So the recent controversy about Channel Awesome mismanagement

[Drathnoxis]

Recently a Google doc has been released containing testimonies from a handful of contributors with allegations of mismanagement, harassment, and unprofessionalism from the those in charge of Channel Awesome, namely Mike Michaud, Rob Walker, and Doug Walker.

I'm a little surprised, but not actually all that shocked. It never came across as a really professional outfit.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Who exactly expects professionalism from a youtube channel? Doesn't unprofessionalism come with the territory?

 

[Natemans]

Aaaaaand pretty much most of their members left which I'm not surprised. Yeah, Channel Awesome is screwed.

 

[Terminal Blue]

Who exactly expects professionalism from a youtube channel? Doesn't unprofessionalism come with the territory?

Well, channel awesome isn't really a youtube channel. They started on youtube and have a youtube channel today, but they were one of the first to get around youtube's ad restrictions by hosting on Bing (I think, if I'm remembering right) and linking the videos on their own dedicated site.

They are essentially a media distribution company, just using new instead of traditional media.

Unlike a lot of youtube channels or even their own contributors who, even if they make some money from producing content still have day jobs to support themselves, they're also very much doing it commercially instead of for personal interests.

Personally, this is all new information to me but I really can't say I find any of it surprising (no, not even the sexual harassment or grooming).

 

[Vault101]

Who exactly expects professionalism from a youtube channel? Doesn't unprofessionalism come with the territory?

Well, channel awesome isn't really a youtube channel. They started on youtube and have a youtube channel today, but they were one of the first to get around youtube's ad restrictions by hosting on Bing (I think, if I'm remembering right) and linking the videos on their own dedicated site.

They are essentially a media distribution company, just using new instead of traditional media.
).

for quite a while I had a hard time wrapping my head around the site as a "company" that actually "made money" mostly due to it's god awful design and the general lack of production values... my little half theory (especially after grabbing a sad popcorn and reading the WHOLE document) is that Doug and co were a little behind on the internet side of things...they had cultivated their little bubble while the "media review"/youtube in general world was gettering slicker, more professional....that home made aesthetic was never really updated (now that said it may be different now, I hung around briefly after the demo reel debacle)

but yeah I remember when the whole thing with spoony and Alison blew up...and also when linsday,kyle and a couple of others left at the same time even though they said they parted on good terms I knew there was more to it and none of this surprises me (especially the sexual harassment)

it will be interesting to see how CA fairs in the future, they could have made something great but instead it was just the Doug show...and honestly I liked his shtick in the past but I've moved on to more interesting content(like for example Lindsay elis who just continues to evolve and reach new heights), I do get the sense that he always wanted to to do something different and grow but...weather he just didn't have it or dumping demo reel onto an unaccepting audience was never going to work out...eh (that is is all a lot nicer than what others have said about him)

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Strange that I don't see Angry Joe and Spoony contributing to this document?

 

[Vault101]

The 10 year anniversary movie has also been canned, apparently. that was keeping some people in cause they were involved. But yeah, Channel Awesome's name is mud right now, and I'm not sure they can recover. They haven't really tried to grow their brand outside the website, and that was focused mainly on Doug. And if he's not bringing in the views anymore.....

in a way they got what they wanted in the end...it was always "the Doug show",I wouldn't be surprised if NC can still hang around

I don't know much about the others I'm guess they would rather distance themselves as anything other than pure condemnation at this point just isn't a good look. I get the impression brad is still tight with Doug, he's also been friends with Alison (arguably the catalyst for all this) for some time too..which y'know is fair enough, sometimes like is just like that

 

[Vanilla ISIS]

I was almost part of this bullshit around 8 years ago but luckily, I didn't make a deadline when making a video.

Strange that I don't see Angry Joe and Spoony contributing to this document?

Joe is successful. Successful people tend not to complain.
Spoony is too busy sitting in his dingy room and being miserable.

