The Los Angeles Times has laid off about 115 newsroom workers

About 115 employees, about 20% of its editorial team, They will be fired from the Los Angeles TimesThe newspaper company made this announcement on Tuesday.

Indicates the number of terminated employees The biggest reduction in staff in its 142-year history which the institution has.

According to the LA Times, layoff estimates range Another year will be faced with huge economic losses

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According to the newspaper, the reduction in workers was necessary because A newspaper company can no longer lose between $30 million and $40 million dollars per year He said LA Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong.

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The owner said drastic changes needed to be made.This includes new leaders to strengthen the journalism practiced by the medium so that it can attract more readers.

“Today’s (Tuesday’s) decision is painful for everyone, but it is imperative that we take immediate action. Build a sustainable and prosperous newspaper for the next generation. “We are committed to doing so,” Soon-Shiong added.

Among the employees who were laid off Washington Bureau Chief Kimbril Kelly; Washington Deputy Bureau Chief Nick Bauman; Business Editor Jeff Bercovici, Book Editor Boris Kachka and Music Editor Craig Marks.

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In addition to the Washington office, departments Photography and sports were among those to face dramatic cutsIncluding some award winning photographers.

Worker cuts occur after six years Soon-Shiong’s family acquired the Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune.by Tribune Publishing for $500 million.

Six years ago, with the arrival of Soon-Shiong, It started with the growth and recruitment phase of workersAmbitious coverage of California and the western United States and ending more than a decade of cuts.

However, due to the Covid pandemic, the problems in the economy of the newspaper company became more acute. That prevented the entry of more than $60 million dollars in advertising revenue In the short term, that slowed the newspaper’s recovery.

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During the pandemic, the LA Times Maintained a newsroom with more than 500 employees until the summer of last yearWhile the organization suffered another setback in the announcement, which worsened the financial outlook.

In a statement to employees announcing the layoffs, LA Times President and COO Chris Argentieri said: The financial reality of the institution was extremely difficult.

“Despite our owner’s desire to continue investing, we must take immediate steps to improve our cash position,” Argentieri said in the statement.

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The LA Times said the news business has suffered in recent years Consumers are turning to social media platforms To find information and entertainment.

“Established media outlets including NBC News, ABC News, CNN, The Washington Post, Condé Nast and BuzzFeed News They have laid off all their staff in the past year. According to its latest report, more than 2,300 journalism jobs could disappear in 2023,” the LA Times published in its journalism article in which it reported the layoffs.

The announcement was made this Tuesday, according to the LA Times It follows a week of tension over staff cuts between management and newsroom journalists’ unions.

The newspaper owner regretted that the editorial union did not cooperate with the management Develop a plan that, according to him, could have saved jobsBut the workers rejected the company’s offer and focused on a one-day strike on Friday, January 19.

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