What Happened To Scribe Media?

What Happened to Scribe Media?

Scribe Media laid off almost 100 employees a little over a year ago, causing a stir in the ghostwriting industry, but they seem to be persevering—and dare I say thriving—under Erick Jorgenson’s new leadership.

The sudden restructuring came as a shock to many, especially since Scribe Media was known for its unconventional and successful approach to book publishing. Here is a breakdown of what happened.

A Brief History of Scribe Media

Founded in 2014 by Tucker Max and Zach Obront, Scribe Media (formerly known as Book In A Box) aimed to disrupt the traditional publishing industry by offering an alternative solution for authors who wanted to publish their books without going through the lengthy and arduous process of finding an agent and a publisher.

The company quickly gained recognition and success, with high-profile clients such as David Goggins, Tiffany Haddish, and Nassim Nicholas Taleb.

Scribe Media was known for its unique approach of assigning a team of writers and editors to each author, helping them write and publish their book in just a matter of months.

How does Scribe Media Work?

Scribe Media uses a structured, author-friendly process to help transform ideas and knowledge into a professionally published book.

This process involves a series of interviews where Scribe’s professional writers and editors work closely with the author to extract their expertise, transcribe their spoken words, and then craft a well-structured, engaging book.

The author retains complete creative control and final approval over the content.

This method revolutionizes the book creation process because it allows those with valuable knowledge but limited writing skills or time to publish a book without having to write it themselves or go through the traditional publishing process.

Beyond the writing process, Scribe Media offers services covering all aspects of book publishing, including interior and cover design, distribution, and marketing strategies.

These additional services ensure that the final product is not just a written manuscript but a professionally presented book ready for the world to consume.

Scribe Media Layoffs: What Happened?

In August 2019, Scribe Media announced that it was laying off about 90 employees—about half of its workforce at the time.

Everyone was caught off guard, especially since the company had been growing rapidly and had even expanded its services to offer book marketing and distribution.

According to Max and Obronte, layoffs were necessary for financial reasons.

They stated that the company had grown too quickly and had taken on too much debt. They also cited the challenges of generating consistent revenue in a highly competitive and unpredictable industry.

Meghan McCracken Steps Down as Scribe’s Chief Experience Officer

Meghan McCracken, Scribe Media’s Chief Experience Officer, announced her departure in a heartfelt LinkedIn post, stating, “I have fulfilled my role.” Her resignation came in the wake of significant changes within Scribe, compounded by an Article 9 sale that led to the company officially ceasing operations in May.

Although the company aimed to maintain functionality during the transfer of its assets to a new owner, the process was fraught with challenges.

Notably, employees were laid off without severance, and several freelancers remained unpaid for their services.

In her statement, McCracken expressed profound emotions regarding the situation, emphasizing her concern for both current and dismissed team members and the authors who relied on Scribe’s support.

She reflected on her commitment to protecting the interests of all involved, lamenting that despite her achievements alongside authors and freelancers, she could not fulfil her goal of ensuring the well-being of the dismissed staff.

In a follow-up comment, she explained that those remaining were asked to sustain operations for an additional two weeks to facilitate the sale, with the hope of being re-employed after that.

Downsizing, Not Defeat

While last year’s layoffs triggered widespread speculation that Scribe Media was on the verge of shutting down, the reality is that the company has continued to operate, albeit with a reduced workforce.

Despite the challenges posed by the reduced headcount, the remaining staff have focused on sustaining the company’s core services, albeit at a diminished capacity.

However, the strategic choice to downsize goes hand in hand with the ongoing effort to sell off company assets.

As Scribe Media navigates its way through the current financial landscape, asset liquidation appears to be a necessary measure to alleviate some of the debt that contributed to the layoffs.

This process includes divesting from certain projects and services that may not align with the company’s streamlined focus moving forward. While this may paint a picture of a company in distress, it also reflects a pivot strategy aimed at survivability and potential reinvention within the ever-evolving publishing industry.

What Enduring Ventures Means For Scribe Media

As of August 31, 2023, Enduring Ventures officially completed the acquisition of Scribe Media. Despite the challenges left by the previous ownership, including widespread layoffs, unresponsive customer support, dissatisfied clients, and ongoing lawsuits, the deal has gone through.

Although I do not know the inner workings of Scribe Media, I still believe it faces a significant challenge in revitalizing the business. It remains uncertain whether the new Scribe Media will honor the contracts made with authors under the previous ownership.

I’ve had the pleasure of emailing with the new CEO of Eric Jorgenson over the last couple of months and this is what he told me:

“I had a life-changing experience publishing my first book with Scribe Media in 2020, and absolutely loved the people I worked with on the team.

I was an author with a personal loss in the bankruptcy myself. But I did not want to see this wonderful team and service destroyed by their past leader’s decisions. We did everything we could to transition the brand to new ownership, and did so successfully. This team has been working hard to support their authors and broader community through this tragedy and return Scribe Media to the respectable industry leader it had been under the leadership of Tucker Max and Zach Obront.”

