Online women’s magazine The Pool, which was co-founded by broadcaster Lauren Laverne, is reported to be fighting for its future.
According to a report in The Guardian, staff yet to receive their wages for January and management are in talks to save the company.
BBC Radio 6 Music’s breakfast show host Laverne, who was born in Sunderland, co-founded the website in 2015 with former Cosmopolitan editor Sam Baker.
The pair left the business last year, along with most of the rest of the board. Dominic Hill – whose other recent business interests include a directorship of a takeaway food company and Pink Parcel, the “UK’s No 1 period subscription box” – is the only remaining director.
The company has stopped commissioning freelancers following complaints about unpaid fees and, according to the report, staff are yet to receive this month’s salaries, which were due on Friday.
Recently-appointed editor Cate Sevilla told The Guardian: “I can’t comment on the fate of the company; as of right now, I’ve still not received confirmation of any possible outcomes.
“I’m deeply concerned about not only the payments to our freelancers, but that of the entire staff, who have sustained months of change and uncertainty, particularly in the last few weeks.
“I can only trust that both matters and any other outstanding issues will be resolved promptly and with integrity.”
The company lost £1.8m in the previous financial year and owed £760,000 to creditors in March 2018.
