People Inc. Cuts 195 Jobs, 6% of Staff, Citing 'Rapid Changes in Media'

People Inc. laid off 195 employees on Thursday, about 6% of its workforce, with CEO Neil Vogel blaming "rapid changes in media" in an internal memo obtained by Variety.

The vast majority of the cuts fall on print and legacy web operations. "The vast majority of those affected today are in our print and legacy web businesses, as we continue to evolve for a prosperous future," Vogel wrote.

People Inc. is the publisher behind People and Entertainment Weekly. Its brand portfolio also includes InStyle, Investopedia, Better Homes & Gardens, The Spruce, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, Martha Stewart, Byrdie, Real Simple, Southern Living, Allrecipes, MyRecipes, Serious Eats, EatingWell, Parents, Verywell and Mind Health.

What do the numbers show?

The layoffs follow a mixed second quarter for 2026. Total revenue declined 2% to $416.7 million. Digital revenue rose 6% to $289.9 million, while print revenue fell 16% to $132.6 million. Digital traffic moved sharply the wrong way: total digital sessions were 1.89 billion, down 23% year over year.

That last figure is the one Vogel's memo does not mention. The company frames the cuts as a pivot toward growth — 320 new employees added in 2026 — but it is cutting staff while its online audience shrinks by nearly a quarter.

What did the CEO say?

Vogel's memo paired the layoffs with an explicit promise of continued hiring. "The rapid changes in media are evident to us all, and require us to be constantly changing as well," he wrote. "We've added 320 new employees so far in 2026, expanding our talent and capabilities across the company, and we plan to continue making meaningful investments in 2027."

He also committed to "a smooth transition" for those affected, with HR and business leaders scheduling individual meetings, and promised an All-Hands meeting after Q3 earnings to discuss the 2027 focus.

Who owns People Inc.?

People Inc. is a unit of People Incorporated, formerly IAC, chaired by Barry Diller. The parent company also holds a majority stake in the Daily Beast. People Incorporated reports Q3 results on Tuesday, Nov. 3, before market open.

The group's corporate history explains the sprawling brand list. IAC acquired Meredith in 2021 for $2.7 billion, three years after Meredith itself bought Time Inc. and then sold off titles including Time, Fortune and Sports Illustrated. The publishing group, formerly called Dotdash Meredith, changed its name to People Inc. in July 2025.

What does this change for the company?

In practical terms, less than the memo suggests. A 6% cut in print and legacy web staff does not offset a 23% decline in digital sessions, and the promised 320 hires predate, rather than follow, the restructuring. The Nov. 3 earnings call, followed by the announced All-Hands, will show whether the "meaningful investments" Vogel promises for 2027 arrive — and in which businesses.