VICE Media Ceases Website Publishing and Announces Major Layoffs

VICE Media, once a prominent independent media brand catering to the youth audience, has made the decision to halt content publication on its website after nearly thirty years of operation.

In a recent communication to staff, VICE CEO Bruce Dixon revealed that the company will be eliminating ‘several hundred’ positions due to the changing landscape and the need for a more cost-effective distribution model.

‘Going forward, we will be seeking partnerships with established media entities to distribute our digital content, including news, on a global scale, as we complete the transition to a studio-centric model,’ Dixon announced. He added that Refinery29, a fashion and beauty platform acquired by VICE in 2019, will remain operational as the company engages in advanced talks for a potential sale.

Founded in Montreal in 1996 by Suroosh Alvi, Shane Smith, and Gavin McInnes, VICE Media, with a peak valuation of $5.7 billion, filed for bankruptcy last year and was eventually acquired by Fortress Investment Group for $350 million. Notably, Fortress has been connected to layoffs within American newspaper organizations and an overall transformation in the media landscape.

VICE Media had previously downsized its workforce last fall, consolidating divisions and reducing its global staff count to around 900 from an earlier estimate of 3,000 employees. The company had undergone several rounds of layoffs in Canada, culminating in the closure of its Montreal office in 2019 alongside staff cuts in Toronto.

The Canadian Media Guild (CMG), representing 27 unionized VICE workers in Canada, is currently engaged in discussions with affected employees as they navigate these impending job cuts. CMG President Annick Forest mentioned that more information is expected from the employer in the coming days.