Bleacher Report Shuttering B/R Mag Long-form Storytelling Unit

Bleacher Report is shuttering B/R Mag, its long-form storytelling unit, said sources.

Leaving B/R are Editor-in-Chief Ben Osborne and NBA reporter Howard Beck, sources said. About 10 staffers are being laid off. Some will be reassigned to other roles. 

The unit’s long-form magazine stories were not resonating as much with B/R readers, said sources. 

B/R Mag Deputy Managing Editor Elliott Pohnl tweeted news of his departure on Aug. 24.

“So today @BleacherReport decided to sunset BR Mag, taking with it the incredibly talented writers and editors who worked tirelessly to tell great stories.” he tweeted. “I’m proud of my involvement with the Mag for the last 5 years and want to thank all the people who worked as a TEAM.”

B/R launched B/R Mag as an ambitious attempt at Sports Illustrated-style magazine journalism in 2016. Beck joined B/R three years earlier as its lead NBA writer from the New York Times, giving the upstart brand more journalistic cred.

Former Chief Executive Officer Howard Mittman left B/R after a management shakeout in June. Turner Sports President Lenny Daniels assumed management oversight of the digital publication.

A B/R spokesman declined to comment.

Front Office Sports will continue to update as the story develops.