• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 8, 2025

The Athletic Lays Off 20 Journalists in Reorganization

  • Cuts represent 4% of The Athletic’s newsroom amid a shift toward stories with broader appeal.
  • Several local beats were impacted with Monday’s cuts.
New York Times
Jens Schott Knudsen

The Athletic has laid off about 20 employees as the sports news website undertakes what a memo to employees on Monday described as “a significant reorganization.”

Since The New York Times Co. acquired The Athletic for $550 million in January 2022, the site has had a total operating loss of more than $43 million, even as subscribers have more than doubled to 3.27 million over the same span.

Athletic Publisher David Perpich and Executive Editor Steven Ginsberg wrote in a memo obtained by Front Office Sports that was sent companywide that cuts are part of the site’s aim to “reach a broader audience of fans and build an even more sustainable business.” 

The cuts represent 4% of The Athletic staff, although Perpich and Ginsberg wrote the “size of our newsroom will grow this year compared to last.”

The memo stated The Athletic had eliminated some local MLB and NHL beats “due to smaller interest from fans” — the kind of underserved beats that were the focus when Alex Mather and Adam Hansmann founded The Athletic in 2016.  

“This does not mean dutiful stories on each team daily,” Perpich and Ginsberg wrote. “It means breaking more exclusives and looking across the landscape of a given league, seizing opportunities to tell distinctive stories off the news. Our goal is to own the storylines that interest readers.”

Those impacted took to Twitter to announce their departures:

“We’ve reorganized The Athletic’s newsroom to ensure we’re structured to enact our strategy to cover the most compelling stories that matter to fans across all the teams in a given league daily,” a New York Times spokesperson said in a statement to FOS. “To achieve this, we’re enhancing how we combine the local and national expertise that’s always set our journalism apart.

“As part of the reorganization, we made the difficult decision to eliminate a limited number of newsroom roles. We will continue to invest in our editorial operation as we prioritize initiatives that help us achieve our strategy and expect The Athletic’s newsroom to be larger at the end of  this year than it was last year.”

The Athletic lost about $55 million in 2021 before the New York Times acquired the site. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NYCFC’s New $780M Queens Stadium Comes With Jab at Red Bulls

The MLS club progresses on developing its new stadium in Queens, N.Y.

Ryder Cup: Secret Service Key to Smooth Trump Attendance

Trump’s attendance at the US Open delayed the men’s final.

Massachusetts Sues Kalshi to Block Sports Prediction Markets

A lawsuit claims the company’s offerings are indistinguishable from traditional sports bets.
Feb 15, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks in a press conference during All Star Saturday Night ahead of the 2025 NBA All Star Game at Chase Center.

Silver Says Free Highlights Are an Issue As NBA Begins $77B Deal

Silver called basketball a “highlight-based sport.”

Featured Today

Paul Cartier

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium
September 26, 2025

Steelers’ Irish Roots Are Deeper Than NFL Dublin Game

The Steelers have history and the foundation for a future in Ireland.
October 6, 2025

Mark Sanchez Charged With New Felony in Indianapolis Case

The broadcaster and ex-NFL quarterback faces up to six years in prison.
Mar 19, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; USA shortstop Trea Turner (8) throws to first base for an out during the first inning at LoanDepot Park.
October 7, 2025

Fox Picks Up Media Rights to 2026 World Baseball Classic

The network will repeat its role in the international baseball tournament.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Sep 27, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Josh McCray (2) runs against Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green (41) and defensive back Keon Sabb (3) in the second half at Sanford Stadium.
exclusive
October 2, 2025

College Football Viewership Is Up Double Digits. Here’s Why

Average game viewership is up by more than 10% so far.
The NBC Sports broadcast team works Michigan State's football game against Boston College on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
October 2, 2025

NBC Sports, Peacock Stay on YouTube TV With Long-Term Deal

The broad-based agreement keeps NBC channels with the key distributor.
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) throws the ball during the first half of a NCAA college football game against Alabama in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
October 1, 2025

Alabama-Georgia Draws 10.4M Viewers, Drives Record CFB Season Pace

ABC drew 10.4 million viewers for Alabama-Georgia.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) pulls down a touchdown reception against Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) in the fourth quarter during their football game Sunday, November 13, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
September 24, 2025

Packers-Cowboys Game Is Getting Super Bowl–Like NBC Treatment

The network will bring its pregame show to Dallas.