Ch-ch-changes at TechCrunch

Yesterday, we posted about Marshall Kirkpatrick leaving TechCrunch and Natali Del Conte hired as the new writer. So far Natalie seems to do a good job of research on her posts, though I still don't see the female point-of-view I had hoped for. Still early though.

Today, Valleywag posted about a change to the advertising page of TechCrunch. See the images below. It appears that Jennifer Rice has been removed and Michael has put his information there with contact e-mail.

Valleywag notes:

Now, I'm sure this is all just temporary. Salespeople leave. Founders have to step in to the breach. It happens. But, first, why not at least create a separate email address, how about advertising@techcrunch.com, so that the confusion between editorial and advertising is less obvious? Arrington, publisher of a website which can make or break Silicon Valley startups, is naturally subject to charges of favoritism, or worse. Appearances do matter.

I agree completely. It takes 2 minutes to setup another email address. At least then we would have no idea.

This comes on the heels of Michael's post a few days ago about the bashing that TC has received. An excerpt:

Sales and editorial are now completely separate – Jennifer Rice handles any money coming into the company and I have nothing to say about it, other than a veto if I don’t like the service (I vetoed a payperpost advertising campaign recently, for example). Other than that, there is a complete ethical wall. Likewise for our events – sales are handled by Jeanne Logozzo.

I remember back at my days as the bookkeeper at KeyFood. The first day after being promoted, the store manager told me very simply, "Kid, no one touches your money except you. No one else." There were times where having another cashier pick up the drops would have worked. But I knew that every dollar on the floor was my responsibility and so, no one else touched the money.

They then breakdown the supposed revenue TC brings in. Frankly I don't care how much he makes, I hope he makes millions (seriously). Personally, I would enjoy a blog/column by Michael that discusses how to create a great Web 2.0 company. I think that could be a stronger business than the current TechCrunch.