Punch (website)
{{Short description|Media website covering drinking culture}}
{{COI|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Punch
| founded = 2013
| country_of_origin = US
| owner = Vox Media
| founder = Talia Baiocchi
Aaron Wehner
| editor = Talia Baiocchi (editor-in-chief)
Chloe Frechette (deputy editor)
Jess Mayhugh (managing editor)
| url = https://www.punchdrink.com
}}
Punch is an online media website covering drinks, drinking culture, and nightlife. The website was founded by Talia Baiocchi and Aaron Wehner in 2013.{{Cite web |last1=critic |first1=S. Irene Virbila S. Irene Virbila is a former restaurant |last2=in 2015 |first2=wine columnist for the Los Angeles Times She left |date=2013-09-06 |title=PUNCH, a new online magazine, will focus on the culture of drinking |url=https://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-xpm-2013-sep-06-la-dd-punch-online-magazine-wine-cocktails-spirits-20130906-story.html |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Vox Media acquired Punch in 2021 as a companion site to Eater.{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Vox |date=2021-08-23 |title=Vox Media acquires James Beard Award-winning Punch as part of food and restaurant network Eater |url=https://www.voxmedia.com/2021/8/23/22637735/vox-media-acquires-james-beard-award-winning-punch-as-part-of-food-and-restaurant-network-eater |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=Vox Media |language=en}} The site has been recognized six times by the James Beard Foundation Awards.{{Cite web |title=Awards Search {{!}} James Beard Foundation |url=https://www.jamesbeard.org/awards/search?categories%5BJournalism%5D=1&ranks%5BWinner%5D=1&ranks%5BNominee%5D=1&year=&keyword=punch# |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=www.jamesbeard.org |language=en}}
History
The drinks and nightlife site Punch is a brand of the digital media company Vox Media.{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Sara |date=August 23, 2021 |title=Vox Media acquires cocktail media brand "Punch" |url=https://www.axios.com/2021/08/23/vox-media-acquires-cocktail-punch |website=Axios}} It covers drinking culture and home bartending, offering feature stories and guides alongside a cocktail recipe database with over 2,500 recipes. The property earns revenue via advertising, sometimes displaying content generated by Vox Creative.{{Cite web |last=Stenberg |first=Mark |date=2021-08-23 |title=Vox Media Acquires Drinks Publisher Punch |url=https://www.adweek.com/media/vox-media-acquires-publisher-punch/ |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=www.adweek.com |language=en-US}}
Punch was founded in 2013 by current editor-in-chief Talia Baiocchi and Aaron Wehner, with Baiocchi serving as the site’s editor-in-chief. The site was initially focused around wine, spirits, cocktails, and nightlife.{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Vox |date=2023-11-14 |title=Punch Celebrates its 10-Year Anniversary |url=https://www.voxmedia.com/2023/11/14/23960475/punch-celebrates-its-10-year-anniversary |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=Vox Media |language=en}} In August 2021, Punch was acquired by Vox Media as a companion brand to Eater, expanding coverage to include social videos. In 2023, Punch launched Pre Shift, a newsletter for the hospitality industry, in collaboration with Eater.{{Cite web |author=Eater Staff |date=2023-07-21 |title=Sign Up for Pre Shift |url=https://www.eater.com/23785951/pre-shift-restaurant-industry-newsletter-eater-punch-sign-up |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=Eater |language=en}}
Organization
In 2013, Leslie Pariseau joined Punch as the site's founding deputy editor, and later, features editor.{{Cite news |last=Teague |first=Lettie |title=Brooklyn-Based Editors Try to Marry Worlds of Wine, Cocktails |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303997604579240284270432834 |access-date=2024-03-28 |work=WSJ |language=en-US}} In 2023, Jess Mayhugh joined as Punch’s managing editor; and in November 2024, Chloe Frechette was named executive editor.{{Cite web |last=Punch |title=About Us |url=https://punchdrink.com/about/ |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=PUNCH |language=en}} Talia Baiocchi was named the GM of Punch as well as Eater, Thrillist, and PS — Vox Media’s lifestyle editorial brands — in November 2024.{{Cite web |author=Eater Staff |date=2024-11-08 |title=Talia Baiocchi Promoted to General Manager of Eater, PS, Punch and Thrillist |url=https://www.eater.com/2024/11/8/24290386/talia-baiocchi-promoted-to-general-manager-of-eater-ps-punch-and-thrillist |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Eater |language=en}}
Reception
Punch has been described by The Wall Street Journal as "a hip online magazine devoted to wine and cocktails."
The brand's content has been nominated for six and won three James Beard Foundation Awards.