The parent company of Outside magazine has cut 20 editorial and business staffers, casting doubt on the publication’s future in print and online. CEO Robin Thurston announced the acquisition of travel booking software Inntopia in a companywide email last Thursday; employees affected by the layoffs said only one print editor and three online editors remain. Among those let go were longtime top editor Chris Keyes, thirty-year sustainability veteran Kristin Hostetter, and brand director Mary Turner.
Outside’s public relations firm sent a statement saying the Inntopia purchase prompted a restructuring so “outdoor vertical experts” can own categories across the platform. The company said it will focus editorial around areas such as Snow, Cycling, Hiking + Camping, Wellness, MTB, Tri/Run, Climbing, and Food + Fitness to drive video, mapping, and activity-feed engagement. The statement also noted the editorial organization still includes many full-time staff, freelancers, and contributors, and that eight of the 20 laid-off employees were local to Colorado.
Thurston told A Media Operator that Outside’s properties don’t currently guide readers from editorial into travel booking: “If we write a story about the top five ski resorts in North America, we don’t guide you after that into the travel booking. … Go find how to book that.” He also said he plans to take the company public in three to four years.
Thurston’s Pocket Media — backed by venture capital — bought several Active Interest Media divisions in 2020 (including Backpacker, SKI, and Climbing) and acquired Outside from Larry Burke in 2021. The company has since added Pinkbike, the Gaia mapping service, and other outdoor-recreation titles, consolidated editorial into subscription-based Outside+, and previously carried out two major rounds of layoffs.
Affected staff described the recent cuts as traumatic. Sources speaking on condition of anonymity said many are negotiating what they called a weak severance offer. Eliminated roles included vice president and general manager of Outdoors, VP of data and analytics, senior brand director, editor in chief, managing editor, three senior editors, two associate editors, assistant editor, senior photo editor, and group creative director. Business-side cuts included director of sales operations, director of SEO, an associate director, technical ad ops, social media analyst, and digital production senior manager.
UPDATE, 02.12.25
Outside issued an update saying print is not going away and that current circulation for the Nov/Dec issue is 675,000. The company said it is printing the Spring 2025 issue, scheduled for newsstands March 1, and that a redesigned summer issue will appear in late May. The statement disputed reports that only a handful of editors remain, saying the editorial team includes more than 60 full-time content creators and contributors — editors, writers, videographers, and photographers — who will continue producing digital and print work. It added that Mary-Frances Heck, currently editorial director of lifestyle brands, will become General Manager, Outside Media and Business Growth, overseeing all digital editorial properties.
