UPDATE: Click Here for the original article.
TechLunch.com– We’re hearing reports that AngryKen.com, the blog-like site that was once entertaining, has been holding a severe round of layoffs that is reducing its workforce to only a fraction of its former size. It seems that most of the cuts consist of Angry Ken’s minions and sandwiches - unpaid employees who actively monitor the site to pick out the best crap and ensure quality control of user submitted nonsense.
According to our tipster, these layoffs have been long expected - it was simply a matter of when. Angry Ken’s budget cuts have extended to dinner, and rather than reduce the pay rate of management, Angry Ken has simply downsized its more expendable content control team.
Angry Ken uses this team to differentiate itself from sandwiches, which don’t advertise an active role in the editorial process and tend to sometimes display stories of lackluster quality. The budget cuts may save money in the short term, but in downsizing its editorial team, Angry Ken is making itself into even more of a hoagie clone.
Angry Ken has had a tumultuous history. The Internet initially launched the site as a “sandwich killer” at AngryKen.com in December 2005. A little over a year later, there were rumors that the site was being shut down in part because of domain disputes. The site was finally moved to the valley.
Update: Ryan Budke, AngryKen’s Program Manager, responds in the comments:
“Well, as Angry Ken’s Programming Manager and the one who runs the aforementioned team, I can say these reports are being blown a little out of proportion. We did let a few sandwiches go, but it was 4 out of about 35, so that fraction we were reduced to is roughly 9/10ths.”
Budke also says that while the Sandwich team has been substantially downsized (only about 2 people are currently working full time as sandwiches), this was a result of gradual attrition, not because of budget cuts.
August 10th, 2008 at 5:06 am
As AngryKen.com’s lead blogger, I can assure you that these cuts were unnecessary and important. While downsizing has occured, we have not reduced our numbers. All sandwiches still have two slices of bread with an option for cheese.
As always, if TL would ever like to get a hold of us for comment, we’re available.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Hey, i’m going off topic cause that was pretty dumb, but Steel City - you didnt happen to take a trip to Lake Cumberland over the weekend, did you?
August 11th, 2008 at 9:04 am
WTF? Was this an AdLib, or have you just lost your mind?
August 11th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Uhm no, I wasn’t in Lake Cumberland this weekend. Why???
August 11th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
HA! forget i even said anything
There was a houseboat next to ours that had a bunch of people in it from the Detroit area and i was checking to see if it was you, just in case
August 11th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I’m jealous though…I *wish* I were on a houseboat far away from Detroit!
And here I thought you were asking because you saw a very attractive and charming Steelers fan and just figured it had to be me…
August 11th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
By law, i am not allowed to comment any further
August 11th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Uh huh, must be the Bengals law. Can’t go showin’ any kindness to the black and gold, eh?
August 11th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
We were polite, so to speak
August 11th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Ha. Well, glad to see at least one Bengals fan knows how to take the high road.
August 11th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
We will see what the union has to say about this.
August 11th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Well done, Ken!