Introducing Recode by Vox: Explaining the intersection of technology and… everything else

Today, we’re thrilled to celebrate the launch of Recode by Vox on Vox.com. Recode and Vox have joined forces to bring some of today’s most trusted voices reporting on Silicon Valley to Vox’s growing and deeply curious audience – shaping a new way for technology journalism.

This exciting partnership will make Recode bigger and Vox’s coverage better. Recode by Vox is the next iteration of the continued growth and expansion that have come to define Vox in the five years since its founding. Today’s launch is presented by Verizon.

Recode by Vox is live today

Technology has become fundamental to understanding the world we live in and the way we live in it; and that’s exactly why Kara Swisher, co-founder and editor-at-large of Recode, and Ezra Klein, co-founder and editor-at-large of Vox, have come together to establish an ambitious new editorial mission for Recode by Vox which outlines why this partnership is imperative for the future of technology journalism:

The future of technology is a political story. The future of politics is a technological story. If we’re going to understand the changing world around us, the old coverage silos no longer make sense. And so we’re breaking them down. Recode and Vox are joining forces… By joining Vox, the lens and ambition of Recode’s journalism will widen. By partnering with Recode, Vox will deepen its ability to explain the news.

Read their full editorial mission statement for Recode by Vox.

Samantha Oltman is the new Editor of Recode by Vox

In addition to launching Recode by Vox today, we’re also thrilled to introduce Samantha Oltman as the new editor of Recode. Samantha joins the Recode by Vox team based in San Francisco beginning May 13.

“We’re thrilled to have such an exciting talent in Samantha joining the Recode by Vox team. Her vision and ambition for Recode — and deep understanding of Vox’s explanatory journalism — is a perfect fit,” said Ben Pauker, Vox’s managing editor, News.

Samantha joins Recode by Vox from BuzzFeed News where she formerly served as deputy tech and business editor, co-managing the desk and developing and editing coverage — including stories about apps misusing customers’ personal data, internal employee organizing and protests at tech companies, how social media platforms’ algorithms facilitate promotion of misinformation and hate speech, and the prevalence of fraud on e-commerce marketplaces. Prior to that, she was a homepage editor at Wired, and also co-edited Wired’s Security section, working on stories about Apple’s privacy battle with the FBI, previously unreported hacks and security vulnerabilities, and tech companies’ privacy missteps. She was also previously a fellow in Mother Jones’ Ben Bagdikian Fellowship Program.

”I can’t wait to lead Recode into a new era of essential tech coverage under Vox,” Oltman said. “We’re going to hone our editorial vision and build on the strengths of the existing team by investing in more reporters, more resources, and new products, including a technology news podcast produced in partnership with Stitcher.”

Here’s what’s new & what’s the same

What’s new:

Recode by Vox takes a new editorial approach to focus writers on pointed narratives rather than topics or specific companies.

Launch day features include:

• Kara Swisher: Can anyone tame the next internet?
• Ezra Klein: Ro Khanna and the tensions of Silicon Valley liberalism
• Theodore Schleifer: Silicon Valley is awash in Chinese and Saudi cash – and no one is paying attention (except Trump)
• Rani Molla: The productivity pit: how Slack is ruining work
• And more to come!

What’s the same:

While we’re continuing to innovate on Recode’s 16 years of premier tech conferences, cutting-edge newsletters, and fan-favorite podcasts – the signature Recode products you know and love aren’t going anywhere.

Be sure you’re subscribed to:

• Recode Daily Newsletter
• Recode Decode with Kara Swisher
• Recode Media with Peter Kafka
• Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway
• Code Commerce Conference
• Code Media Conference

What’s next:

This year, Recode will host its annual Code Conference, the world’s premier technology conference hosted by Kara Swisher and Peter Kafka, in Scottsdale, Arizona from June 10-12. Apply for an invitation here.