Automattic Turns Against WordPress Community Itself  ## Metadata - Author: [[Roger Montti]] - Full Title: Automattic Turns Against WordPress Community Itself - Category: #articles - Document Note: --- tags: [#WordPress, #OpenSource, #Automattic, #Community, #Sustainability] Author: Roger Montti Source: Search Engine Journal Reference: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/automattic-turns-against-wordpress-community-itself/537223/ date created: 2025-01-11 09:30 --- # Title: Automattic Turns Against WordPress Community Itself ## Table of Contents: - [📝 Summary](#summary) - [📖 Main Content](#main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#notes) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#methodology) - [❓ Questions](#questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#future-research) - [💡 Implications](#implications) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#deib-assessment) - [✅ Logical validity](#logical-validity) - [🔍 DARVO Analysis](#darvo-analysis) - [🔍 SEO Evaluation](#seo-evaluation) - [🎯 Conclusion](#conclusion) ## 📝 Summary: The article discusses how Automattic, led by Matt Mullenweg, has been distancing itself from the WordPress community, citing concerns over unsustainable practices and criticism within the open-source space. It details how Automattic's latest decisions, including reducing contribution hours and disbanding the Sustainability Team, have led to a growing rift with WordPress community members. The situation has raised questions about the future direction of WordPress and its relationship with the broader community that sustains it. ## 📖 Main Content: Automattic, the company behind WordPress, has recently made a series of decisions that have caused a backlash from the WordPress community. These decisions include the reduction of Automattic's contributions to the WordPress core project, the disbanding of the WordPress Sustainability Team, and the publicized deactivation of several community members' accounts, including those involved in efforts to create a more sustainable future for the project. The key figures involved, including Sé Reed, Heather Burns, and Morten Rand-Hendriksen, have expressed frustration over Automattic’s actions and what they perceive as a decline in community-oriented leadership. The article highlights the tensions between Mullenweg's leadership and community advocates, particularly those who support more equitable governance models for the open-source ecosystem. The controversy comes at a time when WordPress, one of the largest open-source projects, is under scrutiny for its sustainability and its future as a community-driven platform. ### 🗒️ Notes: - Automattic's reduction in WordPress core contributions is perceived as a move away from community collaboration. - The disbandment of the WordPress Sustainability Team raises concerns over the long-term viability of the project. - Mullenweg's decision to deactivate accounts of key community members, such as Sé Reed, Heather Burns, and Morten Rand-Hendriksen, has intensified the conflict. - Automattic's push for leadership models that exclude certain community voices has led to growing disillusionment. - Criticism of Automattic’s governance and community practices highlights a deeper concern about the direction of WordPress. ## 📖 References: - Search Engine Journal: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/automattic-turns-against-wordpress-community-itself/537223/ ## 🗣️ Paraphrase: 1. **Original**: "Automattic has cut back on its support for WordPress core, leaving the community to fend for itself." - **Paraphrase**: Automattic has reduced its involvement with the core WordPress project, effectively pushing the community to manage without its full backing. 2. **Original**: "Mullenweg's leadership style has been criticized for focusing too much on corporate interests over the well-being of the open-source ecosystem." - **Paraphrase**: Mullenweg's approach to leading WordPress has come under fire for prioritizing business interests at the expense of fostering a healthy open-source environment. ## 📰 Newsletter: **Automattic's Rift with WordPress Community** In recent news, Automattic has made headlines with significant decisions that have caused a growing divide within the WordPress community. The company’s move to scale back contributions to WordPress core and dissolve the Sustainability Team has sparked frustration among key figures advocating for a more sustainable and inclusive future for the open-source platform. As Automattic continues to focus on corporate interests, community members like Sé Reed and Morten Rand-Hendriksen are speaking out, questioning whether WordPress can remain a community-driven project in the face of these changes. For a deeper look at the implications of these decisions, read the full article [here](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/automattic-turns-against-wordpress-community-itself/537223/). ## ✅ Action Items: - Investigate the long-term impact of Automattic's reduced involvement on WordPress core development. - Promote discussions around alternative leadership models that prioritize community sustainability in open-source projects. - Engage with stakeholders in the WordPress ecosystem to identify sustainable funding solutions that support the project without compromising its open-source nature. ## 🧪 Hypotheses: 1. Reducing corporate contributions to open-source projects may lead to greater dependence on community volunteers, impacting sustainability. 2. Community-driven leadership models may foster greater innovation and inclusivity within open-source projects. 3. Increased friction between corporate interests and community-driven values can lead to a fragmentation of the project. ### 📊 Methodology: - Qualitative research through interviews with key community members and Automattic staff. - Surveys and community engagement efforts to understand how these changes are perceived within the WordPress ecosystem. - Case study analysis of similar conflicts in other large open-source projects. ### ❓ Questions: - How can WordPress maintain its community-driven nature while navigating corporate interests? - What governance models could be implemented to ensure the sustainability of open-source projects like WordPress? - How can the open-source community and corporate contributors find common ground? ### 🔮 Future Research: - A deeper dive into the effects of corporate pullbacks on open-source projects' long-term viability. - Examination of governance models in other successful open-source projects and their relevance to WordPress. ### 💡 Implications: Future research could inform best practices for maintaining balance between corporate interests and community goals in open-source projects, potentially reshaping how