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In a significant development for the Los Angeles Times, the publication recently faced a new round of layoffs targeting its business division. This follows the acceptance of buyouts by over 40 newsroom employees just a month prior.
While the total number of employees affected remains unclear, reports indicate that numerous individuals from the company’s operations and communications departments were impacted, including Hillary Manning, the Vice President of Communications. Oliver Darcy reported on this situation, highlighting that dozens of employees were let go this week.
The Los Angeles Times has not yet provided a comment regarding these layoffs. Manning, who was part of the cuts, also did not respond to inquiries, although her email at the Times remains active for now.
This unsettling news arrives on the heels of a previous round of buyouts initiated by the paper’s owner, billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong, who is known for his significant contributions to the publication. During the prior buyouts, at least 40 employees, including at least 17 journalists, opted for this exit pathway. Notable staff members such as senior writer Jeffrey Fleishman, staff writer Tracy Wilkinson, and national and foreign editor Alan Zarembo were among those confirmed to have taken the buyout offer.
An employee who chose to remain at the Times expressed frustration regarding the loss of experienced team members, including six veteran copyeditors, suggesting that the publication is shedding substantial institutional knowledge. This employee’s comments reflected a broader discontent with Soon-Shiong’s management, implying a need to reconnect with the paper’s roots and commitments made by its ownership.
Earlier in January 2024, the Times underwent a significant restructuring, leading to the layoffs of 115 journalists, which was compounded by the resignations of several editors in the months that followed.
The recent layoffs have sparked criticism, with some alleging that Soon-Shiong is influencing the newspaper’s editorial stance in a more conservative direction. This controversy intensified when he decided against an endorsement of Kamala Harris for president, a move that led to the resignation of Editorial Editor Mariel Garza in protest, followed by other notable editorial staff members including Karin Klein and Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Greene.
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www.thewrap.com