Let’s keep this short, shall we?
This Friday will be my last day as The Truth About Cars’ managing editor. On Monday, I begin a new career elsewhere, outside of journalism but still in the automotive industry.
But this isn’t really a goodbye. I’ll be vacating the seat to sit in another as an editor-at-large here at TTAC, and will stay for as long as my replacement will have me.
Speaking of my replacement …
… there is none. At least not yet.
Steph Willems and Timothy Cain will be handling many of the day-to-day editorial duties from my portfolio of responsibilities. Jonathan Yarkony, my boss at VerticalScope, will take on my office duties. I wish these guys the best as they continue to pilot TTAC for the foreseeable future.
However, TTAC still needs someone to champion its cause and steer it into the future. That’s where you come in: my job is up for grabs. If you think you have what it takes, head on over to our LinkedIn posting and drop your name in the hat.
I’d like to thank you all — TTAC’s editorial staff and freelancers, its vibrant community members, and those in the industry who’ve given us the opportunity to show what we can do when given the chance. The site and community have grown and seen success because of all of you.
See you soon.
Good luck Mark.
Thank you, Dave!
Nothing gold can stay, I suppose. We shall miss you, Mark. I will especially miss your even-handed and insightful, yet decisive approach to conflicts, which is rarer than I thought.
Thank you, Kyree! You’ve been invaluable as well. It’s been great working with you, Corey, and Adam to bring together the community and editorial team. I hope that continues well into the future.
I think Kyree said it well, and I think you’ve done a fine job.
It took me almost a month to notice this story; I wondered what your passing comment last month “Ask my replacement” meant. So you may not even see this comment by the outrageously tardy time I posted it, but all the best to you in your next gig.
Weird, was just thinking yesterday that you seemed a bit absent for a while and I actually checked to see if you were still the Editor.
Good luck, will be interesting to see where you pop up.
If the “boss” is watching, the TTAC site is appalling, the infrastructure and UI not the content obviously. It’s so bad i just don’t bother visiting at times so it has to be hurting you. It’s slow, unpredictable, jumps all over the place….. an absolute abortion right now to be frank.
I agree, the UI is bad. The only reliable way for me to find articles again is in the RSS feed.
Good to read that you won’t be completely gone, Mark. I like your writings. Good luck.
Thank you, Ermel!
I’ve been working more behind the scenes as of late, though not entirely by choice. I hope leaving the managing ed. position will open my schedule up to writing more. Kinda funny, huh?
Yeah it works as poorly as Government owned website.
Rotation, rotation, rotation.
I’ve kind of lost track of the changes around here and I’ve only been coming here since about 2008.
That’s nine years, which is 37 in website years.
Yeah I started around 2009 (under a different name) and I have gotten used to it as well. Some of the folks that left I dont even remember.
According to Google, this is my first comment on TTAC. August 2007. We didn’t have nested comments back then so we had to post at the bottom of a thread and @ the person we were responding to.
thetruthaboutcars.com/2007/08/between-the-lines-former-tesla-ceo-martin-eberhards-email-to-roadster-customers/#comment-66274
I was a lurker before that though. I think I started reading shortly after comments started existing. I remember the news blog coming online (before that TTAC really only did around 4 total posts a week, it was solely editorials & reviews and there was a strict word limit on articles).
Ack! I’ve been on here since about 2005 or so. I can remember Mikey, Zackman and a few others from the “early” days.
Not so much anymore, as I’ve got too much other stuff to do with my days, but it is fun to read some of my own responses from years ago…
It’s been great watching your username evolve with your career Profession. I think you were Educator (of Teachers) Dan when I joined in 2012 (as my highly inventive username confirms).
Yes it was. I was in a central office job where I was basically quality control/trouble shooting for the classroom folks (and still on the same contract & pay scale as they were.)
Now I’m about to go from 11 month employee to 12 month employee come the new fiscal year – same job title/description though.
I think I got here in late 2011, but didn’t comment until 2012. The articles that drew me in were Sajeev’s “Vellum Venom” articles. I even wrote to him once, and he published it. (More of those, please).
I’ve been managing ed. for a little over two years. Other places rotate way more often. I think TTAC’s revolving door turns at an average speed in the digital realm.
Two years? My, where does the time go?
Good luck sir.
I know, right? Thanks, bud!
I became a full car nut in 2010, and I think I joined TTAC 2011. While AutoBlog was easy to outgrow, TTAC was an eye opener for me, and continues to be so.
From the photo, it looks like Mark is ready to put it in reverse. Thanks for taking the helm, and good luck on your next position.
