American news website Axios announced it will axe approximately 50 employees in an internal memo, citing a “rapidly changing media landscape.”
“Axios is laying off 50 people across the company. CEO @JimVandeHei just sent out this note — which says the layoffs are because of ‘changes in the media business,'” reporter Katie Robertson said.
“We’re eliminating about 50 positions to get ahead of tectonic shifts in the media, technology and reader needs/habits. This is a painful but necessary move to tighten our strategic focus and shift investment to our core growth areas,” the memo read.
NEW: Axios is laying off 50 people across the company. CEO @JimVandeHei just sent out this note — which says the layoffs are because of “changes in the media business” pic.twitter.com/lLVemNFh0N
— Katie Robertson (@katie_robertson) August 6, 2024
* Images from Katie Robertson X Post *
The Wrap reports:
The CEO told staffers that if their job was impacted by the cuts, they would be informed shortly with information about a severance package.
VandeHei added that he wanted to tell each staffer individually, “but the mechanics of that proved infeasible.”
“Today is a sad day, and our full emphasis will be on handling a hard moment with grace, empathy, and honesty,” VandeHei continued. “Our departing colleagues will be treated with great respect, and with thoughtful severance packages to provide runway toward their next opportunity.”
The CEO noted that most of the impacted staffers’ final day at Axios will be on Friday, Aug. 9.
VandeHei took full responsibility for the job cuts, saying “The right way to handle this is forthrightly and transparently.”
X users reacted to the news:
Wonder if laid off Axios people think we're entering a recession now. https://t.co/6h0jRMxLKe pic.twitter.com/twGiuKybcE
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) August 6, 2024
Oh well, whoever was the brains behind the “Kamala Harris was never the border czar” retcon at least has a lucrative future in Democrat political consulting. https://t.co/ZC3XZMbuNE
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) August 6, 2024
Axios went woke, becoming one of the first media outlets to use "pregnant person" and "unhoused." It's now laying people off. https://t.co/gONNfFcTSd
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) August 6, 2024