The Maven announced that 6% of SI's "already thinned editorial staff will be let go," as the publication was hit with "another round of layoffs, this time prompted by the coronavirus," according to Ben Strauss of the WASHINGTON POST. Maven Founder & CEO James Heckman in a memo to staff wrote that "because of dramatic reductions in ad revenue, the company predicted" a $30M decline in overall revenue for '20. Among those laid off were senior writer Chris Ballard and editor & writer Jack Dickey. One SI staffer said that "at least six editorial employees were part of the cutbacks, as well as at least one business-side employee." Strauss writes the cuts are the "latest for a reeling media brand that for decades was the standard-bearer for sports journalism." SI was "not the only sports publication to feel the pain of no games and announce cutbacks." Popular baseball site FanGraphs said that its traffic has "fallen dramatically, as has ad revenue." The site "suspended publication of another website under its management, the Hardball Times, laid off all contributors and asked for donations to help maintain the site and the jobs of the 10 full-time staff members" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/31).
