Forbes is shutting down its opinion section

Forbes Opinion

• Forbes is shutting down its opinion section.
• The publication will focus on its contributor network.

Forbes is shutting down its opinion section as it leans further into its wide network of online contributors.

In an internal email to staff obtained by Business Insider, Forbes Media vice president Mark Coatney said the publication would eliminate its opinion section entirely, focusing instead on its network of non-staff writers who contribute opinion pieces.

"We have decided to end this section entirely on Forbes," Coatney said. "As we strive to tell stories that have a point of view, the need for a conventional opinion-style writing has lessened."

"Going forward, while we're always looking for stories with a point of view, we want those stories to be relevant to our core editorial mission, and grounded in reporting and fact. Some former Opinion contributors will be staying with us and contributing to other sections, while others will be finishing their time as contributors. We thank all of them for their work over the years."

Coatney added that the publication was focusing its energies on the contributor model which "drives forbes.com," and said that the site had approved the contributor network - which consists of over 1,000 non-staff writers who have occasionally caused the publication massive headaches - has "become less and less of an issue."

According to the memo, opinion section editor Avik Roy will remain on staff as a contributor in the policy field.

The publication appeared to make several tweaks on Tuesday.

Contributor Richard Miniter lamented to Page Six that the magazine cut his column on the Middle East, saying that Forbes couldn't stomach his writing on Qatar.