Los Angeles Times announces layoffs: 74 newsroom jobs to be cut due to advertising declines

Amidst the economic pressures resulting from advertising and print readership declines, the Los Angeles Times is reducing the size of its newsroom staff, joining the ranks of news organisations taking similar measures.

Approximately 13% of the total workforce in the newsroom will be affected as The Times moves forward with the elimination of 74 positions. While reporting positions are expected to be largely unaffected, the reduction will primarily impact the production staff. 

The job cuts will involve a mix of full-time and temporary workers, including a few managers. Notably, nearly one-third of the cuts will come from the news and copy editor roles. Additionally, some photographers, audience engagement editors, and audio producers will also be affected by the restructuring.

In a communication to the newsroom on Wednesday, Times Executive Editor Kevin Merida announced the layoffs, citing the pressing nature of the decision due to the economic climate and the distinctive challenges faced by the industry.

“Decisions that result in talented staffers losing their jobs are agonizing. We will be saying goodbye to some tremendous colleagues,” Merida wrote. 

Reed Johnson, the leader of L.A. Times Guild, expressed strong criticism towards the layoff announcement, describing it as "outrageous and reckless." Johnson pointed out that a significant number of 57 LAT Guild members, including various union leaders, were among those being affected by the job cuts.

Following the acquisition of the paper by Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong and his wife, Michele, five years ago from Tribune Publishing (which no longer exists as an independent entity), the current restructuring marks the first significant cost-cutting measure. Despite this, The Times' newsroom has largely remained shielded from the extensive layoffs that have adversely affected numerous other news organisations.

At the time of the Soon-Shiong family's acquisition, The Times was experiencing a decline in print subscribers and had a meager count of only 125,000 digital subscribers. Recognizing the need for extensive recovery, the family made substantial investments to revive the organization, which had suffered from severe cost-cutting measures, managerial missteps, and a loss of talented journalists during the Tribune era. 

Under the leadership of Soon-Shiong, the newsroom underwent a significant expansion, with over 150 journalists added to the team. Business operations were rebuilt, and an entertainment studio was launched, leading to notable revenue growth by early 2020. 

However, the COVID-19 health crisis disrupted the paper's trajectory to profitability, as the pandemic-induced closures had a severe impact on advertising revenue. Since then, The Times has faced ongoing financial challenges, grappling with the broader industry's decline in advertising sales and subscription numbers.