Traditional American media is in crisis. Following layoffs announced at Univision, Sports Illustrated and The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times was one of the last newspapers to announce staff cuts in mid-January. Specifically, it laid off a total of 115 employees or 23% of its staff, generating chaos not only in the media, but in the journalistic environment that quickly echoed the news.
But what was most surprising was discovered hours later, when the newspaper's union announced that black and Latino journalists were among those most affected by the layoffs. According to representatives of the Hispanic, Black, Asian American (AAPI) and Midwest, North African and South Asian journalists (MENASA) at the LA Times, many workers from these groups were affected.
Specifically, the different leaders of these groups pointed out, the Hispanic group lost 38% of its members and the black group lost 36%. For their part, the AAPI and MENASA racial groups said goodbye to 34% of their members.
Statement from Black, Latino, AAPI and MENASA caucus folks @latguild. The proposed layoffs will decimate the ranks of young journalists of color at the LA Times. They cannot be allowed to go through. https://t.co/NxZG4Yb7jQ pic.twitter.com/YFZSW59Z0G
— suhauna hussain is learning HoW 2 cOdE (@suhaunah) January 24, 2024
Soon, social networks were filled with messages from these workers. People like Jean Guerrero, Jack Herrera, Sarah Parvini, Carlos De Loera, Lila Seidman and Brian Contreras announced on their X accounts that they were among the journalists fired:
I’ve been laid off from my job as a columnist for the LA Times today, with 100 of my best colleagues. It’s a dark day. I was the only Latina columnist for the opinion desk. Trump is looming & I’m author of Hatemonger. If you're hiring, I’m at [email protected]
— Jean Guerrero (@jeanguerre) January 23, 2024
Got laid off from my job as national correspondent for the LA Times today, along with over 100 of my colleagues. I'm gonna be fine. But I want to get back to work. If you're hiring, or contracting freelance work, I'm at [email protected].
— Jack Herrera (@jherrerx) January 23, 2024
I’ve been laid off from the @latimes. It’s been an honor to work at the paper for nearly a decade, launching a video game beat, helping to win Pulitzers, covering diverse communities. To my colleagues, @latguild, readers: Thank you.
sarahparvini[@]gmailhttps://t.co/59azDrnsW4
— Sarah Parvini (سارا) (@sarahparvini) January 23, 2024
I was laid off yesterday from the LA Times along with over 100 other staffers. Thankful for my time there and for getting to work with some amazing people. Shout out to the @latguild and @LATLatinoCaucus for their support. Send any good job leads my way if you see any 🙂
— Carlos De Loera (@carlosdeloera96) January 24, 2024
I couldn't sleep at all last night -- maybe I sensed something bad was coming. This is my first layoff after more than 10 years of working as a reporter. I have no idea what happens next, but thank you everyone who has read my work and supported me along the way.
— Lila Seidman (@lila_seidman) January 23, 2024
Well, unfortunately I'm among those who were laid off by LAT today, among many other brilliant and dedicated colleagues both inside and outside our union. If you're looking for a tech reporter with experience on the AI or social media beats, I'm at briancontreras42 'at' gmail
— Brian Contreras (@_B_Contreras_) January 23, 2024
Los Angeles Times admits layoffs mainly affect Hispanics and blacks
The situation reached such a point that the Los Angeles Times itself, in the article announcing the layoffs, made reference to the number of black and Hispanic journalists fired. It did so with a slight mention of the leaders representing Hispanic, Black, AAPI and MENASA people:
Our newspaper’s ownership made a promise to bring in talented journalists from diverse backgrounds so that our staff reflects the city we cover, in the most populous state in the country. These proposed cuts would severely damage what incremental progress has been made.
What they did not specify, however, was whether they would take measures to rehire them. They simply limited themselves to ensuring that, from their beginnings, they have tried "to diversify its staff to better reflect such a diverse region as California," thus removing blame while once again pointing out the owner of the media who, the newspaper claims, had tried to blame the union for the layoffs in order to eliminate any racial issue. Something that the Los Angeles Times' own journalists' union refused to accept :
This staffing cut is the fruit of years of middling strategy, the absence of a publisher, and no clear direction. We still believe in the Los Angeles Times and the important role it plays in a vibrant democracy. But a newspaper can’t play that role when its staff has been cut to the bone.
Statement from the @latguild on today's mass layoffs at the @latimes: pic.twitter.com/uRPWcMJqpf
— L.A. Times Guild 🦅 (@latguild) January 23, 2024