Good luck dude…. I know its your personal business but care to let us know what the new gig is…
I won’t be posting it here because that’s a bit uncouth. But feel free to find me on Twitter or Facebook. Same bat name, different bat channel.
Good luck Mahk. I hope your new job isn’t a poop emoji.
Real people, right here.
What is the average tenure of a TTAC managing Editor?
Until the blood is gone.
Amen brother.
No comment.
What the hell man. We were just getting used to you. I hope whoever comes will be able to do as good of a job. Don’t disappear like Derek!
I am excited. I did not like the direction that the site took under your leadership, and I hope it will pivot with the new managing editor.
Perhaps you might make your complaint useful, and tell us what you’d like to see done differently.
More focus on the behind-the-scenes of manufacturing and the development cycle of cars. Less sponsored posts touting awful Chinese electronic accessories. Less re-hashed press releases. I started coming here years ago because they did not do that. They would link to other sites when they had no information to add to a press release. It feels like the site direction has been more focused on generating ad revenue than providing automotive journalism to consumers.
Thank you, that’s helpful feedback.
What you don’t see is everything that happens behind the scenes. For TTAC to continue, it needed increased readership, and that’s what I delivered over the past two years.
Regarding some of the content you didn’t like, I wanted to experiment with new ideas to keep TTAC on the minds of those who hold the purse strings. Some of those experiments worked, others didn’t — such is the nature of experimenting.
Behind-the-scenes looks at manufacturing and other decision making processes require one of two things: a reliable, verifiable source who’s willing to give you that information or a relationship with an OEM willing to give you access. Most of automotive journalism is access based, or access journalism. That’s the nature of all of it.
TTAC now has better relationships with OEMs to provide that content in the future should a future managing editor want to go down that path and should VerticalScope see it fit to increase the budget to fund such an initiative.
Experiments are always better than just same-old, same-old (as long as they’re not destructive of course). Only he who doesn’t try things out never goes wrong — he just dries up.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I can’t fault you for trying new things, but I appreciate the effort. If the mandate from above was increased readership, you certainly seem to have delivered, and TTAC is a stronger entity for it. While I disagree with you frequently, you were a respectful steward of the site and I wish you well in your future endeavors.
It’s been great reading your articles. You’re actually one that writes about things we like to read and not just fluff pieces. Good luck in your endeavors.
Thank you!
Best of luck in your new job!
Thank you!
thanks for all you did here.
jd
Thank you! And Buick shall rise again!
Carry on my wayward son, for there’ll be peace when you’re done. Lay you weary head to rest. Don’t you cry no more. *big hugs*
Cameron for President, er Editor.
Well she does have the distinction of having proven her ability to tolerate the B&B.
Being president is like being a jacka$$ in a hailstorm. There’s nothing to do but to stand there and take it. Lyndon B. Johnson
I’m sure EIC is pretty much the same around here.
Alas, the one thing I don’t have is the reason I haven’t applied for the role: a license (this may be fixed soon, though).
It would be pretty cool to be among the many editors to have helmed TTAC over the years, though.
I’m not up on what a Managing Editor does exactly, but unless it involves driver reviews I don’t think a license is required (the role strikes me as more managerial and strategic).
Besides the M.E. can just have his or her underlings do the reviews and such. I make my minions do what I don’t wanna do all the time.
@28-Cars-Later A license is absolutely required for the managing editor job. No exceptions.
Thank you, Cameron! I’m sure our paths will cross again soon.
Kudos on the Kansas reference, Cameron. Mark, best to you and glad we’ll still get to read your musings on the business.
Thank you!
I wish you the best of luck, and I’m glad you staying on in some capacity.
So the burning question on my mind ? I’m trying to guess the car in your photo..I’m thinking 69 Nova two door post ?
1968 Cutlass S.
Thanks Mikey! We should have another coffee before I split town.
Corey is right: ’68 Cutlass S
Well Mark, it’s sad to see you leave.
Don’t end up like Neidemyer haunting the site. He made quite a tasteless comment regarding TTACs performance a month or so back regarding readership. I think maybe he should stick to Curbside.
Believe it or not you have the original editor of PUTC (tosser) causing disruption. He lives in BC;) and uses various tags.
I sensed the internal TTAC politics here for some time. Maybe I’m wrong?
I believe the great institution of TTAC will hold.
Anyone given the privilege you were given as ‘caretaker’ of TTAC should be damn proud.
I wish you well in your future endeavours and I hope to see more of your scribes as an author or commenter here.
Thanks for your time.
