Major Layoffs Loom at the Los Angeles Times

The Los Angeles Times is gearing up for another wave of layoffs, sparking fresh apprehension among its staff. This move comes amidst ongoing efforts to cut down operational costs, a common trend among many business entities as they strive to remain afloat in uncertain economic times.

The LA Times management has expressed regret over the forthcoming layoffs. They assert that decisions like these are tough but necessary and are only made after meticulous reviews of various projections and the current financial bearings of the organization.

This isn’t the first time the LA Times staff is facing the chop. Last year, the organization cut 13% of its workforce, the first significant culling under billionaire owner Patrick Soon-Shiong. The publication’s guild, which holds the interests of the staff members, has notified its members to brace themselves for the layoffs that are set to happen.

Discussions between the publication’s management and the guild are ongoing, revolving around the method to implement these layoffs. The LA Times wants to remove the seniority protections in the guild’s contract. This will give them more freedom to select whom to let go. Conversely, the guild is advocating for buyouts before layoffs kick in. They believe that this approach will help save 50 guild positions.

The situation remains tense as the specifics of the layoffs are yet to be determined. Nevertheless, the management team believes that the shared goal should be to save as many jobs as possible and maintain coverage that resonates with its readership.

Adding to the uncertainty, the LA Times saw the departure of its executive editor, Kevin Merida, last week after less than three years in the gig. His exit raised fears among the staff members that another round of layoffs was imminent.

Soon-Shiong has called for unity among the staff, citing the need to build a sustainable business in the face of ongoing challenges. The number of employees set to be laid off remains undisclosed, but the guild has warned that this could be a huge wave, causing even more anxiety among the staff members.