From January 2025, the journalism sector has seen an unprecedented rate of job cuts.
Fortunately, though, job cuts seem to be slowing as the year progresses, with the highest number of cuts so far occurring in January and standing at a whopping 900. Into February, we’ve seen a little slowdown, with 210 cuts recorded in February across both the UK and the US. Figures revealed by the Press Gazette suggest that in 2024 there were a total of 4,000 job cuts – a slower rate than in 2023 but still significant.
Job Cut Locations
So where exactly are jobs being cut?
March 2025
Disney/ABC News Group – a huge 200 jobs cut, including 538’s closure – 15 jobs. Wall Street Journal – Restructuring teams, lay-offs unknown. Scripps – Cuts across local TV stations, exact number unknown.
February 2025
MSNBC – 99 lay-offs across multiple shows. New York Public Radio – 21 jobs cut, 7% of staff. IndieWire – three top editors laid off. Outside Magazine – 20 staff cut. UK Climbing – 2 redundancies, including the editor-in-chief. Los Angeles Times – 40+ buyouts accepted. Tegna – Lay-offs expected.
January 2025
Sherwood – “Small percentage” of staff cut. Forbes – 5% workforce reduction. Daily Mail – Up to 99 jobs cut. BBC World Service – 130 jobs cut for cost savings. Wall Street Journal – Bureau chiefs in “Life and Work” section cut. NBC News – 40 lay-offs. CNN – 200 TV roles cut, 200 digital roles added. DC Thomson – 35 lay-offs, 4 magazines closing. Chicago Sun-Times – Voluntary buyouts offered, 20-30 jobs at risk.
Is Journalism Dying?
Those looking to study a specialism, such as by taking sports journalism courses like those at the School of Journalism https://schoolofjournalism.co.uk/journalism-courses/sports/, can still experience a rewarding media career.
Perhaps due to advances in AI, poor advertising revenue or the shifting way the public are now seeking out news and consuming information, journalists are experiencing lay-offs across many big media outlets, but budding journalists shouldn’t despair – they should be prepared to adapt to a new landscape.