Staff at The Washington Post erupted Wednesday after publisher Fred Ryan refused to take questions from staff after announcing layoffs.
The Washington Post’s chief spokesperson Kathy Baird confirmed that an unspecified “number of positions will be eliminated.”
“We anticipate it will be a single digit percentage of our employee base, and we will finalize those plans over the coming weeks. This will not be a net reduction in Post headcount” Baird said.
In statement, WaPo’s chief spokesperson @@kathymbaird confirms “a number of positions will be eliminated,” resulting in a single digit cut to its workforce.
“This will not be a net reduction in Post headcount,” Baird adds, saying the paper will invest in certain areas in 2023. pic.twitter.com/dA05Vj8gR8
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) December 14, 2022
Publisher Fred Ryan announced the news to staffers Wednesday, prompting employees to erupt with questions.
“We’re not gonna turn the TownHall into a grievance session, I’m sorry.”
“That’s not a grievance session, it’s a question,” one employee shot back.
NEW: @washingtonpost publisher Fred Ryan refuses to take staff questions after announcing Q1 layoffs in “Town Hall” @postguild pic.twitter.com/C4HOXb6y2C
— Annie Gowen (@anniegowen) December 14, 2022
Another reporter stood up and asked Ryan what he would do to “protect people’s jobs.”
Ryan said he would have more information available before walking out as reporters began a barrage of questions and shouting.
Ryan’s announcement comes after executive editor Sally Buzbee announced the elimination of the outlet’s stand-alone weekly Sunday magazine. All ten staffers had their jobs terminated.