In a surprising move, the Los Angeles Times has laid off nearly 115 journalists during a Zoom call, marking a significant cut of 20% of its newsroom staff. The decision, announced on Tuesday, was met with shock as the affected employees, both union and non-union, learned about their job losses through the virtual meeting.
The layoffs, according to the newspaper’s owner, billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong, are deemed necessary for the sustainability of the publication. Despite the abrupt decision, Soon-Shiong has adamantly denied any financial turmoil within the company and stressed that the layoffs are part of a crucial plan to make the newspaper economically viable.
President of the Media Guild of the West, Matt Pearce, representing the unionized journalists of the Los Angeles Times, revealed that 94 union members were among those laid off on Wednesday, constituting a quarter of the union members. This number came as a surprise to many affected employees who had not anticipated such extensive job cuts.
In response to the layoffs, the Los Angeles Times Guild, in a statement, claimed that their decision to go on strike played a crucial role in saving numerous newsroom jobs. The guild cited an email from the media company’s COO and president to support their assertion.
Several prominent staff members who were laid off took to social media platforms, including Twitter, to share their news. Among those affected were Kimbriell Kelly and Nick Baumann, chief and deputy chief of the paper’s D.C. bureau, as well as Jeff Bercovici and Lindsay Blakely, editor and deputy editor of the business section.
In an interview published in the Los Angeles Times, Soon-Shiong acknowledged that the layoffs were a painful decision for all involved but emphasized that they are part of a real plan to ensure the newspaper’s viability. He rejected claims of the company being in turmoil while acknowledging that the newspaper had faced tumultuous years.
This round of layoffs comes just two weeks after the resignation of the newspaper’s executive editor, Kevin Merida, who stepped down after two and a half years in the position. The Los Angeles Times had previously laid off 74 newsroom employees a few months ago, adding to the challenges faced by the publication.
Interestingly, these layoffs coincide with the Los Angeles Times receiving its first-ever Oscar nomination for the documentary short film ‘The Last Repair Shop,’ highlighting the complex dynamics the newspaper is navigating during these challenging times.
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