People Inc. lays off nearly 200 people

People Inc., a media company, has announced the layoff of nearly 200 employees, according to a memo from CEO Neil Vogel. The reductions affect personnel across the company's offices, with 195 individuals notified of the changes. HR and business leaders have arranged individual meetings with those impacted to ensure a smooth transition. Vogel expressed gratitude to the departing employees for their contributions to the company.

The layoffs account for approximately 6% of the company's workforce. However, the impact on People Inc.'s diverse portfolio of print and online publications, which includes notable titles such as People, Entertainment Weekly, InStyle, The Daily Beast, Travel + Leisure, and Food & Wine, remains to be seen. The company's recent hiring freeze follows a previous round of layoffs in late 2025, during which 226 jobs were cut.

Additionally, People Inc. has decided not to proceed with a planned $18 billion acquisition of MGM Resorts. MGM's CEO, Bill Hornbuckle, stated, "We are done, and I meant that," according to The Wall Street Journal. While this decision avoids significant debt, People Inc. continues to reduce expenses amidst the rapidly changing media landscape.

CEO Vogel emphasized the need for constant adaptation, stating, "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 remains optimistic about the company's outlook and confident in their strategic plans.