Autoweek is effectively dead. The 67-year old magazine-turned-website, which primarily covered racing and car events, laid off or transferred away its entire staff this morning, as ordered by its parent company, Hearst Autos, a subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation media conglomerate.
The news came without much fanfare, with no announcement or warning from Hearst or Autoweek itself. I first learned of the news through The Autopian contributor Alanis King, who shared a tweet from Deb Williams, a longtime motorsport writer who covered NASCAR for the publication.
From Williams’ tweet:
Just days before the #NASCAR Cup and Truck playoffs start, I receive word that Autoweek.com has shut down, effective immediately. It’s a stunning blow when the website/publication you’re writing for does that without any warning.
Another source at Hearst confirmed Autoweek’s staff cuts to The Autopian. Of the six full-time employees, two have been moved to MotorTrend, another publication owned by Hearst. The other four were simply laid off.
In a statement given to The Autopian, a Hearst spokesperson said Autoweek will “join the MotorTrend family of brands,” and “continue to publish original content.” They also said “[w]e made this strategic decision to position the brand for future success.” It’s unclear at this time where that content will come from, as the brand now has no staffers.
Founded as a print magazine dedicated to keeping enthusiasts up to date on the latest happenings in the racing world, Autoweek was the go-to for Americans wanting to learn about news and results for stuff like Formula 1 before the internet existed. It was detailed and knowledgeable in a way the competition wasn’t, going deep into coverage on race times, grids, top speeds, tire swaps, and more for every race.
Autoweek didn’t just cover big races. Localized stories from the likes of regional SCCA often graced the publication, allowing writers to corner the market on true, hardcore track addict content while highlighting up-and-coming talent.
Like most print magazines, Autoweek struggled to survive the internet age. In late 2019, the print magazine was discontinued, with the publication moving to an all-digital product centered around Autoweek.com. Since then, it’s existed as a footnote in Hearst Autos’ portfolio, which also owns the similarly enthusiast-focused Road & Track and the leviathan Car and Driver, as well as the recently purchased Motor Trend.
The future of Autoweek remains unclear, but as of this writing, the website and all of the brand’s social channels remain active. My guess? Hearst will automate the site (or bring in cheap contract labor) and continue to publish SEO-focused “best-of” lists, e-commerce articles, and branded content to keep revenue flowing. That’s the sad reality of this business. Perhaps Autoweek might one day be revived if Hearst sells the rights, but for now, it’s looking pretty bleak.
Top photo: Autoweek
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