The Los Angeles Times will cut more than 10 percent of its news editorial staff, its editor-in-chief Kevin Merida announced Wednesday.
In an email to employees, Merida said the company is undergoing a restructuring that will result in the elimination of 74 positions. About 500 remain, according to news agency spokeswoman Hillary Manning.
“This restructuring stems from similar persistent economic headwinds facing news organizations across the country,” Merida said in an email obtained by The New York Times. “We have made tremendous efforts as a company to address budget and revenue challenges head-on. It will require a more radical transformation of the newsroom.”
Merida also said that “the coming weeks and months will be testing us as editors,” but that she was “very confident” about the publication’s future.
“We are confident that we are on the brink of achieving something extraordinary,” he said. “It’s about transforming a 141-year-old newspaper into a true next-generation digital powerhouse serving the people of this city and the world. In a way that is unparalleled.”
Merida headed up the newsroom two years ago and was appointed to help it compete on a national scale. Last month, the Los Angeles Times won two Pulitzer Prizes for breaking news and feature photography.
The Los Angeles Times is owned by billionaire biotech entrepreneur Dr. Patrick Sunciong and his wife Michelle B. Chan, who acquired the paper and other publications from Tribune for $500 million in 2018. . Dr. Sung Siong invested in the newsroom and hired about 150 journalists.
In a statement, spokesman Manning said the economics of running the media have become “increasingly difficult” since the pandemic began and the company is poised to navigate this year and beyond.
He declined to comment on which sections would be affected by the cuts. Those who will be laid off will be notified on Wednesday.
Reid Johnson, chairman of the Los Angeles Times Guild’s divisional council, said in a statement that the union was outraged by the decision, which will affect about 15% of the union’s membership.
“We were blinded by this news,” he said. “Management did not consult us in advance about other options for cost reduction and saving money other than headcount cuts. It was never hinted at during the negotiations.”
Other news outlets that have cut back in recent months include CNN, Gannett, Washington Post and NPR.