 

[sanquin]

I think parts of the document are exaggerated. Apart from that, Doug himself doesn't look like a bad guy to me even after the document. Incompetent when it comes to business management and having people working under him. And definitely living in his own world a little too much. But not a bad guy.

That Mike Michaud guy though seems like a real douche that's just in it for the easy money and being able to have control over others. I think he's the cause of most of the problems with the company these days.

 

[McElroy]

This Michaud-guy really seems like a prick. A big-ass prick. Walkers seem more benevolent but still arrogant and often dumb.

I was a fan of the site once upon a time. Those were good, careless times. That time made me want to have a career in media & entertainment, and I even followed that plan for some time before I realized that I want a different career.

 

[Vault101]

I think parts of the document are exaggerated. Apart from that, Doug himself doesn't look like a bad guy to me even after the document. Incompetent when it comes to business management and having people working under him. And definitely living in his own world a little too much. But not a bad guy.

That Mike Michaud guy though seems like a real douche that's just in it for the easy money and being able to have control over others. I think he's the cause of most of the problems with the company these days.

I'm a little hesitant to let Doug fully off the hook for this one...no I don't think he's a bad person in fact I think he is generally well meaning but he's also accountable and should actually take some responsibility

 

[ebalosus]

Strange that I don't see Angry Joe and Spoony contributing to this document?

Or Chad Rocco (The guy who hates MLP yet once loved MLP and got me into the show), Rollo T, Cold Guy, Luke Mochery (or whatever xer name is these days), and a few others that don't immediately spring to mind.

As for the revelations themselves, I compare what happened to CA in the same vein as what happened to the Escapist: shitty management, financial shirking, and cliques.

 

[Vault101]

I was a fan of the site once upon a time. Those were good, careless times.

while i haven't seen an NC video in years after all this I'm not sure I could even go back to some of my favorites

no joke I used to watch his review of Twister over and over it was my happy place

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

You know, I wonder if all this shady shit that happens Channel Awesome partly contributed to JewWario's suicide?

 

[Terminal Blue]

Strange that I don't see Angry Joe and Spoony contributing to this document?

Noah/Spoony has bipolar disorder, which was undiagnosed at the time of his departure from CA. He seems to have quit the internet, and hopefully is actually getting some help.

Angry Joe seems to have overwhelmingly benefited from his association with CA, in that he's a relatively "big" talent and thus has no real reason to rock the boat. It's also quite possible he was just treated better because of his size.

You know, I wonder if all this shady shit that happens Channel Awesome partly contributed to JewWario's suicide?

I would strongly advise against needlessly speculating over that.

Although, based on how suicidal intent tends to work, I will say that it's unlikely. The things that trigger a person to finally attempt suicide tend to be very recent and immediate, although they may have been thinking about it for a long time.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Strange that I don't see Angry Joe and Spoony contributing to this document?

Noah/Spoony has bipolar disorder, which was undiagnosed at the time of his departure from CA. He seems to have quit the internet, and hopefully is actually getting some help.

Angry Joe seems to have overwhelmingly benefited from his association with CA, in that he's a relatively "big" talent and thus has no real reason to rock the boat. It's also quite possible he was just treated better because of his size.

You know, I wonder if all this shady shit that happens Channel Awesome partly contributed to JewWario's suicide?

I would strongly advise against needlessly speculating over that.

Although, based on how suicidal intent tends to work, I will say that it's unlikely. The things that trigger a person to finally attempt suicide tend to be very recent and immediate, although they may have been thinking about it for a long time.

Spoony tends to make up a whole bunch of diseases, staph infection included, and its speculated that he's making it up to avoid his responsibilities as a youtuber.

Unless his Bipolar disorder is confirmed to be true?

 

[Thaluikhain]

Not a surprise, the whole thing seems to be run very badly. Sort of basement project making it big without people stopping and thinking how they've got a business to run as a proper business.

Meaning, amongst other things, there's no likely no proper policy developed for handling any number of things, including abuse.

And Spoony was mentioned already in this thread, but remember when the Amazing Atheist was a contributor? Yeah...