One of the biggest moments in my short “writing career” is when I saw that Sports Illustrated took a liking to the sport I love. They began giving a damn to the game more than once every four years or to show Americans that “their sports” were better than the Europeans’.
I was able to use Sports Illustrated as well as SI.com as a source of news that I could inform myself better and prepare myself with in the event I had to go on the air and talk so I didn’t sound like a complete blithering idiot. Sports Illustrated was also the publication par excellence in the sports landscape in America for generations prior to many of us having any concept of sport. It was already the most respected publication in America, it had the pulse of what was hip and going on in the sporting landscape in this country. It also evolved and informed Americans of what was going on abroad.
Now AllThingsSD’s Peter Kafka reports that this once proud magazine and franchise is no longer immune to the sweeping changes occurring in the modern media landscape.
Time Warner plans on putting into place a “reorg” that will probably leave about 600 people from SI, Money, and Fortune unemployed. Currently they are looking for volunteers to agree to a “retirement package” but this parting of ways will not last for long as is the case with Sports Illustrated.
On a professional basis this news is not shocking, it is the sign of the times. Personally it is a numbing reminder of the reality of this industry. Many of these people (some that were colleagues of mine for other publications and stay in touch with them on ocassion) it means much more than having a cool job- it is their economic well-being.
In recent years, Sports Illustrated’s sales went into a downward spiral and their special editions did not have the numbers that they did back in the 80’s and early 90’s when models like Heidi Klum and Carol Alt became household names after doing spreads for the publication.
200+ Channels With Sports & News
- Starting price: $33/mo. for fubo Latino Package
- Watch Premier League, World Cup, Euro 2024 & more
- Includes NBC, USA, FOX, ESPN, CBSSN & more
Live & On Demand TV Streaming
- Price: $69.99/mo. for Entertainment package
- Watch World Cup, Euro 2024 & MLS
- Includes ESPN, ESPN2, FS1 + local channels
Many Sports & ESPN Originals
- Price: $6.99/mo. (or get ESPN+, Hulu & Disney+ for $13.99/mo.)
- Features Bundesliga, LaLiga, Championship, & more
- Also includes daily ESPN FC news & highlights show
2,000+ soccer games per year
- Price: $4.99/mo
- Features Champions League, Serie A, Europa League & NWSL
- Includes CBS, Star Trek & CBS Sports HQ
175 Premier League Games & PL TV
- Starting price: $4.99/mo. for Peacock Premium
- Watch 175 exclusive EPL games per season
- Includes Premier League TV channel plus movies, TV shows & more

Matt
November 11, 2008 at 6:26 pm
My advice to those looking is to hit the job boards now…before all the jobs are gone. Some popular job sites –
http://www.linkedin.com (networking)
http://www.indeed.com (aggregated lists)
http://www.realmatch.com (matches you to jobs)
Good luck to those looking for jobs.
Pingback: » SI Layoffs Mean Less Footy Coverage?