I believe in a strong ghostwriting industry that is transparent, fair, and strong—all things that Eric Jorgenson will hopefully bring to the company. By being a strong advocate and voice for ghostwriters not just for those who work at Scribe Media, but for ghostwriters everywhere, I believe Eric Jorgenson will instill trust in the company once again.

What Scribe Media Once Was

Scribe Media’s operations were characterized by a meticulously structured and author-friendly process designed to simplify the book writing and publishing journey.

The company aimed to transform authors’ ideas and expertise into professionally published works without the challenges of traditional publishing.

This innovative process began with a series of in-depth interviews, during which Scribe’s experienced writers and editors collaborated closely with the author.

These sessions were designed to seamlessly extract the author’s knowledge and insights.

The writers actively engaged in conversations to draw out the author’s voice and narratives, seeing that the essence of their thoughts was captured. Once the discussions were complete, Scribe’s team transcribed the words into text, which served as the foundation for the book.

Following this initial phase, the editing process commenced. Scribe Media’s editors worked to craft a well-structured narrative while adhering to the author’s vision. Throughout the manuscript’s development, the author retained complete control, maintaining creative input at every stage.

This meant that each chapter and section underwent author review, allowing for adjustments and refinements as necessary, ensuring that the final product truly reflected the author’s perspective.

Aside from the collaborative writing process, Scribe Media provided various support services, such as design and marketing assistance, which helped authors launch their books once completed.

This commitment to putting the author at the forefront of the publishing process was a hallmark of Scribe Media’s approach, fostering an environment where authors felt empowered and supported in their literary ambitions.

Who’s Affected?

Hybrid publishing has long struggled with a bad reputation. Unfortunately, the takeaway for many authors will be that they shouldn’t trust hybrid publishers. And who can blame them?

Scribe Media’s recent decline has significantly altered the landscape of the ghostwriting and publishing industries.

As AI technologies advance, they have begun to offer services that can replicate elements of the traditional ghostwriting process, including drafting, editing, and even providing insights based on vast amounts of data.

This accessibility to AI-powered writing tools has empowered aspiring authors to take on the writing process themselves, bypassing companies like Scribe Media that once provided essential guidance and support.

Moreover, the surge in freelance writers offers competitive alternatives to traditional publishing services.

Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr make it easier than ever for individuals seeking writing assistance to connect with writers at various price points, often resulting in lower costs compared to established firms.

This democratization of access to writing talent means that clients can shop around for quality and pricing, further straining traditional companies reliant on personal, structured author relationships like Scribe Media’s.

The combination of AI innovations and the extensive freelance market has led to a diluted demand for services that Scribe Media once provided, as authors may now prefer quicker, more cost-effective solutions.

This shift has reduced the company’s revenue streams and highlighted the challenge of sustaining a business model built on collaborative and personalized service in an increasingly automated world.

Scribe Media’s downfall can be seen as a cautionary tale about how the emergence of alternative solutions in a fast-evolving industry can challenge even established players, necessitating a re-evaluation of traditional business strategies and offerings.

The Importance of Scribe Media and Similar Platforms

Despite the growing influence of AI and the freelance economy, Scribe Media and similar platforms must continue to exist as they provide invaluable services that extend beyond mere content creation.

These platforms play a crucial role in nurturing the complexities of storytelling and the nuanced art of publishing, delivering a human touch that algorithms cannot replicate.

For many authors, especially those who may not possess the writing skills or confidence necessary to articulate their ideas, platforms like Scribe Media offer a gateway. They empower voices that may otherwise go unheard and transform disparate thoughts into cohesive narratives that resonate with audiences.

Likewise, Scribe Media fosters a collaborative environment where authors can lean on experienced writers and editors to refine their work. This mentorship aspect is vital for many aspiring writers; it bridges the gap between raw ideas and polished manuscripts, contributing to the overall quality of published literature.

The feedback and guidance authors receive are central to their development, enabling them to produce better books and grow as communicators and thinkers.

In a broader sense, platforms like Scribe Media balance traditional publishing and emerging technologies. They uphold the value of personalized services and human interaction in an industry increasingly driven by algorithms.

While AI can assist with drafting and initial editing, it lacks the insight that a seasoned editor or writer can provide—insight born from understanding the intricacies of human emotion, cultural context, and storytelling techniques.

This equilibrium ensures diversity in the publishing landscape, promoting various voices and perspectives that enrich literary culture.

In this way, platforms like Scribe Media are not merely alternatives to AI-driven solutions; they are essential players in the ecosystem, preserving the art of storytelling while adapting to new challenges.

Ultimately, continued support for such platforms sets a precedent that prioritizes human creativity and emotional resonance in literature, seeing to it that the publishing industry remains richly varied and human-centric.