Sports Illustrated lays off staff photographers in favor of freelancers

Sports Illustrated is laying off all six of its staff photographers as it restructures its photography department.

Scott Novak, a spokesman for parent company Time Inc., says that the magazine will be able to expand its contributor base worldwide by relying on freelance photographers.

Novak said Friday that the decision to move away from staff photography is not unprecedented at the magazine.

Sports Illustrated was founded in 1954 and has a weekly audience of more than 19 million.

Time, based in New York, also publishes Travel + Leisure, Fortune, People and Southern Living.