Episode 28: CEO ‘Jack Morvayne’  

The conference room was silent, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the occasional shuffle of papers. Every eye was fixed on Jack Morvayne, the enigmatic temporary CEO of The Daily Bugle. His presence was commanding, his sharp features and piercing gaze leaving little room for doubt about who was in charge. The tension in the room was palpable, a mix of anticipation and unease as the employees waited to hear what he had to say.

Robbie Robertson, the newly appointed Editor-in-Chief, broke the silence. His voice was tinged with disbelief, his usual composure slipping for a moment. "Is this really happening, Sir? Ah, I mean, Mr. Jack?" he asked, his tone a blend of shock and cautious hope.

Around him, the other Managing Editors, journalists, and staff wore similar expressions—wide eyes, raised eyebrows, and mouths slightly agape. The weight of Jack's announcement had hit them like a tidal wave.

Jack turned to face Robbie; his expression unreadable. "Yes, it is, Mr. Robertson," he replied, his voice calm but firm. "These are non-negotiable changes that I've been tasked with implementing. Shadow Magina is tired of watching this news company operate as if it's still 2004. The world has moved on, and so must we."

His words were blunt, cutting through the room like a knife. Despite his striking appearance, there was a coldness to him, a no-nonsense attitude that left no room for argument.

The changes Jack had outlined were sweeping, transformative, and, for many, long overdue. Over the past few days, The Daily Bugle had already undergone significant shifts, but it seemed the storm was far from over. Jack's vision for the company was clear: modernization, accountability, and integrity. The days of sensationalism and profit-driven reporting were over.

"First," Jack began, pacing slowly in front of the room, "the majority of employees will retain their positions. However, there will be exceptions." He paused, letting the words sink in.

"Several individuals will be let go. These are people who have thrived under the old regime—those who embraced corruption, sensationalism, and the pursuit of profit at the expense of truth. Their actions have tarnished this company's reputation, and they will no longer have a place here….as from now on, this company aimed to improved its image and practice standards"

A murmur rippled through the room as employees exchanged glances. Everyone knew who Jack was referring to—the handful of individuals who had flourished under J. Jonah Jameson's leadership, bending the truth to fit their narratives and lining their pockets in the process. Their departure was met with quiet relief by many, though no one dared to voice it aloud.

Jack continued; his tone unwavering. "From this moment forward, The Daily Bugle will operate differently. No story will be published without thorough verification. Every source must be credible, every fact must be confirmed. To ensure this, we are establishing a new department: the Fact-Checking Department. Every article, every report, every headline will pass through this department before it reaches a managing editor's desk. If it hasn't been fact-checked, it won't see the light of day."

The room erupted into whispers. A Fact-Checking Department? It was a radical shift from the way things had been done under Jameson, where speed and sensationalism often took precedence over accuracy. For many of the journalists in the room, it was a welcome change. They had joined The Daily Bugle to report the truth, not to peddle half-baked stories just to sell paper as quickly as they can.

"No more tabloid-style reporting," Jack declared, his voice rising slightly.

"No more sensationalizing stories, no more baseless accusations, no more chasing profits like hungry hyenas. The Daily Bugle will be a beacon of integrity. Every story we publish will be rooted in hard facts and genuine information. We will not collude with propaganda, spread misinformation, or engage in the kind of irresponsible journalism that has plagued this company for years."

The journalists exchanged smiles, their excitement growing. For years, they had been forced to compromise their principles, to chase stories that sold rather than stories that mattered. Now, they had a chance to do things differently—to make a real impact.

Jack's gaze swept across the room, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I've seen how this company was run before," he said, his tone sharp. "The lack of accountability, the disregard for truth, the absence of responsibility—it's shameful. And it ends today…."

His words struck a chord, and several employees shifted uncomfortably in their seats. The weight of their past actions—or inactions—hung heavy in the air. But Jack wasn't done.

"From now on," he continued, walking toward the window and gazing out at the city skyline, "The Daily Bugle will be known as a credible, trustworthy, and respectable media company. Not just in New York, but across the nation—and then around the world. I want anyone who reads our articles to know, without a doubt, that they are getting the truth from us. I want no one to EVER call us 'fake news' again."