I didn’t see the comment, nor does it matter. Google Analytics is the industry standard for measuring traffic, not Paul Niedermeyer, and it’s saying TTAC is doing quite well these days.
There haven’t been internal politics causing issues. We have a strong team and I’ve advocated for them (and you, the commenters) whenever I could.
I hope the future managing editor can find opportunities to make TTAC better for everyone involved.
Good luck Mark. I’ve enjoyed your work.
/s/ Not Wayne Gerdes
He can’t hear you over all the MPGs.
Hah! Thank you, Nick!
Best of luck to you in all your future endeavors, Mark. I disagreed with some of the editorial decisions made under your tenure, but always respected your even-handed approach.
Whether you agree or disagree, at least you stayed around, and I thank you for that. Anyone in this position is bound to rub someone the wrong way with every single decision they make. They’ll never please everyone, such is the nature of the job.
Thank you!
Well, that sucks.
I always enjoyed Mark’s thoughtful writing, which was usually blessedly free of bombast (well, there was the jihad against the Cruze’s interior plastics).
And I appreciate him giving me the opportunity to be published on this site.
Rock on.
Thank you, Mike! That Jetta purchase piece was fantastic.
P.S. Don’t buy a Cruze.
TTAC will be hard-pressed to find another caretaker that will work as hard for readers as you have, Mark. Your experience and leadership will be missed, and working for you was always a rewarding adventure. So long, buddy. See you soon.
Thanks for the kind words, Aaron. You taught me a lot while you were here, and it was an absolute pleasure to work alongside you. I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again, sooner rather than later.
“Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.” – Garrison Keillor
That’s the plan :)
Well Mark, it has been a heck of a ride.
Your move ‘half-way’ across Canada.
Bark’s public ‘meltdown’.
The banning of posters. Does BTSR still visit the site?
And VerticalScope recording record profits according to its ‘mothership’.
So overall be proud of what you accomplished, best of luck and many thanks, even if you did not publish my minivan review. :-)
Yeah, it has been rough, but I’ve learned from each and every bump in the road.
Thank you!
Good luck, Mark, your tenure was short but I imagine there is only so much someone can take of a thankless meat grinder job like this. When you see a greener pasture, hop that fence and don’t look back. You’ve done your time, enjoy your next pursuit.
Thank you! It might be thankless most times, but the commenters here (usually) make it worth it!
Best of luck in your new adventures, Mark.
Thank you!
Congratulations and good luck Mark. I agree somewhat with others that the content of TTAC has changed over the years, where back in the day it was more about insider information, technical articles, expert opinions on certain cars or tech you would not hear about elsewhere. I took pride in being a reader here as not many others I know knew about it. But like you said, you had to do what you had to do in order to keep the site alive by increasing readership.
I hope we’ll see the return of more in-depth articles in the future. I’ve tried to at least step up our review game over the last two years, because that’s where the consumer eyeballs live. But it really depends on TTAC getting more funding to do more. We’re stretched at this point.
Good luck Mark. I think you brought a lot of civility to TTAC which has been sorely lacking. I hope some of the (unfair) complaints from the so-called B&B didn’t play into your decision.
Absolutely not. You have to have a thick skin to work in media, no matter the topic. It comes with the territory and I knew that going in.
My decision is solely based on my own personal and professional goals. I saw an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of a different part of the automotive industry away from the new car business, so I took it.
I hope you’re starting a BHPH lot. That’s where the money’s at.
“only if you’re crooked!”
cue the simpsons
Hah. I’m definitely not going into the sales game. At least not the consumer sales game.
Many happy miles (or km) to you Mark.
I recall your first post here as EIC being roughly received (by me, as well), but you’ve really done an excellent job piloting this ship.
Personally, I like how the website functions, except for the terrible internal Google search which I rarely use (not being an IT guy, I don’t know what it’s called).
As for content, I still enjoy nearly all of it, and I continue to learn from the writers and B&B alike. Funny thing – I think I prefer the industry articles more than the car reviews themselves, because they offer perspective that’s hard to find elsewhere.
Best wishes; see you soon.
God, I wish I could take back that first post. I think I’ve said that before. Anyway, I’ll certainly help the new managing editor — whoever it may be — better transition into the role.
The website is good when it isn’t breaking. But it’s in dire need of a refresh to keep it moving and it add some much desired functionality to make it easier on the writers to produce richer content.
Wow, best of luck Mark. Will you be working for one of the auto manufacturers?
No, I won’t, which allows me to stay here. I wouldn’t stay at TTAC if I was going to an OEM. That would be a massive conflict of interest.
The only thing that’s constant is change. I hope this one works out for you!
