altman based on Elizabeth Weil’s reporting and HBO’s An Update on Our Family based on Caitlin Moscatello’s feature about family vlogging. Additional notable New York adaptations include Hustlers, The Watcher, Inventing Anna, Saturday Night Fever, and many others. Gold & Greed is produced by Vox Media Studios and Nomadica Films. It is executive produced by Max Heckman, Chad Mumm, Mark W. Olsen, Jared McGilliard, David Clawson, John Collin Jr., Kurt Tondorf, James Campbell, Dean King, and James Haygood. About Vox Media Studios  Vox Media Studios is a modern studio producing premium unscripted, documentary, and scripted programming for today’s global audience. As an Emmy and Academy Award-winning studio, it works in partnership with Vox Media’s category-leading brands—including New York Magazine, The Verge, Eater, Vox, and The Dodo—to extend the company’s storytelling capabilities to the most

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Vox Media at SXSW 2025

Vox Media is returning to SXSW with its biggest presence yet, featuring podcast tapings, panel discussions, special events, and a documentary premiere. Starting Saturday, March 8th, the company will host the second annual Vox Media Podcast Stage presented by Smartsheet with live tapings of fan-favorite shows hosted by leading voices including journalist Kara Swisher and professor Scott Galloway, world champion athletes Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, tech creator Marques Brownlee, and many more. Vox Media’s executives, editorial leaders, and star talent will be participating in panels throughout the festival, and the company will celebrate the world premiere of Deepfaking Sam Altman, a documentary from Vox Media Studios and New York Magazine. Be sure to stop by the Vox Media Podcast Stage and check out the rest of the events below. Saturday, March 8 Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast hosted by tech experts Marques Brownlee, Andrew Manganelli and David Imel Time: 10:00 am -11:00 am CT Location: Vox Media Podcast Stage, Austin Convention Center, Ballroom A Today, Explained hosted by journalist Sean Rameswaram, featuring Governor Tim Walz Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm CT Location: Vox Media Podcast Stage, Austin Convention Center, Ballroom A How Video Enhanced the Audio Star Speakers: Nishat Kurwa (Vox Media),  Vivian Tu (Your Rich BFF), Stephanie Chan (YouTube), Ben Hethcoat (Crooked Media) Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm CT Location: Austin Convention Center, Ballroom B Today’s podcast landscape has moved beyond the simple binary, “audio or video?” As video platforms become increasingly important vehicles for podcast consumption and discovery, the medium holds new opportunities and challenges for creators. Kara and Kory Explain It All Speakers: Kara Swisher (On, Pivot), Kory Marchisotto (e.l.f Beauty) Time: 12:30pm – 1:00pm CT Location: The Female Quotient’s FQ Lounge at Waller Creek Boathouse An inspirational conversation with Vox Media’s Kara Swisher and

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Dispelling Misconceptions Around Domestic Violence & Creating Change

THE OBJECTIVE The Allstate Foundation has been invested in disrupting the cycle and reducing the prevalence of domestic violence for 20 years, investing over $90M in the cause. Vox Creative leveraged this expertise to shine a light on the contradiction that nearly all survivors experience financial abuse, yet 78% of Americans don’t recognize it as a sign of domestic violence.  How can identifying the early signs of financial abuse prevent further domestic violence? If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, call 800-799-7233 or go to the National Domestic Violence Hotline website. Download the case study: Allstate Foundation Case Study July 2024 THE IDEA In this Explainer video, our goal was to educate our audience on common misconceptions, the numbers behind it, and what it means to experience financial abuse as a form of domestic violence. Through this education, we also wanted to inspire and provide pathways for our audience to take action through donations, accessing support and resources, and sharing the message with their network. It was critical to our teams to educate our audiences on this sensitive topic with care while keeping the formats digestible and shareable for larger impact. We were able to do this with expertise from The AllState Foundation and FreeFrom while utilizing Vox Media’s reputable educational digital format — the Explainer. We educated our engaged audiences on domestic violence and financial abuse via Vox Media’s wide ecosystem. The tools included an in-depth Explainer video integrated into the Financial Abuse Educational Resource Page, distributed across Vox Media O&O and Vox.com Facebook and Instagram. In addition, three custom TikTok videos expanded education across this critical social platform. POWERFUL VOICES RETARGETING TO QUALIFIED VIEWERS As an additional method of distribution, we set up a retargeting package meant to increase exposure amongst those who had viewed the content already, with the goal of driving a more

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Streaming, Decoded: Finding Great TV Is Harder Than It Looks

The remote is a magical wand. A flick of the wrist, a gentle press of a button, and poof – a portal opens.  Instantly, you’re no longer folding laundry, but navigating the sterile, labyrinthine hallways of Lumon Industries, just like the innies on “Severance”.  Another click, and suddenly you’re watching strangers confess their deepest secrets through a wall on “Love is Blind”.   Give anyone a comfy couch, a questionable snack, and a login to one of the infinite number of streaming services, and they could achieve peak human laziness – it’s that easy.  Effortless entertainment is practically a universal superpower. That said, finding something to watch is often one of the most challenging parts of the day. So why, in this golden age of streaming… …does choosing what to watch feel less like a leisurely stroll through a content garden and more like an endless “buffet” scroll of thumbnails and titles, none of which seem quite right? In partnership with Two Cents Insights, a boutique research agency, Vox Media surveyed 2,000 adults 18+ to understand how consumers navigate the streaming universe and the nuances behind binge and scheduled watching. We found that searching and viewing habits vary greatly across generations, but there’s a universal need for trusted recommendations and post-show resources to navigate and enhance the streaming experience. The Paradox of Choice and the Need for Better Curation While the sheer volume of content available today makes discovering something to watch easier for many (70% overall say it’s easier than 5 years ago), a generational divide reveals a deeper issue.  Younger viewers, particularly Gen Zers, are increasingly overwhelmed by the abundance of choices.  A significant 40% of Gen Zers say it’s harder to find something they’re excited about, often resorting to less desirable options to avoid “scroll fatigue.”  This