Layoffs hit IDG publications MacWorld, CIO

An undetermined number of journalists at tech publications owned by International Data Group such as CIO and MacWorld have been laid off, reports Kelly J. O’Brien of the Boston Business Journal.

O’Brien writes, “The layoffs hit writers and editors in both Massachusetts and California at IDG subsidiary publications like CIO, Network World and Macworld, according to social media posts.

“Here’s the emailed statement from London:

As digital forces have reshaped the media industry in profound ways, IDG has remained a leader by embracing technology and diversifying its products and services. For the past two years, we’ve moved forward with transforming IDG from a decentralized and complicated organization to navigate and do business with into a globally streamlined company that provides the greatest possible value and best possible experience to our readers and customers. As part of this effort, we recently eliminated some positions across IDG in the United States. This was a difficult decision for the company, but we are grateful to those colleagues whose roles have been affected for their many contributions to IDG.

“In January, China Oceanwide Holdings Group Co., a privately held international conglomerate with investments in real estate, financial services and media, announced it would become the controlling shareholder of IDG’s operating businesses and several of its subsidiaries. At the time, the company said it would remained headquartered in Boston with the executives of IDG’s various subsidiaries staying on.”

Read more here.