Washington Post Begins Sweeping Layoffs

The Washington Post told employees on Wednesday that it was beginning a widespread round of layoffs that are slated to shrink the newsroom by hundreds of journalists, cutting into the paper’s local, international and sports coverage. The cuts were announced in a video call, and executive editor Matt Murray said the actions include “a broad strategic reset with a significant staff reduction.” The Times reported the move as a sign that Jeff Bezos has not yet figured out how to build and maintain a profitable publication on the internet.

Mr. Bezos hired Will Lewis as publisher in late 2023 to find a path to profitability, and Mr. Lewis has experimented with changes including the use of artificial intelligence to power comments, podcasts and news aggregation. In staff meetings and interviews last year, Post leaders warned of declining audiences, sagging subscriptions and large financial losses.

The story noted that many publishers face similar challenges, with falling print circulation, digital traffic affected by generative A.I.

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