Massive Layoffs Rock Newsrooms Nationwide, Hitting CA Papers Hard: Reports

SACRAMENTO, CA — At least 20 journalists at McClatchy's three California newspapers were swept up in a nationwide round of layoffs Thursday that eliminated The Sacramento Bee's sports department and sharply reduced staffing in Fresno and Modesto, according to reports.

More than 90 journalists nationwide were affected as McClatchy cut staff at at least 13 newspapers across eight states, Poynter reported, citing estimates from unions representing the company's journalists.

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The Sacramento Bee lost at least 10 journalists, according to Poynter. SFGate reported that the cuts included all three members of the newspaper's sports department: longtime high school sports reporter Joe Davidson, Sacramento Kings reporter Jason Anderson and senior reporter Chris Biderman.

Davidson had spent 38 years at The Bee covering sports throughout the Sacramento region. Anderson had covered the Kings since 2018, while Biderman covered the San Francisco 49ers along with the Athletics' temporary move to Sacramento and other regional sports stories, SFGate reported.

The Fresno Bee laid off seven journalists, including accountability and investigative reporters, according to Poynter. The cuts also included the last remaining employee of the bilingual publication Vida en el Valle, SFGate reported.

In Modesto, three members of a 12-person newsroom were laid off, including a high school sports reporter. Three other reporters had recently left the newspaper, and those positions are not expected to be filled, according to the outlet.

McClatchy described the layoffs as part of a companywide restructuring intended to better match staffing with subscriber interests and the ways readers consume local journalism, according to a notice obtained by Poynter.

The company said it was concentrating resources on journalism with the greatest value to subscribers and impact in local communities and said the layoffs were not based on individual job performance.

But California union leaders questioned what the cuts would mean for local coverage. Michael Applegate, executive officer of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, told Poynter the company had made a "major investment in AI" while simultaneously making a "major disinvestment in jobs."

McClatchy has been owned by private investment firm Chatham Asset Management since emerging from bankruptcy proceedings in 2020. The company has continued to shrink in recent years, including closing its Washington, D.C., bureau last year, Poynter reported.