2023 News Media Layoff Tracker

Staffers at a number of news media companies have faced layoffs as part of cost-cutting measures in a scenario reminiscent of the early pandemic. Here’s a timeline of some major outlets that have downsized since the start of 2023.

January 12

Around 75 staffers at both MSNBC and NBC News were reportedly laid off across divisions as part of a broader structural reorganization.

January 20

Vox Media, the owner of The Verge and New York magazine, cut 7% of its workforce across departments, CEO Jim Bankoff reportedly told staff in a memo.

January 24

The Washington Post revealed it let go of 20 staffers and discontinued its video game and esports vertical, Launcher.

February 9

Billionaire Rupert Murdoch’s media company News Corp shared plans to cut 5% of its employees, or 1,250 positions, across all businesses by year-end after earnings fell short.

March 23

NPR let go of around 10% of its workforce, including members of the All Things Considered team, and cancelled four podcasts. NPR’s largest layoff since the 2008 recession is part of a push to reduce a reported budget deficit of over $30 million.

March 30

Layoffs also reportedly hit The Walt Disney

Company’s broadcast news division ,ABC News, rolling out 50 staff reductions that includes several senior executives, amid the entertainment conglomerates’ companywide cuts.

April 20

BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti announced in a companywide email that BuzzFeed’s news division would shutter and aim to consolidate the “profitable” Huffington Post moving forward.

April 20

A spokesperson at digital media organization Insider Inc.,formerly known as Business Insider, confirmed to Forbes it would also slash around 10% of its workforce in an effort to “keep our company healthy and competitive.”

April 24

ESPN began the process of reducing an undisclosed number of its staff, according to the Sports Business Journal, including communications vice president Mike Soltys and Russell Wolff, as part of The Walt Disney Company’s strategy to eliminate around 7,000 jobs.

April 27

VICE Media Group said it will lay off over 100 of its employees and shut down its flagship TV news show Vice News Tonight, the Group co-CEOs reportedly told employees in a memo. The embattled company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection more than two weeks later.

May 9

MTV’s news division MTV News signed off for good, amid parent company Paramount Global’s laying off some 25% of its workforce, according to a company memo obtained by various outlets.