Thank you!
Mark,
Well I did not always see eye to eye with you or the site at times I repeated the work you did, you did not shy away form cleaning the place up when it was needed, I always enjoyed your stories because they were real, good luck and pour your self I cold one tonight, you deserve it.
Thank you, Seth!
Showed up classy, left with dignity. Well done. You’ll be missed by many, I’m one of them.
You won’t miss me because I’m not really leaving. I’ll be that creepy uncle barking nonsense from the corner now.
I like when things don’t change.
I thought you did a good job with what you had, Mark. It can be tough to do everything exactly as we want within an organization, and I appreciate that you certainly made great efforts and involved the readership here. It’s too bad VS can’t do what it takes to keep a managing editor around here.
It’ll be interesting to find out where you end up.
It’s difficult balancing all the wants and needs of a company and community to simultaneously make everyone miserable. I think I succeeded ;)
In truth, it was a challenge, but the challenges ahead are not the challenges I want to undertake. I’ll have the chance to build something in my new gig and I’m very much looking forward to it.
Much luck to you, Mark! You did a great job here. My only hope for TTAC is that they finally invest in a decent UI to match the content and comments.
You and me both, Pete. Thank you!
That’s too bad, but good luck with whatever you’re doing!
You’ll have to let us know how that Fiesta does long term.
Ah, yes! I’ll keep you all updated!
To those of you who want to stay in touch and know where I end up, find me on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn:
https://www.facebook.com/mark.stevenson
https://twitter.com/m_a_stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/markstevensonautos
Mark has all the best Tweets.
I curse the season! I’m so interested in the job opening but, alas, summer sees the opening of my lemonade stand and that, on top of my paper route, leaves me so little time.
A paper route pays more, so I understand.
I have had dozens of writing jobs during my decades-long career pounding keyboards, and Mark is one of the best editors I have had so far.
Thank you, Murilee! I think we’ll see seeing each other again sooner rather than later.
best of luck Mark ;
.
I’m sure you’ll be fine wherever you land .
.
-Nate
Thank you, Nate!
Best of luck! I appreciate the integrity, accountability, and hard work you brought to the job. I hope the next editor is more like you and Derek and less like the couple of guys from whom Jack rescued the site.
Thank you, Dal!
the small size of your avatar here still makes you look like evil Spock.
I’m totally okay with this.
Bye Mark! It was nice talking with you. Best wishes on your new career.
Thank you!
Best of luck Mark!
But now where will I send my hot tips on dead autojournos?
Ha! Your information became true … eventually.
@Mark – best wishes in your new career path. You’ve done a good job and struck a good balance.
Thank you, Lou!
Best wishes Mark! You’ve done a great job here – one of the best managing editors I’ve witnessed (and I’ve been here for them all). You have grace and wisdom…
Thank you, Dave!
You were always respectful and fzir-minded, Mark.
I wish you the best in your new gig.
(Taking out a bunch of stuff that doesn’t matter. —Mark)
Thank you, DeadWeight!
Sorry to read that you’re leaving the helm, Mark, and good luck in your next undertaking. I appreciated your willingness to experiment, your judgement and forthrightness, and your cat-herding. When I was within a whisker of becoming an ex-reader you talked me back and lived up to your words.
I’ve tried to keep all my promises to readers. Sometimes I misstepped, but we always came back — together.
Best of luck to you, Mark, in your new gig. Glad you are still in the industry anyway.
Even though TTAC has a clunky UI, it’s still my go-to. If I were stranded on a deserted island with only one website, I’d have to go with TTAC. Thanks for your service.
Sorry to see you leave, but that’s life, innit? I’ve been reading this site almost since the beginning, mostly lurking for the first few years, and you’very accomplished quite a lot.
You were a worthy steward of this site, and leave it better for your tenure. I appreciate your civility, and even though I mostly lurk again, I keep reading in part due to you.
Thanks, awesome work, good luck and hope to continue seeing you here!
I heard you’re taking Matt Posky with you. True?
I only just read this but I wish you well in future endeavours.
Things have changed a lot since I started coming here in around 2008/09…although I only registered in 2012 (under a different name)…
Mark, for navigating SS TTAC through the political and economically mine-laden waters of the last two + years I salute you. Much thanks for stepping into the fray. I’d rather be the spinning target guy at a carnival knife thrower’s sideshow but you made it look not-terrible; the whole righting the ship and exterminating trolls thing.
Hopefully your new gig has a Batmobile or two. Just shooting spitballs. Bye!
Good luck and hope we might see an article from or two from you from time to time.