The L.A. Times Makes Cuts and Left-Leaning Media Feels the Burn
CNN is not alone in its struggle, as the liberal Los Angeles Times deals with serious cuts to its workforce, indicative of its waning power and relevance. As the paper’s ad revenue dwindles, long-standing liberal strongholds face a reckoning, driven by plummeting trust in the media.
Slumping advertising revenue continues to hit the newspaper industry hard, and the Los Angeles Times is no exception. The Pulitzer Prize-winning outlet just announced a whopping 74 job cuts in its bid to pivot toward a digital media organization. Indeed, as the trust in media continues to plummet, a future focused on digital may well be the only way for some outlets to survive.
According to the Associated Press, the cuts will eliminate approximately 13% of the newsroom’s positions, impacting editors, audio producers, managers, and both full-time and temporary workers. The drive to reshape the company comes as the Los Angeles Times must face the grim reality of becoming “a self-sustaining enterprise,” according to Executive Editor Kevin Merida in a staff email. Consequently, this is a crucial moment for the company – sink or swim in an environment where its audience is less trusting and has more media alternatives than ever before.
This situation, however, is not unique to the Los Angeles Times. Newspapers like the Washington Post and radio broadcasters such as NPR have all faced similar issues, with layoffs occurring across various industries. While journalists at these outlets express surprise and sadness at the job losses, it’s clear that this trend is here to stay.
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