The Washington Post has unveiled a devastating series of cost-cutting measures that will result in hundreds of staff losing their jobs and the immediate closure of its entire sports department. The brutal restructuring was communicated to employees during an internal Zoom call on Wednesday morning, with details subsequently shared by impacted staff members.
Major departmental closures announced
According to reports from the meeting, executive editor Matt Murray began the call by informing employees: 'First, we will be closing the sports department in its current form.' He explained that sports coverage would be reconfigured as 'a cultural and societal phenomenon', with some remaining staff being reassigned to other departments rather than covering traditional sports beats.
Widespread cuts across the organisation
The sports desk, which previously employed approximately 45 staff members, represents just one part of the sweeping reductions. Additional cuts include:
- The complete elimination of the books section
- Cancellation of the daily Post Reports podcast
- Reduced international news coverage
- Significant reductions across the broader newsroom
Reports from last week suggested these latest cuts could affect as many as 300 positions company-wide, with up to 100 newsroom staff facing redundancy.
Confirmed departures and immediate impacts
On social media platform X, numerous writers confirmed their departure from the publication. Notable exits include:
- NFL writer Mark Maske after nearly 38 years at the company
- Sports investigative reporter Will Hobson
- Reporter Scott Allen
- Beat reporters Tashan Reed, Andrew Golden and Spencer Nusbaum
- College sports reporter Jesse Dougherty
- Sports analyst Neil Greenberg
- Editor Sarah Larimer
The announcement follows a recent decision to cancel coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, despite having reportedly spent $80,000 on travel and accommodation arrangements.
Financial challenges and ownership context
The Washington Post was purchased by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2013 for $250 million. However, the publication has faced significant challenges in recent years, including declining digital subscriptions and reduced web traffic, prompting these drastic cost-cutting measures.
Union response and criticism
The Washington Post Guild responded swiftly to the announcement, releasing a statement shortly after the Zoom call concluded. The union strongly criticised the decision, stating: 'Continuing to eliminate workers only stands to weaken the newspaper, drive away readers and undercut The Post’s mission.'
The statement continued with a pointed message to ownership: 'If Jeff Bezos is no longer willing to invest in the mission that has defined this paper for generations and serve the millions who depend on Post journalism, then The Post deserves a steward that will.'
The Daily Mail has reportedly contacted both The Washington Post and the Washington Post Guild for further comment on the situation.
