The National Geographic magazine has laid off its last remaining staff writers. A total of 19 editorial staff members would be affected by the cut, according to a report published by The Washington Post on Thursday, June 29. The staff members were informed that they would be terminated in April. Now, editors would put together articles that had been contracted out to freelancers.
Staffers confirm exiting magazine on Twitter
“My new National Geographic just arrived, which includes my latest feature—my 16th, and my last as a senior writer. NatGeo is laying off all of its staff writers. I’ve been so lucky. I got to work with incredible journalists and tell important, global stories. It’s been an honor,” Craig A Welch, senior writer at National Geographic wrote on Twitter.
My new National Geographic just arrived, which includes my latest feature—my 16th, and my last as a senior writer.
NatGeo is laying off all of its staff writers.
I’ve been so lucky. I got to work w/incredible journalists and tell important, global stories. It’s been an honor. pic.twitter.com/VOt6KydD5Z
— Craig Welch (@CraigAWelch) June 28, 2023
The magazine’s writer and editor Nina Strochlic also said about the job cut on Twitter. “It’s been an epic run, @NatGeo. My colleagues and I were unbelievably lucky to be the last-ever class of staff writers,” she wrote.
It’s been an epic run, @NatGeo. My colleagues and I were unbelievably lucky to be the last-ever class of staff writers—certainly the coolest job I’ll ever have, and possibly among the coolest to ever exist. Now onto the next thing! Open to all weird/fun/interesting ideas. pic.twitter.com/aFNPRSDyt0
— Nina Strochlic (@NinaStrochlic) June 28, 2023
This second round of job cuts is part of cost-cutting measures adopted by Disney, the publisher of the magazine. Since 2015, the publication has seen a number of ownership changes, which have resulted in a number of editorial changes, including the removal of six top editors in September, according to The Guardian.
The magazine’s contracts with several kinds of photographers who helped it communicate stunning narratives visually were also impacted by the job losses. The magazine will now use freelance writers to put its issues together with the assistance of its remaining editors, according to the Post.
However, it assured that the editorial reorganization will not have an effect on the quality of its monthly publications a statement to CNN. “Staffing changes will not change our ability to do this work, but rather give us more flexibility to tell different stories and meet our audiences where they are across our many platforms. Any insinuation that the recent changes will negatively impact the magazine, or the quality of our storytelling, is simply incorrect,” it said.
The news comes amid several large layoffs that have recently shaken the media industry. CNN began letting go of hundreds of staff members across the company in late November. The company fired 350 employees in its second round of layoffs last year after abandoning the $100 million streaming platform CNN plus just three weeks after its debut.
Jonah Peretti, the CEO of Buzzfeed, announced in December 2022 that nearly 200 people, or 12% of the staff at the company, will be let go. The once-ubiquitous company’s stock dropped to an all-time low of $1.06 per share as a result of the announcement.
Vice Media, which operates online and broadcast platforms, laid off about a dozen employees and in May of this year filed for bankruptcy. This move appeared to be Vice’s final act as the company cut 250 positions in 2019.
