Washington Post Cuts 100 Jobs; Ad Dept Takes Biggest Hit

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Washington Post is cutting roughly 100 jobs today, or about 4% of its total staff, as the newspaper tries to fix its finances following a year of heavy losses and subscriber cancellations. The cuts are focused on the business side of the paper, leaving the newsroom largely untouched this time.

Key Facts

• The Numbers: Approximately 100 employees are being let go, representing 4% of the workforce.
• The Targets: The advertising department is losing 73 positions, while the public relations team is also facing significant cuts.
• The Money: The move follows a reported $77 million loss in 2023 and a recent drop of 250,000 digital subscribers.
• Source: Reuters, GV Wire

Advertising Team Gutted

The heaviest blows are landing on the advertising sales team. According to a memo sent to staff by Chief Advertising Officer Johanna Mayer-Jones, 73 positions under her leadership are being eliminated immediately. The company says it plans to “prioritize connecting advertising clients to our subscriber base” rather than maintaining its old sales structure. This shift comes as digital ad rates across the industry continue to crater, forcing legacy papers to rely more on reader subscriptions.

PR Strategy Shift

The cuts also extend to the communications department. Kathy Baird, the Post’s chief communications officer, told staff that the PR team will no longer dedicate resources to “publicity for our journalism.” Instead, the remaining team will focus on promoting talent. Baird candidly admitted that the current media environment requires a “reinvention” of how they handle public relations.

Financial Bleeding

These layoffs are a direct response to a brutal financial reality. The Post reportedly lost $77 million last year. Matters got worse in late 2024 when owner Jeff Bezos blocked the paper from endorsing a presidential candidate. That decision sparked a reader revolt, leading to more than 250,000 subscription cancellations in a matter of days. While the newsroom was spared today, the business side is shrinking to match this smaller revenue base.