The digital food publication Eater has laid off 15 people, including Ashok Selvam, the sole full-time employee based in Chicago, WBEZ has confirmed.<\/p>\n
Selvam, the publication\u2019s Midwest editor who joined Eater in 2014, won a James Beard journalism award<\/a> in June. The \u201clocal voice\u201d honor recognized Selvam\u2019s reporting on Etta Collective\u2019s bankruptcies<\/a>, Indian American chefs<\/a> and the $15 milkshakes<\/a> that proved popular at White Sox games during a historically bad season for the team.<\/p>\n Eater is part of Vox Media, which also owns publications like New York Magazine, SB Nation and Punch. In an emailed statement, the company said the layoffs were due to \u201cthe rapidly changing media landscape and shifts in audience behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhile difficult, these changes are necessary to allow Eater to reallocate resources toward the areas where it has the biggest opportunity to grow and continue to serve its audience: the Eater app, social-first storytelling, tentpole brand moments, and trade coverage via its industry newsletter Pre Shift,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n The company did not respond to WBEZ\u2019s questions about whether Eater will continue to cover Chicago or if it will have staff members or contract employees based here going forward.<\/p>\n The most recent round of layoffs, which were announced last Thursday, come months after Eater eliminated other Midwest editors in the Twin Cities<\/a> and Detroit<\/a>.<\/p>\n