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WaPo Staffers Erupt After Publisher Announces Layoffs At ‘Town Hall’

[Screenshot Twitter Annie Gowen]

Brianna Lyman News and Commentary Writer
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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.

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.

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.