• Loading stock data...
Thursday, May 15, 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

July 9, 2009; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons president Joe Dumars during the press conference to introduce their new head coach John Kuester at their practice facility.

Joe Dumars Leaving NBA League Office to Run Pelicans

Joe Dumars was the architect of the 2004 champion Pistons.
Mar 20, 2025; Providence, RI, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Karter Knox (11) controls the ball against Kansas Jayhawks during the first half at Amica Mutual Pavilion.

Men’s March Madness Sets Opening-Day Viewership Record

CBS Sports and TNT Sports scored big with Arkansas–Kansas.

Callaway’s LIV Deal Shows How Much Golf Has Shifted

The company has signed a first-of-its-kind club contract.
Jun 13, 2018; Moscow, Russia; A general view of a beer stand inside of Luschniki Stadium one day prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup 2018.

Saudi Arabia Says No Alcohol at 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia won’t allow alcohol anywhere during the 2034 World Cup.

Featured Today

Hillary Trochek/Statement Threads Shop

How Custom Stanley Cup Playoffs WAGs Jackets Come Together

The process behind custom postseason jackets is meticulous—and aspirational.
Gracelyn Laudermilch
May 14, 2025

The House Settlement Has Thrown High School Athletes Into Crisis

FOS spoke to an athlete devastated by House settlement roster cuts.
Boomstick Burrito
May 11, 2025

The Arms Race to Create the Wildest Ballpark Concessions

Forget the score—did you see the milkshake?
Apr 18, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal vs Grand Canyon University Antelopes during the MPSF Men's Volleyball Championship at Galen Center.
exclusive
May 10, 2025

‘What Just Happened’: Inside the Abrupt End of Grand Canyon Men’s Volleyball

Inside Grand Canyon’s shocking decision to cut men’s volleyball.

NFL Releases 2025 Schedule With Heavy Focus on Standalone Matchups

The 2025 NFL schedule separates more games into individual broadcast slots.
May 14, 2025

Jeff Darlington Eyes ESPN Extension—and More Golf Storytelling

The reporter is approaching the end of his deal at the network.
May 14, 2025

Netflix Unveils NFL Christmas Slate With Cowboys, Lions in Spotlight

The streamer’s holiday games lean in to two heated division rivalries.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

In the latest Portfolio Players—our series spotlighting athlete and executive investors—Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, owner of Gotham FC & advisor to the New York Giants, breaks down how sports, brand, and capital are reshaping fandom and the business of women’s sports.
ESPN headquarters
May 13, 2025

New ESPN Streaming App Marks Major Shift in Disney Strategy

The Disney-owned network has big expectations for the forthcoming service.
May 12, 2025

Fox Takes Small Step Into Streaming Arena Without Joining Wars

The network’s subscription-based streaming service now has a name.
May 12, 2025

Super Bowl, NBA, Olympics Drive NBC Toward Billion-Dollar February

NBC touts its historic confluence of NFL, NBA, and Olympic content.
May 12, 2025

NFL Taps Cowboys-Eagles Rivalry to Launch 2025 Season

The 2025 NFL season will begin with one of its top rivalries.