OLD Media News

Major companies begin journalist job layoffs before 2020

Although the U.S. labor market is thriving, the journalism industry is not doing so well. According to statistics reported by The Columbia Journalism Review, 3,385 journalists lost their jobs this year.

However, this trend has been ongoing for years, starting 2008. Additionally, between 2008 and 2018, employment in newsrooms declined by 25 percent with major losses being at print newspapers.

Among the major companies that laid off newsroom staff were Buzzfeed, Vice, HuffPost and Gannett with the major chunk of redundancies being at Verizon Communications, it laying off 800 workers amid a global restructuring effort.

Verizon was followed by The McClatchy Company which laid off 480 workers who was followed by Gannett which laid off 400 employees prior to its acquisition.

As the U.S. unemployment rate touches a low, many industries are having a hard time finding enough qualified workers. The news industry has also been dealing with a host of specific challenges amid this problem.

Consequently, there has been a move among journalists from Vice Media, the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune and other such publications to unionize. They believe this will help their fight for stability amid uncertain market conditions.

Mariam Ahmed

View Comments

  • I feel sorry for the front line journalsits who got into the business to report on truth and protect the little guy. I am retired from 42 years combined at The AP and CBS in NYC, ad then another ten years in corporate communications - in front of the news conference instead a member of the pack. However news is a product, and it must have customers who want to buy that product. As more newsrooms are run by corporate board rooms, the product is no longer honest - and the buying public recognizes that. Today's news business has become partisan and story assignments begin with a conclusion, and then the reporter goes out to support that comclusion. The public knows it is being manipulated and it has stopped watching and reading.

Recent Posts

Indianapolis Biz Journal seeks a news editor

The Indianapolis Business Journal is looking for our next news editor, a role that focuses…

6 hours ago

Axios hires Berkowitz as ME for media and markets coverage

Axios has chosen Ben Berkowitz to be its next managing editor of business and markets.…

11 hours ago

Business Insider hires Ortega as director of newsroom operations

Business Insider editor in chief Jamie Heller sent out the following on Monday: I'm thrilled…

12 hours ago

Rest of World promotes Chandran to deputy editor

Rest of World editor in chief Anup Kaphle sent out the following on Monday: We are excited…

12 hours ago

FT hires Venugopal as India newsletter editor

The Financial Times has hired Veena Venugopal as its India newsletter editor. She has been working at…

13 hours ago

FT taps Parkin to be Middle East and Africa news editor

Benjamin Parkin has been named Middle East and Africa news editor at the Financial Times, based…

15 hours ago