The room erupted into applause, led by Candace Roberts, the Managing Editor. "Well said, Mr. Jack," she declared, her voice filled with conviction.

"You can count on me and my team to lead the charge. We've always wanted to do the right thing, and this new direction is exactly what we need."

Robbie Robertson joined in, clapping his hands enthusiastically. "I couldn't agree more, Mr. Jack. This is the change we've been waiting for. Let's make The Daily Bugle a name we can all be proud of."

The rest of the room followed suit, their applause growing louder. For the first time in years, there was a sense of hope, of purpose. The Daily Bugle was being given a second chance, and they were determined to make the most of it. These company reputations had made many of them felt rather embarrassed to even say where they were working at. Now that would surely change.

Jack nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Good. Thank you for your commitment. Let's take a five-minute break, and then we'll resume the meeting."

As the employees began to file out of the room, Jack called out, "Mrs. Roberts, Mr. Robertson, please stay."

Candace and Robbie exchanged a glance before turning back, closing the door behind them. The room was quiet now, the energy from the meeting still lingering in the air.

"What's on your mind, Mr. Jack?" Candace asked, her tone respectful but curious.

Jack leaned against the edge of the table; his expression thoughtful. "I wanted to speak with you both privately. You're the leaders of this company now, and I need to know I can count on you to help steer this ship in the right direction."

Robbie nodded; his expression serious. "You can count on us, Mr. Jack. We're ready to do whatever it takes."

Candace added, "This company means a lot to us. We'll make sure the changes stick."

Jack studied them for a moment before nodding. "Good. Because this is just the beginning. The road ahead won't be easy, but with the right leadership, I believe we can turn The Daily Bugle into something extraordinary."

The room was quiet now, the earlier buzz of the meeting replaced by a focused intensity. Only four people remained: Jack Morvayne, Robbie Robertson, Candace Roberts, and Ms. Jenson, the former secretary to J. Jonah Jameson, who had now transitioned into her new role as Jack's secretary. She sat discreetly in the corner, her fingers poised over her laptop, ready to document every word.

"By the way, I also have another big thing, that I want to informed you two…I want to say this now, just so you and the entire company would be ready on this matter." Jack said calmly.

Robbie broke the silence, his voice tinged with curiosity. "What is it, Sir?" he asked, leaning forward slightly. The weight of the earlier announcements still lingered in the air, and he couldn't help but wonder what else Jack had in store, the man was like a Russian doll at the moment, pulling out surprise after surprise.

Jack stood at the head of the table, his hands resting lightly on the back of a chair. His expression was calm, but there was a glint of determination in his eyes. "The company will be launching its own website," he announced, his voice steady and confident.

"All our online news will be published there, marking a new era for The Daily Bugle."

Candace's eyes widened, and Robbie let out a low whistle. Both of them were well aware of Jameson's failed attempts to venture into the digital space. The memory of those costly missteps still haunted the company. "A website?" Candace repeated, her tone a mix of surprise and skepticism. "Jameson tried that before, and it didn't exactly go well."

Jack nodded, acknowledging the unspoken concerns. "The website has already been developed and is ready to go live," he explained.

"However, I've decided to hold off on the launch for now. We need to build anticipation. For the next few days, we'll advertise the online platform in the print first…. Once the groundwork is laid, we'll go live."

Robbie scratched his head, a sheepish smile on his face. "I see. Do we need to put someone in charge of the site? Sorry, Sir, I'm not exactly tech-savvy when it comes to these things."

Jack's lips curved into a faint smile. "For the initial phase, Shadow Magina's team will handle the technical aspects. Your job will be to upload the news articles to the database. Our team will take care of the rest—design, maintenance, and user experience. Consider it a separate management stream for now."

Candace nodded, her mind already racing with possibilities. "So, essentially, we focus on the content, and they handle the platform and everything. That makes sense. The world is moving toward the digital age, and we need to keep up."

"Exactly," Jack replied, his tone firm. "The internet is the future. Newspapers, as we know them, are becoming obsolete. If we don't adapt, we'll be left behind…this might sounds over reaching for now…but soon, this would change into undeniable truth."

