NBC News has launched several news teams focused on identity issues, covering topics related to sexuality and race.
Alongside this, there were unexpected layoffs that impacted numerous employees.
“This isn’t their first gay rodeo.”
According to NBC News, the announcement of the layoffs came early Wednesday, with executive vice president Katherine Kim relaying the news. Around 10 a.m., about 150 employees were informed they no longer had jobs in what one insider termed “a difficult day for many of us.”
LGB free
The Wrap reported that these layoffs resulted in the disbanding of teams that were meant to cater to news audiences pertaining to Black, Asian, Latino, and various LGBTQ identities. This includes NBC BLK, NBC Asia America, NBC Latin, and NBC OUT.
NBC OUT, for example, described its content as serving the “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community.”
Their recent articles included topics like “Queer Art Faces Widespread Museum Censorship” and “This Isn’t the First Gay Rodeo: Celebrating 50 Years of Queer Cowfolk.”
NBC BLK recently published an article titled “New exhibit focuses on LGBTQ legacy of Harlem Renaissance.”
While this type of content will still be produced, the coverage will likely be less focused than before.
The Wrap added that although certain sections will still carry articles about identity groups, these will come from a smaller team of just five individuals who will write across those sections. An anonymous source indicated that the layoffs were not specifically targeting diversity teams but were more related to budget constraints and an effort to “streamline editorial operations.”
ruffled feathers
These changes come on the heels of a network restructuring announced by Comcast in August. Reports indicate that USA Network, CNBC, and MSNBC will be spun off into a new company called Versant. MSNBC will also be rebranded as “MS NOW,” dropping its iconic peacock logo.
The new name stands for “My Source News Opinion World.”
Originally founded in 1996 through a partnership between Microsoft and the national broadcasting company, MSNBC saw Microsoft exit the venture in 2012.
Meanwhile, CNBC will retain its name, which stands for Consumer News and Business Channel.
Selling diversity
The overall layoffs at NBC News represent about 7% of its workforce of 2,000. This decision arrives amid a broader trend of companies moving away from contentious sectors, though often not in a harmonious manner.
Earlier this year, Paramount decided to discontinue its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, including racial quotas for staffing and writing positions, after a white writer filed a lawsuit citing discrimination.
Additionally, George Cheeks, the former president and CEO of CBS, had set a goal for 40% of the network’s writing staff to be non-white, with reports suggesting that 17 out of 21 networks met or surpassed this target.
