Layoffs rock US media amid economic woes

NEW YORK CITY: From CNN to The Washington Post, US media are facing tough times as a series of outlets have announced layoffs this winter amid fears of an economic downturn.

Vox Media, owner of the Vox and The Verge websites, as well as the landmark New York Magazine and its online platforms, announced Friday (Saturday in Manila) it was letting go 7 percent of its staff.

The news follows layoffs at CNN, NBC, MSNBC, BuzzFeed and other outlets.

In a memo to staff on Friday, Vox Media Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jim Bankoff announced "the difficult decision to eliminate roughly 7 percent of our staff roles across departments due to the challenging economic environment impacting our business and industry."

The memo, which was confirmed to Agence France-Presse (AFP) by Vox Media, said the affected employees were going to be notified of being let go within the next 15 minutes. That would mean some 130 out of the group's 1,900 staff.

Meghan McCarron, an award-winning journalist who spent more than nine years at Eater, a food website owned by Vox Media, tweeted Friday she was among those laid off — while 37 weeks pregnant.

"My partner and I are so excited to become parents," McCarron posted. "I can't really process the amount of uncertainty we're now facing," she added.

A Vox spokesman told AFP they could not comment on specific cases, but that employees were offered "competitive severance packages," including extra severance pay for those with "a near-term upcoming parental leave planned."

Journalists who were laid off from other organizations in recent weeks have also taken to Twitter to express anger, dismay or gratitude to their colleagues while beginning to look for a new job.

"I'll be figuring out my next move. I'm a data reporter, but I also write and produce," tweeted Emily Siegel, who was let go after five years as an investigative reporter at NBC. "I'd love to keep doing this work. My [direct messages] are open."

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