Vox Media Fires Editorial Director Lockhart Steele Over Misconduct

Vox Media has fired creative director Lockhart Steele over misconduct.

“Lockhart Steele was terminated effective immediately,” CEO Jim Bankoff told staff in a memo on Thursday evening. “Lock admitted engaging in conduct that is inconsistent with our core values and is not tolerated at Vox Media. Vox Media is committed to fostering a safe and welcoming community, and appreciates those who have been willing to speak up and share information during the course of this investigation.”

Bankoff’s memo referenced “issues raised by a former employee in a post on Medium.” He said that Vox was investigating the allegations in that post and that “anyone with information should contact our external investigation leads.”

According to The Awl, which first reported on Steele’s departure from Vox, the Medium post that Bankoff referenced is from a former designer who describes misconduct by a supervisor but does not name the company she worked for or the people involved.

Steele founded the real estate blog Curbed.com and turned it into a network of lifestyle sites, including Eater and Racked, which he later sold to Vox Media. Vox Media owns a portfolio of editorial brands, including The Verge, Recode and SB Nation.