News

In what is, perhaps, another depressing sign of the times for full-time, in-house photography jobs, Sports Illustrated has laid off all of its staff photographers.

According to the NPPA, the venerable sports magazine cut its six remaining staff photographers yesterday: Robert Beck, Simon Bruty, Bill Frakes, David E. Klutho, John W. McDonough and Al Tielemans.

"There was a decision made through the company to restructure various departments, including at Sports Illustrated,” Sport Illustrated Director of Photography Brad Smith told NPPA. “Unfortunately economic circumstances are such that it has cut the six staff photographers."

It has been open season on staff photojournalism jobs in recent years as more and more magazines and newspapers switch to freelance help for photography. Two years ago, the Chicago Sun-Times laid off its entire staff of approximately two dozen photographers and photo editors.

Despite the staff layoff at Sports Illustrated, the company hopes to retain the photographers' services on a freelance basis going forward.

"In my grandest thoughts I hope they will continue to contribute to the magazine," SI’s Smith told NPPA. "I can't imagine a world where they don't. We just have to figure out what this new structure is.”