The End of an Era? Sports Illustrated makes major staff cuts

Photo Credit: Forbes

Few sports publications have had a more storied legacy than that of Sports Illustrated in their seventy years of publication. That could all be coming to an end. 

Last Friday, Jan. 19, Sports Illustrated staff were notified that there would be a mass dismissal of employees. Out of the hundred employees on the staff, many were given a three-month notice, while others were immediately fired, signaling a potential end to the publication that was once seen as the pinnacle of sports magazines and journalism. 

A victim of the internet’s rise, which has plunged printed publications into irrelevancy, the downfall of the magazine has been well-documented over the years. Like many newsrooms, Sports Illustrated has been no stranger to significant cuts. The most recent to garnish media attention was in 2015, when Sports Illustrated cut the last of their photography staff, along with a few senior writers and editors. 

Changes in ownership have not helped. It began with Meredith’s purchase of Time Inc. in 2017, which sold the rights two years later to Authentic Brands Group. With the purchase primarily for the naming rights, the licensing company agreed to a 10-year deal with the Arena Group to operate the magazine. 

The acquisition was far from smooth. The first sign was the reduction in publication, going from weekly to biweekly in 2018 and becoming monthly in 2020. It didn’t stop there, as the magazine faced serious accusations of using AI-generated stories posted using aliases last year. This led to the firing of Arena Group’s CEO Ross Levinsohn and other leadership staff. Replacing Levinsohn was the CEO of Innovations Ventures and creator of 5-Hour Energy, Manoj Bhargava, although his tenure was cut short earlier this month. 

The start of 2024 didn’t get any better for Sports Illustrated, who failed to meet their licensing agreement by missing the $3.75 million payment to Authentic Brands Group. This led to the immediate termination of the license. Although renegotiations are reportedly underway with Arena Group, the company also laid off over a hundred employees the day before the Sports Illustrated cuts, putting the future of both in peril. 

Could this be the end of the magazine that has been at the forefront of sports media through its SI Sportsperson of the Year, the infamous annual swimsuit issue, and storied covers?  As of now, it remains to be seen what will happen in the immediate future. While the present and future may be in question, one thing is certain: the impact of Sports Illustrated will not soon be forgotten by athletes and fans alike.