The Washington Post cuts over 300 journalists, shrinking sports, metro, and foreign coverage as declining revenue forces a major newsroom overhaul, sparking backlash and fresh concerns about the U.S. media’s future.
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The Washington Post said Wednesday it is cutting more than 300 journalists — about one-third of its newsroom — in a sweeping restructuring that dramatically reduces coverage across sports, metro, international reporting, and podcasts.
A spokesperson called the move “difficult but decisive actions” aimed at securing the newspaper’s future as the media industry faces declining advertising revenue and rising costs.
The 150-year-old publication, owned since 2013 by Jeff Bezos, has struggled to adapt to changing reader habits despite its deep resources and national influence. The paper has won dozens of Pulitzer Prizes, most famously for reporting that helped expose the Watergate scandal and led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation.
What areas were hit
People familiar with the cuts said the hardest-hit sections include:
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Sports coverage
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Books desk
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Podcasts
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Foreign bureaus
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Business and national reporting teams
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Local metro coverage
Several reporters confirmed on social media they were laid off, including education, technology and race-and-ethnicity journalists. The international editor also asked to be included in the layoffs after learning the foreign desk would be heavily reduced.
Backlash inside the newsroom
The Washington Post Guild union warned the newsroom has lost about 400 positions over the past three years.
“A newsroom cannot be hollowed out without consequences to credibility and reach,” the union said in a statement.
Former executive editor Marty Baron described the announcement as “among the darkest days” in the paper’s history, while former reporters accused management of lacking a clear editorial vision.
The cuts also come after controversy surrounding coverage plans for the upcoming Winter Olympics, when the paper initially decided not to send reporters before reversing course following public criticism.
Part of a wider media industry crisis
The layoffs reflect a broader contraction across U.S. media organizations as audiences shift to digital platforms and advertising revenue declines. In recent years:
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BuzzFeed shut its news division
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Vice Media filed for bankruptcy
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Business Insider cut over 20% of staff
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The Los Angeles Times reduced newsroom jobs
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Broadcast and cable networks announced restructuring
Even digital-first outlets and large corporations have downsized, underscoring the economic pressures facing modern journalism.
For the Washington Post — long considered one of America’s most influential newspapers — the restructuring marks a turning point, shrinking coverage breadth while raising questions about the future of large legacy newsrooms in the digital era.
