Sports Illustrated, under new management, cuts staff jobs

NEW YORK (AP) — Little-known media company Maven, Sports Illustrated’s new manager, says the 65-year-old sports magazine is cutting more than 40 jobs out of a staff of 150.

Maven spokesman Greg Witter said Thursday that it will add 200 contractors to cover college and professional sports teams for the magazine.

Maven struck a licensing deal to operate Sports Illustrated with the magazine’s new owner, branding company Authentic Brands Group. Magazine publisher Meredith, Sports Illustrated’s seller, was initially supposed to run the magazine.

Several Sports Illustrated staffers tweeted a petition asking Meredith and Authentic Brands to drop Maven and save the magazine.

Maven says the meeting where layoffs were announced Thursday “was all Meredith.” Meredith says Maven made the personnel decisions that Meredith communicated to staffers. Authentic Brands did not reply to messages seeking comment.