McClatchy Cuts 30% of Unionized Staff, Eliminating Local Coverage in 17 Papers
McClatchy has laid off approximately 90 unionized journalists, representing 30% of its unionized workforce, across 17 publications. The cuts eliminate entire newsrooms in some cities, including the Miami Herald’s city hall desk and the Fresno Bee’s investigative team. While the company cites shifting market dynamics and technology, unions and staff warn that the reductions, combined with the rollout of AI content tools, will create significant gaps in local accountability reporting.
Key points
- McClatchy laid off at least 90 unionized workers, equating to 30% of its unionized staff, across 17 newspapers.
- The Miami Herald lost its city hall reporter, sole video producer, and all reporters covering Broward County.
- The Fresno Bee cut up to 40% of its staff, including award-winning investigative and accountability reporters.
- The company is owned by hedge fund Chatham Asset Management and cites 'evolving audience behaviors' as the reason for cuts.
- Unions argue the layoffs are part of a strategy to replace human journalists with AI-generated content.
Background
This follows a series of restructuring moves by McClatchy, a company owned by Chatham Asset Management, which previously pivoted away from print toward visual journalism. In May 2026, reports indicated McClatchy was experimenting with AI to generate articles, leading to labor disputes, including a strike vote at ProPublica. The current layoffs are the latest in a trend of cost-cutting measures across the news industry, including recent reductions at The Associated Press.
How outlets are covering it
AP News reports that McClatchy spokesperson Lark-Marie Antón stated the cuts are intended to position the company for long-term success and maintain investment in innovation, while declining to provide specific numbers. The NewsGuild-CWA, the union representing the laid-off workers, describes the cuts as a 'gaping hole' in local coverage and criticizes the company for replacing high-skilled employees with AI. Fresnoland highlights the specific impact on the Fresno Bee, noting that the layoffs follow the introduction of AI 'content scaling agents' that repurpose reporter work, raising concerns that the cuts are designed to facilitate AI-driven news production rather than genuine business necessity.
Why it matters
The layoffs threaten the viability of local journalism in major U.S. cities, eliminating dedicated coverage of city halls, courts, and local government. The shift toward AI-generated content raises concerns about the quality and accountability of news reporting, potentially leaving communities without essential watchdog journalism.
What to watch
The NewsGuild-CWA is expected to continue advocating for the laid-off workers and opposing the use of AI in newsrooms. McClatchy may face further labor disputes or public backlash as the impact of the cuts becomes apparent in local coverage. The company may continue to expand its use of AI tools to reduce reliance on human journalists.
- For the US news industry, a tough summer draws to a close with McClatchy chain’s cuts AP News
- Over half of Idaho Statesman staff laid off as part of national cuts to parent company KTVB
- The Fresno Bee slashes almost 40% of newsroom as part of nationwide layoffs from parent company Fresnoland
- McClatchy laid off 30% of its unionized workers; here’s how local coverage will suffer The NewsGuild - CWA
- McClatchy Makes Deep Job Cuts to Newspapers Around the Country The New York Times
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on AP News