Vice Media, once valued at over $5 billion and known for its edgy, immersive storytelling, is laying off hundreds from its staff of more than 900 employees. CEO Bruce Dixon announced the company will also cease publishing on its Vice.com website, a move reflective of Vice’s strategic pivot amid financial struggles, including a bankruptcy filing last year before being sold for $350 million to a consortium led by Fortress Investment Group. 

Additionally, Vice is looking to sell its Refinery29 publishing business. This restructuring comes as digital media faces widespread challenges, with notable shutdowns and layoffs across both new and legacy outlets, underscoring the industry’s shifting landscape. 

“I know that saying goodbye to our valued colleagues is difficult and feels overwhelming, but this is the best path forward for Vice as we position the company for long-term creative and financial success,” Dixon said in the memo.

Dixon’s memo highlighted the cost inefficiencies of Vice’s digital distribution and announced a shift towards a studio model, emphasizing social channels for content distribution, marking a significant shift from its traditional approach to news and storytelling.