Job cuts at CNN, Gannett, Wash Post

This has been a painful week in journalism. CNN, Gannett both announced layoffs in the hundreds on Thursday. This is on top of cuts and furloughs announced a few months ago. And many other news orgs have cut back, too. The Washington Post is ending its Sunday magazine, laying off the staff of about 10 who produced it. So we have to take care of one another. This is a great thread on Twitter where people can post their job openings. If you have any, please add to it or mention in a comment here. I'm happy to share. It is always darkest before dawn. ?? #journalism #layoffs #jobalert #hireajournalist #media #gannett #cnn https://lnkd.in/gACwqJm8

You may have heard that @CNN is laying off people unfortunately. I am one of them. I will be working through early March. So you're not done with me yet. Feel free to keep sending me story pitches for the next few months. And I'm open to hearing about potential new opportunities in the world of journalism as well! #jobs #news #stocks #economy

There’s a lot being said about the layoffs at CNN. First, to hiring managers seeing this, please know that I’ve worked with some o the most amazing people and journalists are a Swiss Army knife for your teams. #Recruiters, please consider the unbelievably helpful communication, production and deadline skills us journalists have that would be so impactful in your organizations. To my former colleagues at CNN impacted by the layoffs: I know how hard this is, having just been through this earlier this year. I’ve taken some time to figure out what the right next step is for me, and I know you will too. If it feels like everything is uncertain right now, know it will get better. I’m here to be someone to talk to about what I’ve learned since my layoff about job searching, be a connector, or just someone on the other end of the phone. And if there’s anyone in my connections I can help connect you to, please let me know. We’re all in this together. #CNN #cnnlayoffs #opentowork

Unfortunately I was impacted by the CNN layoffs yesterday. HLN will no longer be having live programming. Our last show for Morning Express with Robin Meade will air on Monday. Weekend Express with Susan Hendricks is no longer either. It has been an extreme privilege to be a writer and producer for these two shows over the last almost four years. With that being said, I’m open to work. I am open to any writing and producing roles in Television, Film and Radio. Also any internal and external communication roles. Better opportunities are ahead. #opentowork #writer #producer # #work #communication #cnnlayoffs #warnermediadiscovery #journalist #journalism #jobhunt #jobhiring #newsproducer #tvwriter #hln

Hundreds of CNN staffers were told yesterday/today they've been laid off from the company. I'm told the total number of layoffs is in the single digit percentage of total employees. That means it's less than 400, given there are about 4,400 staffers, total. Layoffs are broad-based and hit many different areas of operations. It's part of the Warner Bros. Discovery (parent company of CNN) plan to cut costs heading into 2023. Read CEO Chris Licht's memo to staff here: #cnn #journalism #jobcuts #cnbc

I'm sorry to see so many recent #layoffs in the #media world. As a casualty back in August, I know what you're going through. As much of a blessing in disguise some of these situations can be, the whirlwind of emotions and stress are no doubt overwhelming. My own job search has been much more positive (and active) than I ever expected so I wanted to share some tips from what I've learned along the way. ?? Don't let the advice to tailor your resume and cover letters specifically to the job you're applying to scare you. Once you have a solid template for both, editing each to add in additional details relevant to the job you're applying for doesn't take much time at all. ? There's mixed advice out there about whether cover letters are necessary. When in doubt, just write one. On about half of the responses I received, the recruiter or hiring manager said something to the effect of "we really liked your cover letter." Cover letters are especially helpful in translating your skills to a position outside of your industry. Once you write a cover letter for one position, they're easy to edit/adapt to the specifics of the next job you're applying for. ?? Look at LinkedIn every. single. day. Set up job alerts, and search through the jobs LinkedIn recommended to you. If those recommendations don't feel like they're matching what you're looking for, go back into your LinkedIn profile and make sure it's accurately reflecting the work you've done and focused on the skills you need for the kind of position you're looking for. There's a great little feature that lets you save the jobs you're interested in applying to. This was super helpful when I needed a break. While drinking my morning coffee, I'd passively scroll through the listings, save the positions that looked interesting, and then when I was ready later that day or a few days later, would go back through my saved list and decide which to put effort toward. ?? Give yourself REAL breaks. I tried to take a small vacation or getaway once a month (either a long weekend or a week). I wasn't perfect. But recharging and putting yourself in a new environment was super helpful. I would also close down my computer around 5 or 6 p.m. every day to disconnect. Job searches can get overwhelming. One day you might hear absolutely nothing and feel down in dumps, and then two days later, four contacts can reach out with potential opportunities and send your confidence soaring. It's a roller coaster and whatever stress-coping mechanisms you can adapt will most definitely save your soul. Sending my best that this time period leads to much happier opportunities for all! Please DM if I can be of help!!!

It’s been a very sad and challenging week at CNN. I am still here but many of my incredibly smart and kind colleagues are not, including several I consider friends. In my 15 years working in media, I’ve been part of two mass layoffs and survived five or six others. It never gets easier — if anything quite the opposite. Living through a layoff at 22, six months after graduating college, was fundamentally different than living through one in my mid-30s, with a family. The vital importance of journalism is clearer than ever in this tumultuous time but so is the instability of the industry. The bleak media industry headlines today feel a little too remiscent of the headlines I remember reading on Gawker in 2008-2009 as I was cut from that first job. My heart goes out to all those hit by layoffs recently — and to the many others who are trying to keep their heads down and do quality journalism with a nagging fear for their own livelihoods. https://lnkd.in/eEgwwg8M

Today, the CNN Creative Marketing Team was gutted. In these treacherous days rife with re-orgs and layoffs, this wasn’t unexpected. But it’s a blow. A big blow. Not only of course to the uber talented staff but to the industry at large. Over the last decade, Rick Lewchuk & Whit Friese nurtured a team that set the gold standard in our marketing sector of the content universe. Their level of creativity, camaraderie, and brilliance knows no bounds. There’s a lot of heart behind that Fort Knox worth of Promax Gold that they’ve amassed - it’s the human side though that elevates them to the stratosphere. Their esprit de corps and genuine no arrogant assholes policy is real. The cliche about one door closing while another opens is true. If you’re in a position to hire, recommend, network - please open your door to them. CNN’s loss is your gain. To my friends and colleagues there, please don’t hesitate to contact me for any reccos or assistance I can provide. #CNNForever

Some personal news. All good for me but there are some fantastic marketing/designer/producers exiting at the same time. If you are looking for some first class creatives, send me a note and I will make the introductions. The epilogue isn’t written yet. More to come.