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Washington Post Cuts One-Third of Staff, Shutters Sports and Books, Scales Back Foreign and Metro Coverage

Executives frame the move as a strategic reset to stem losses by concentrating on beats that drive subscriptions.

Overview

  • Executive editor Matt Murray informed employees on a morning call, saying the Post Reports podcast is suspended and several foreign bureaus will close.
  • About a third of employees across the company were laid off, including more than 300 newsroom roles from an approximately 800-person staff, according to multiple outlets.
  • Politics and government will remain the largest desk as coverage refocuses on national affairs, national security, science, health, technology, climate and business.
  • Cuts eliminated specific beats and reporters, including Amazon reporter Caroline O’Donovan and Middle East correspondents such as Cairo bureau chief Claire Parker.
  • The Washington Post Guild and Washington-Baltimore News Guild condemned the reductions, planned a rally, and cited reported losses of roughly $77 million in 2023 and $100 million in 2024 while calling on Jeff Bezos to invest or sell.