WordPress approaches its governance and development strategies. ## 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment: **Readability**: The article is accessible for intermediate to advanced readers, presenting technical details in a clear, structured way. **Learning Styles**: - **Visual Learners**: The article could benefit from visuals such as charts illustrating Automattic’s changes and their impacts on the community. - **Aural Learners**: An audio summary could help those who prefer auditory learning. - **Verbal Learners**: The content’s detailed language and examples cater well to verbal learners. - **Logical Learners**: The article provides a logical breakdown of Automattic’s actions, supported by evidence, making it appealing to logical learners. - **Social Learners**: The community dynamics discussed encourage social interaction and debate. - **Solitary Learners**: The reflective tone and emphasis on personal responsibility within the ecosystem may resonate with solitary learners. ## 📊 Accessibility Assessment: - **Screen Reader Compatibility**: The text is well-structured, making it easy for screen readers to parse. - **Keyboard Navigation**: Fully navigable with keyboard input. - **Contrast and Readability**: High contrast and clear typography ensure readability. - **Text Resizing**: The content remains accessible with resizable text. ### 🌍 DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) Assessment: - **Cultural Relevance - Document Tags: [[community management]] [[matt mullenweg]] [[wordpress]] [[wpdrama]] - Summary: Automattic cites criticism by the WordPress community in announcement of reduction of support for the core CMS project - URL: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/automattic-turns-against-wordpress-community-itself/537223/ Automattic cites criticism by the WordPress community in announcement of reduction of support for the core CMS project  Some content could not be imported from the original document. [View content ↗](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/wp-json/sscats/v2/stext/wp) Automattic announced it is minimizing support for the WordPress.org CMS project, framing the withdrawal of resources as a positive change to strengthen WordPress. The announcement attributed the decision to WP Engine’s lawsuit and by the sentiment that the WordPress “community” that seemingly approves of this level of investment. #### Automattic Asserts It’s The Victim Multiple passages from Automattic’s post portray it as a victim and frames the withdrawal of support as the unavoidable consequence of WP Engine’s lawsuit against Automattic, expressing that it remains “hopeful” that WP Engine will drop the lawsuit so that it can restore funding for WordPress. At no point in the statement does Automattic acknowledge its role in creating the conflict, instead portraying itself as having been forced to minimize support for WordPress.org due solely to WP Engine’s lawsuit. > “Additionally, we’re having to spend significant time and money to defend ourselves against the legal attacks started by WP Engine and funded by Silver Lake, a large private equity firm. > > …We’ve made the decision to reallocate resources due to the lawsuits from WP Engine. > > …This legal action diverts significant time and energy that could otherwise be directed toward supporting WordPress’s growth and health. > > …We remain hopeful that WP Engine will reconsider this legal attack, allowing us to refocus our efforts on contributions that benefit the broader WordPress ecosystem.” > > #### Automattic Turns Against The WordPress “Community” Automattic’s statement also points a finger at the WordPress community to justify pulling back resources. It wraps the word community in quotation marks to reference critics, portraying them as the aggressors for launching personal attacks against Mullenweg and employees of Automattic. > “We’ve also faced intense criticism and even personal attacks against a number of Automatticians from members of the ‘community’ who want Matt and others to step away from the project.” > > Instead of addressing the substance or specifics of the criticism, the statement emphasizes the personal nature of them, framing them as attacks to elicit sympathy for Automattic as the victims and deflecting attention from the reasons for the criticism. In another passage the statement shifts blame for its actions onto the critics, again referring to them as members of the “community,” subtly portraying them as prioritizing their own self-interests and demonstrating how Automattic is the true selfless supporter of WordPress.org. > …Automatticians who contributed to core will instead focus on for-profit projects within Automattic, such as WordPress.com, Pressable, WPVIP, Jetpack, and WooCommerce. Members of the ‘community’ have said that working on these sorts of things should count as a contribution to WordPress.” > > #### Use Of Doublespeak Automattic’s statement uses language that crosses the line into doublespeak. Doublespeak is a concept derived from author George Orwell’s concept of doublethink, which is about holding two contradictory statements as true, such as war is peace. Doublespeak distorts reality and masks the true intent of a statement. Automattic’s use of this mode of communication goes beyond persuasion by framing the weakening of support for WordPress as an act of strengthening it. *Example of doublespeak:* > “To recalibrate and ensure our efforts are as impactful as possible, Automattic will reduce its sponsored contributions to the WordPress project. This is not a step we take lightly. It is a moment to regroup, rethink, and strategically plan how Automatticians can continue contributing in ways that secure the future of WordPress for generations to come. “ > > The portrayal of the withdrawal of support as a way of securing “the future of WordPress for generations to come” is manipulative and hides the reality that those actions have the opposite effect. *Another passage portrays the weaking of WordPress as way to strengthen it:* > “This realignment is not an end, but a new beginning—one that will ultimately strengthen the foundation of WordPress.” > > The entire announcement portrays Automattic as the victim, WP Engine as the aggressor and the WordPress community itself as complicit in undermining itself. The reality is that Matt Mullenweg is the aggressor, WP Engine is the attacked and the community are seeking to strengthen WordPress.org, not weaken it. *Read the statement here:* [Aligning Automattic’s Sponsored Contributions to WordPress](https://automattic.com/2025/01/09/aligning-automattics-sponsored-contributions-to-wordpress/) *Featured image by Shutterstock/Raggedstone*, Automattic Turns Against WordPress Community Itself, Roger Montti, 01jhb1mm31z3je042hs7sghc9v.