On May 2nd, Outside magazine announced that Beta magazine was available to be shipped to members outside of the U.S. to all international addresses. Now it appears the magazine will come to a close. Several outlets had reported that monthly print runs of Backpacker, Climbing, Trail Runner, Beta, Peloton, and Oxygen will cease amid layoffs. Some will still produce one or two annual issues. We have not heard if Outside will continue with online only media behind their paywall.
Our professional condolences go out to employees and family at @betamtb, @skimagazine, and other Outside magazine titles. The company, which was recently sold by owner Larry Burke to a firm backed by venture capital, is closing print titles “80%” across the company and lots of people at all levels have lost their jobs. It’s not clear what 80% means, but in the case of SKI magazine, it is rumored they will produce one print issue per year. In the case of @betamtb, it appears that the print publication has been closed, as photo director @the4color recently posted, “yesterday was the last day for @betamtb.”
Adventure Journal published that the company has no plans to release a formal statement. If that changes, we’ll let you know.
This is a tough reminder that media is a product like any other, and VC money has no conscience. We feel for the folks who were trying to share good work about the sports they love—and not just the folks who lost their jobs, but also the ones left trying to keep things together.
If you love independent media, whoever creates it, support them!
What a piece of $hit move from a piece of $hit company. You buy a bunch of companies, sell a bunch of subscriptions (including mine,) and then screw everyone.