Candace leaned back in her chair, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Personally, I think it's only a matter of time before print media fades away entirely. Technology, the internets is advancing way too quickly…there's a lot of sign that, People are already flocking to the internet for their news."

For the first time since the meeting began, Jack's stern demeanor softened, and a genuine smile spread across his face. "Correct," he said, his voice tinged with approval.

"The shift is inevitable; in fact, it is already started... Right now, most media companies are hesitant to embrace this change. That's why I want The Daily Bugle to lead the charge. We'll be the first major online news platform in the world. And we'll set the standard for what digital journalism should be."

"Being the first online news, that surely sounds historical, Jack… I like it" Candace said with a smile. Robbie and Candace exchanged glances, their initial skepticism giving way to excitement. The prospect of pioneering a new era in journalism was thrilling, and they could feel the momentum building.

As the meeting resumed with the rest of the staff, Jack made another announcement that sent waves of relief and joy through the room. "All outstanding wages will be paid in full," he declared, his voice carrying a note of finality. "Additionally, everyone will receive a full month's compensation as a bonus."

The room erupted into cheers and applause. For many, the financial strain of working under Jameson had been a constant source of stress. Jack's announcement was more than just a gesture—it was a lifeline. The employees left the meeting with renewed energy, their smiles wide and their steps light. The Daily Bugle was no longer just a workplace; it was a beacon of hope.

Later that afternoon, Robbie and Candace were summoned to Jack's office once more. Both of them thought the meeting had ended for today, and it's turns out that they were wrong. As they entered, they were greeted by an unexpected sight: the desk was covered in spread-out files, photographs, and documents. The sheer volume of information was overwhelming.

"Sir, is this… real?" Robbie asked, his voice barely above a whisper as he picked up one of the files. His eyes scanned the contents, his expression growing more shocked with each passing second.

"This…. it's the White Rider MC massacre, right?" Robbie asked, recognizing some elements in the pictures on the table.

"Yes, it is." Jack said as a matter of fact.

Candace, meanwhile, was already flipping through another set of documents. Her hands trembled slightly as she absorbed the details. "This is big, Jack. Really big," she murmured, her voice filled with a mix of awe and apprehension.

Jack leaned against the edge of the desk; his arms crossed. "Let's be honest," he said, his tone grave. "This isn't just a story. It's a bombshell. It won't just shake New York—it'll shake the entire nation…I've obtained these information's, so, I wanted to be very careful with it…"

Robbie's eyes widened as he read further. "A white supremacist Nazi motorcycle gang involved in trafficking, kidnapping, and murder? And they're targeting sick kids? This is… this is beyond messed up." Robbie a kind man, shakily sat down from the shock revelations.

Candace nodded, her journalist's instincts kicking into high gear. "Jack, look at this—there's photo evidence here. And it looks like there's a connection to corrupt law enforcement. This story could land us in hot water. Big time..."

Jack's expression didn't waver. "The information is legitimate," he assured them. "My informant has been investigating this for months. This, is not just reporting a story—we're exposing a network of evil. And we're going to do it right…sure, there would be major implications coming but…this…this had to go out there…"

Candace's eyes gleamed with determination. "If this is as solid as it looks, then we're sitting on the story of the decade. Maybe even the century."

Robbie glanced at Jack, a hint of concern in his voice. "Are you sure we're ready for this? The fallout could be huge."

Jack's gaze was steady. "We're ready. Shadow Magina will back us every step of the way. This story will be the cornerstone of our rebranding. We'll show the world what The Daily Bugle is capable of."

Candace's lips curled into a grin; her earlier apprehension replaced by fierce resolve. "Oh, you better believe I'll write this story beautifully. Elegantly. By the time I'm done, the entire nation will be mesmerized. And with Shadow Magina shielding us, I'm not afraid of the consequences."

Jack nodded, a hint of pride in his eyes. "Good. Let's make history."

As Robbie and Candace left the office, the weight of what lay ahead settled over them. They were no longer just journalists—they were warriors, armed with the truth and ready to take on the world. The Daily Bugle was about to rise from the ashes, and nothing would stand in its way, granted, with a loaded company behind them, they no longer had to fear anyone.