Catapult has announced that it will shutter its eponymous online magazine and writing classes program. The decision comes as part of an effort to "focus all resources on its core business of book publishing and its three imprints: Catapult, Counterpoint, and Soft Skull Press."
Catapult publisher Alyson Forbes said in a statement: “This decision to center our efforts on our foundational business will ensure a successful future for our imprints and incredibly gifted authors as we continue to publish with the passion and care that defines the Catapult Book Group.”
The publisher did not respond by press time to questions about who, or how many, people might be laid off as a result of the closures. A representative of the company said only that, “with the new publisher, we've decided our best course of action is to consolidate our efforts around our book publishing program.”
Forbes was officially named publisher in December 2022, having served as interim publisher following the departure of Andy Hunter in February 2022. Speaking to the shuttering of the magazine and writing program, Forbes added: “We remain grateful to all of the editors, writers, instructors, illustrators, and colleagues who contributed to the company for the last seven years.”
Catapult was founded in 2015 by Elizabeth Koch, daughter of Charles Koch, the co-owner, chairman, and CEO of Koch Industries. In 2016, Catapult and its Black Balloon imprint merged with Counterpoint Press and Soft Skull Press.
The shuttering of Catapult's online magazine marks the latest in a number of recent high-profile closures of literary publications, including Astra Magazine, the sister publication to Astra Publishing House and subsidiary of China's Thinkingdom Media Group, which folded after two issues. Readers of Catapult’s magazine will be able to access their work in the magazine’s archive, the company said, and the writing program will remain active for select classes through March 31, 2023.
Disclosure: The author of this piece interned at Catapult in its book publishing division from June-December 2020.
