{"id":460325,"date":"2026-09-11T08:14:32","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T08:14:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/460325\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T08:14:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T08:14:32","slug":"california-newspapers-hit-by-sweeping-mcclatchy-layoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/460325\/","title":{"rendered":"California newspapers hit by sweeping McClatchy layoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Several California newsrooms<\/a> have been decimated in a brutal round of layoffs.<\/p>\n

McClatchy, the media giant behind<\/a> The Miami Herald and The Sacramento Bee, announced the severe cuts Thursday, with some newsrooms losing as much as 40% of their staff.<\/p>\n

More than 90 journalists nationwide were affected, according to estimates from unions representing workers at various McClatchy-owned papers, Poynter<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n

A man looks at a Sacramento Bee newspaper rack on March 10, 2006, in Sacramento, California. McClatchy Company, the publisher of the Sacramento Bee, is said to lead bidding for Knight Ridder newspapers. Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cMcClatchy has decided that short-term profits for a hedge fund matter more than the wellbeing of the communities that its newspapers are supposed to serve,\u201d the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild, said in a statement<\/a>. \u201cThat is a model that is destined to fail.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cuts were felt at more than a dozen papers across the country, including Northern California\u2019s Modesto Bee and The Fresno Bee. It hit not only reporters, but videographers and photographers as well.<\/p>\n

The Sacramento Bee lost at least 10 journalists, while The Fresno Bee cut seven reporters. The Modesto Bee was also hit by layoffs but the total was not clear.<\/p>\n

A woman walks by a Sacramento Bee newspaper rack on Friday, March 10, 2006, in Sacramento, California. McClatchy Company, the publisher of the Sacramento Bee, is reportedly leading the bidding for the Knight Ridder newspaper chain. Getty Images<\/p>\n

Those laid off<\/a> include Civic Watchdog Reporter David Taub, longtime staff photographer and videographer Craig Kohlruss, reporter Maria G. Ortiz-Briones and accountability reporter Melissa Montalvo, GV Wire<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n

Several California newsrooms have been decimated in a brutal round of layoffs. Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Kathleen Quinn, civics and democracy reporter for The Modesto Bee, updated her LinkedIn account to announce she had been let go after two years with the company.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo say I\u2019m extremely disappointed in McClatchy Media doesn\u2019t really scratch the surface of what I feel knowing how many incredibly talented people were laid off today in some of the most critical positions in our industry,\u201d she wrote on social media<\/a>. \u201cPlease hire these folks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kathleen Quinn. UC Berkley<\/p>\n

Sacramento Bee investigative reporter Ariane Lange called it a brutal blow to the company\u2019s newsrooms.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is definitely the bloodiest round of layoffs in quite some time at McClatchy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The company said the cuts are part of a broader restructuring plan, according to a notice sent to the Pacific Media Workers Guild.<\/p>\n

Fresno Bee reporter Maria Ortiz-Briones. USC Annenberg<\/p>\n

\u201cMcClatchy is reshaping its newsroom structure to more closely align resources with changing subscriber interests and the ways audiences engage with local news,\u201d the notice read.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs part of this change, we\u2019re focusing resources on journalism that subscribers value and that can have the highest impact in the communities we serve.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Charlotte Observer\u2019s building is shown on Friday, March 10, 2006, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The California-based McClatchy Co. leads the bidding for the sale of newspaper group Knight Ridder, parent company of the Observer. Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cThis change is not a reflection of the individual\u2019s performance or contributions, but of our commitment to positioning the organization for long-term sustainability and growth.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The cuts are expected to affect coverage of government, education, accountability and sports.<\/p>\n

In 2020, the once-giant media company filed for bankruptcy, and was acquired by the private investment firm Chatham Asset Management. <\/p>\n

As recently as last year, a McClatchy bureau in Washington, D.C. closed, followed this year by the sale of two of its Georgia papers.<\/p>\n

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