Post by : Bianca
Haleem
The Washington Post has begun implementing major newsroom cutbacks, including shutting down its sports department and reducing the number of journalists posted overseas.
The changes were announced during a Zoom meeting with staff on Wednesday by executive editor Matt Murray, according to a person who listened to the call and spoke on condition of anonymity. Employees were told they would receive emails informing them whether their roles were being eliminated.
The total number of layoffs was not shared during the meeting. A representative of the newspaper did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to staff briefed on the call, the Post will also close its books department. In addition, its Washington-area news department and editing teams will be restructured as part of the new plan. Murray reportedly told employees the cuts would be a major shock to the newsroom.
These changes were expected after reports surfaced in recent weeks that the Post had informed sports staff that they would not be sent to cover the Winter Olympics in Italy. After the issue became public, the newspaper later reversed the decision and said it would send a limited team.
The Washington Post’s financial and subscriber challenges have been widely discussed, especially when compared to its longtime rival The New York Times, which has expanded in recent years through digital products and has significantly increased its staff.
In recent weeks, some Post employees have also appealed directly to the newspaper’s owner, Jeff Bezos, amid concerns about the company’s direction and subscriber losses linked to recent editorial decisions.
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