Axe falls on 47 Huff Po staffers

"A bloodbath."

Jonah Peretti Lays Off 47 HuffPost Staffers In Latest "Bloodbath" | Defector

 

This is awful to read. There is so much quality work done by HuffPost reporters.

Sadly, though, it's just another indication of the continuing downward spiral of the industry. It's not getting better, only worse.

Between the lack of financial sustainability of the industry, people's increasingly short attention spans and, well, a seemingly prevalent lack of caring about much of anything that doesn't impact people directly, or have adverse effects on their immediate circumstances, real journalism is becoming increasingly difficult to support. Or, therefore, to find at all.

 

They've also shuttered HuffPost Canada and HuffPost Quebec. 23 more reporting jobs gone.

 

Here's The New York Times story. BuzzFeed lays off 47 HuffPost workers weeks after acquisition.

 

I find it hard to believe anyone at HuffPo is legitimately shocked by this. They've lost money for years, according to the Buzzfeed guy, and everyone knows the industry is a swirling shitstorm of different degrees right now.

For anyone at HuffPo to gnash teeth and wail thinking they were all going to be kept and become some big happy kumbaya family is laughable. I hate that they lost their jobs but a lot of others have, too. Figure it out and move ahead. Life ain't fair or a bed of roses.

 

The dog and pony method they went announcing layoffs to staffers was diabolical. There’s no easy way to tell someone they’re losing their job, just fucking tell them and be done with it. Absolute clowns.

 

From The New York Times story, "A BuzzFeed spokesman told The New York Times that the company regretted the password’s tone."

 

I thought Huff just paid for freelancer content, not for staff members. Of course, I never visited the site.

Regardless, that sucks for all who lost their jobs.

 

Well gee, thanks for clearing that up BuzzFeed! Can you send us a slideshow too?

 

Completely tone deaf way to eliminate jobs. Don't even have the courage to call someone and tell them. That's pretty BS unprofessional, no matter the circumstances. And yeah, let's basically put a happy face sticker on the password that you're getting axed.

But take it from someone who's played the game many times, if your company gets merged or bought out, that's usually a big red warning flag that the excrement is about to hit the rapidly rotating blades. Update the resume or CV and be prepared.

Sounds like a ton of good people on the streets. Best of luck to them. Hope they land somewhere with competent management.

 

HuffPost made its name on the backs of free labor. Then Arianna Huffington cashed out and those people didn’t see a dime.

 

But...but..naps!