Shane Smith, the outspoken entrepreneur who transformed Vice from a small Canadian magazine into one of the world’s most recognizable digital media companies, is reportedly preparing to tell his side of the story in a new book.
According to publishing industry sources, Smith is shopping a memoir that would chronicle both his unconventional personal life and the extraordinary trajectory of Vice Media—from its counterculture beginnings to its multibillion-dollar valuation before an equally dramatic decline. The reported publishing effort coincides with Smith’s plans to relaunch the Vice News brand, marking another attempt to re-establish his presence in the media industry.
A Story That Mirrors the Rise of Digital Media
Vice began in Montreal as a free magazine focused on youth culture before expanding into a global media company known for documentaries, investigative reporting and coverage from conflict zones. Under Smith’s leadership, the business evolved into an international brand with television programming, digital platforms and dozens of editorial bureaus around the world.
Photo Credit: FilmMagic
At its peak in 2017, Vice attracted investments from major media companies and achieved a reported valuation approaching $6 billion. The company became known for its distinctive reporting style, producing documentaries from countries including North Korea and Iraq while building a reputation for reaching younger audiences through digital journalism.
From Rapid Growth to Bankruptcy
Vice’s rapid expansion eventually gave way to mounting financial pressures as the digital advertising market shifted and the company struggled to sustain its business model. In 2023, Vice Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy before its assets were acquired by a lender consortium.
The company’s history also includes significant internal challenges. In 2017, Vice publicly acknowledged cultural problems after allegations of workplace misconduct and pledged organizational reforms following widespread criticism of its workplace environment.
Book Could Offer an Insider’s Perspective
While details about the proposed memoir remain limited, publishing sources suggest the project will focus on Smith’s experiences building the company and navigating its eventual decline. It remains unclear whether the book has secured a publishing deal or when it could be released.
Smith has largely remained active in media since stepping away from day-to-day leadership, launching the podcast Shane Smith Has Questions in 2024 while continuing efforts to revive the Vice News name.
Why the Story Matters
The reported memoir arrives at a time when media executives continue to examine the rapid rise—and equally rapid fall—of many venture-backed digital publishers that flourished during the 2010s. Vice became one of the industry’s most closely watched success stories before serving as a cautionary example of the challenges facing digital media businesses.
If the project moves forward, the book could provide one of the most detailed first-hand accounts yet of how Vice expanded from an independent magazine into a global media powerhouse, what contributed to its collapse, and how Smith views the company’s legacy as he works toward another chapter for the Vice brand.
