Washington Post announces layoffs during tense town hall before publisher Fred Ryan storms out

The Washington Put up’s all-hands assembly turned chaotic Wednesday after the newspaper’s writer introduced looming layoffs – after which left the room as involved workers shouted questions.

The Jeff Bezos-owned broadsheet will conduct a spherical of layoffs in the course of the first quarter of 2023, writer Fred Ryan introduced throughout what was presupposed to be an hour-long assembly.

Ryan blamed the cuts on worsening financial situations, in keeping with an account revealed on the newspaper’s web site.

Video taken from inside the inner assembly and shared by Washington Put up nationwide correspondent Annie Gowen confirmed despondent workers peppering Ryan with questions in regards to the job cuts to no avail.

“We’re not going to show the city corridor right into a grievance session,” Ryan declared, talking over a crowd of annoyed workers.

Washington Post town hall
Washington Put up writer Fred Ryan wouldn't take questions from staffers.
Twitter / @anniegowen

One employee could possibly be heard referencing the Washington Put up’s current choice to finish its Sunday journal. The journal’s 10 workers got pink slips when that transfer was introduced in late November.

“Fred, you talked about positions getting eradicated. What are you going to do to guard folks’s jobs? Are they going to be handled just like the journal staffers had been?” the employee requested.

“We’ll have extra info as we transfer ahead. Thanks very a lot,” Ryan replied.

Journalists for the paper that boasts the slogan “Democracy Dies in Darkness” had been left flabbergasted as their boss stormed out of the room.

Washington Post layoffs
The layoffs are anticipated to start within the first quarter of subsequent yr.
Twitter / @anniegowen

The Washington Put up Guild, which represents workers, stated it was “outraged by the unceremonious announcement” of the layoffs, in addition to the writer’s refusal to reply questions.

“This conduct is unacceptable from any chief, however particularly the chief of a information group whose core values embrace transparency and accountability,” the union stated in a press release. “There isn't any justification for The Put up to put off workers in a interval of document development and hiring.”

Through the city corridor, Ryan stated the layoffs wouldn't end in a discount of total headcount.

Washington Put up chief of communications Kathy Baird confirmed the layoffs. Baird stated the cuts had been anticipated to impression “a single-digit share of our worker base,” which consists of about 2,500 employees.

“The Washington Put up is evolving and reworking to place our enterprise in one of the best place for future development. We're planning to direct our sources and spend money on protection, merchandise, and folks in service of offering excessive worth to our subscribers and new audiences,” Baird stated.

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