Danny Jones Podcast #333 - What Destroyed VICE Media: The Story They NEVER Told | Thomas Morton
Sep 19, 2025
Thomas Morton, a former editor at VICE and a writer and documentarian, shares insider tales from the rise and fall of VICE Media. He recounts his chaotic first day at the company and the unique 'immersionism' style that defined its reporting. Morton dives into his experiences inside cults, the evolution of independent media, and controversial subjects like racism and identity politics. He also critiques the internet's failure to democratize media and discusses the rise of AI's influence in the industry.
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First Day Chaos At VICE
- Thomas Morton joined VICE as an intern and immediately experienced chaotic, cockroach-filled moves and unplugged routers.
- He met Gavin during that first frantic day and learned the office's wild, improvised culture firsthand.
No Single Mastermind Built VICE
- Vice had no single mastermind; it grew from several energetic founders and contributors in a messy room.
- Shane Smith, Gavin, Saru and others each shaped different parts of Vice's identity and expansion.
Immersionism: Reporting From Inside
- VICE practiced "immersionism": reporters lived with subjects and produced first-hand accounts.
- Morton recalls long stays in communities and publishing pieces written by locals, like Iraqis writing an Iraq issue.
