Washington Post cuts a third of its staff, axes sports section in blow to a legendary news brand
Newsy
The Washington Post has laid off one-third of its staff, eliminating its sports section, several foreign bureaus and its books coverage in a blow to journalism and one of its most legendary brands.
The Washington Post laid off one-third of its staff Wednesday, eliminating its sports section, several foreign bureaus and its books coverage in a widespread purge that represented a brutal blow to journalism and one of its most legendary brands.
The Post's executive editor, Matt Murray, called the move painful but necessary to put the outlet on stronger footing and to weather changes in technology and user habits. “We can't be everything to everyone,” Murray said in a note to staff members.
He outlined the changes in a companywide online meeting, and staff members then began getting emails with one of two subject lines — telling them their role was or was not eliminated.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | FBI searches Washington Post journalist’s home in classified leak probe
Rumors of layoffs had circulated for weeks, ever since word leaked that sports reporters who had expected to travel to Italy for the Winter Olympics would not be going. But when official word came down, the size and scale of the cuts were shocking, affecting virtually every department in the newsroom.
