The media industry is facing a significant upheaval with the abrupt closure of The Messenger and layoffs at The Wall Street Journal's D.C. bureau. The Messenger's shutdown has left many journalists without severance or healthcare, and without access to their work portfolios, as the site was taken down shortly after the staff was cut. Staff were not notified by the company, were cut off from Slack, and kicked out of the office. Journalists expressed pride in their work and a desire to continue in their field, despite the sudden job loss. The Wall Street Journal, under the direction of EIC Emma Tucker, has restructured its D.C. bureau, resulting in 17 writers being laid off. The restructuring includes the closure of the business team and the U.S.-China news team, with economics coverage moving under the finance team. The changes have been met with sadness and concern for the affected journalists, many of whom are highly regarded in their fields.
I really feel for reporters losing their jobs such as those at the WSJ. Having survived layoffs at U.S. News & World Report + having experienced pay cuts, job instability was always top of mind. Journalism can be such a great job. But I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who…
“The bureau’s team covering U.S.-China news will be shuttered.” One of the main reasons I read the WSJ daily is for their coverage. I’ll be on the lookout for where they go, and I’ll subscribe to read their reporting. https://t.co/IudJGSzmEB
Our Wall Street Journal Washington Bureau lost some of its most beloved reporters and editors today. I am heartbroken that this industry we love and care about so much can be so fickle and turn peoples lives upside down. Please pay for News and hire my talented colleagues
So bummed about all my friends and former colleagues at the WSJ laid off today. What a body blow.
The WSJ laid off many of my friends, colleagues and editors in the DC bureau today. These are some outstanding, seasoned, expert journalists who helped us do great work. If you’re hiring, there are some excellent folks now on the journalism job market in Washington.
So sad for my former colleagues in the WSJ DC bureau. https://t.co/UG4bGsNTLA
Our WSJ D.C. bureau lost some of its best editors and reporters today. It's been absolutely gutting, and they all have families and lives to think about. Please remember there are human beings sacrificing a whole lot to bring you the news and hold people in power to account.
The Wall Street Journal sharply cut its Washington, D.C. bureau staff on Thursday, letting nearly 20 reporters and various editors go as the paper re-envisions the bureau’s reporting structure. https://t.co/Rn3Lo4nmO5
WSJ, including its DC bureau, has some of the best China reporters of any news outlet. This is really sad news. https://t.co/SPA5J8bzgH
NEWS: I've confirmed that 17 writers (16 reporters and one columnist) at the @WSJ were laid off today as part of the D.C. bureau's restructuring.
.@WSJ is shutting its DC-based business team and its DC-based China team. Economics coverage will now be under the finance team. More here: https://t.co/TZPsnFuK1g
Note from WSJ EIC Emma Tucker to Journal staff about today’s layoffs changes to the paper’s DC bureau. The business team and Washington-based China team are both shuttering. https://t.co/rm6d3pkZw2
MORE: WSJ editor Emma Tucker tells staff the restructured DC bureau "will focus on politics, policy, defense, law, intelligence and national security." The DC-based biz and U.S.-China teams are closing, as is the DC news desk
I was laid off amid The Messenger's abrupt closure. I've received so many kind words of support and encouragement already — I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. If there is a role you think I'd be a great fit for, let me know!
🚨BREAKING🚨 Just got word the @WSJ is laying off “reporters” at this very moment. The Fake News is dying right in front of our eyes. The American people aren’t buying the BS propaganda these divisive outlets are pushing.
As many of you probably know, The Messenger sadly shut down yesterday. I just want to express how grateful I am to have been surround by so many incredible journalists, editors, and staffers who deserved so much better. Thank you to everyone on the politics team for everything!
It’s absolutely awful to think about how so many excellent reporters quit great jobs to go to The Messenger and now have to look for jobs in an even worse financial environment for media…with no severance and no portfolio of articles to share, despite being worked to the bone.
The Messenger is no longer! So here I am, to thank everyone I worked with during this time, and to say that I am open to new opportunities! (And need to find one in two months because of my O1 visa status lol) But here’s some people I have to mention before I go:
Well, now that The Messenger is shutting down, I'm on the job hunt. I can write, report and produce, and I have covered everything from elections to education policy. I'd love to keep covering the fight for the House and other important down-ballot stories. DM's are open!
Here’s a tweet I will not delete. The fact that The Messenger shut down the site within about two hours after cutting their entire organization without severance or healthcare is absurd. Shutting down the site and depriving journalists of their work that they need to show to get…
Insane. Just cut off from Slack, kicked out of the office, and not even a week or two of severance. It's going to be hard to top the Messenger in the annals of catastrophic media startups Pouring one out for all the journalists who tried their best to do good work despite it all https://t.co/DQdTkR975n
It has been a brutal and devastating month for reporters and the media industry. Sending so much love to great people who have been laid off.
I’ve written some difficult stories in my career, but drafting an I’ve-been-laid-off tweet has to be the hardest. Idk what’s next, but thank you to the readers and sources who gave The Messenger a chance — and the stellar politics team that made this worth the risk
My thoughts are with everyone laid off from The Messenger today. Even in an environment of depressing media layoffs, this one is especially awful. No severance, healthcare cut off on the spot, no notification from the company at all. Everyone there deserves better.
How unfortunate to learn The Messenger would shut down via the New York Times. I am saddened because so many journalists did great work, but particularly the stellar politics team that I worked with. We consistently broke news, were on the trail, and made a name for the… https://t.co/3DvO94M6km
It's official. I just got laid off from @TheMessenger. I'm so proud of the work I did there, alongside some of the best colleagues. Please pass along good vibes, advice and any job openings! I've spent my career covering politics, and hope to continue to do so. My DM's are open!
Sad to see many talented reporters laid off at the Messenger. They made a good effort at breaking news without the partisan slant at many other outlets.
That’s it for The Messenger and my time there. I worked with some truly talented people who deserved so much more. I will always be proud of what the Politics team achieved over 8 months. I’m looking forward to what is next. But time to reflect on what matters in life.
I know so many journos who were lured to jobs at the Messenger hoping it would be the best chance for them. This is just fucked up. https://t.co/BsRBzD9OdH
The Messenger is shutting down, which means I’m looking for a new job. I've reported on cybersecurity since 2014, and I'm excited to continue covering it as it becomes even more important to our daily lives. If you think your newsroom needs a cyber reporter, please reach out.
The Messenger went under today, which sucks. But I’m eternally grateful for the experience and opportunity to be the reporter I wanted to be. And I got to work with people I’ve looked up to since I was a teenager. Thank you to all of those people.
Really sad about The Messenger but I'm SO proud of the work I did there with a lot of great colleagues who became friends. I love covering presidential politics and really want to keep doing it. If you have room on your team, I would love to chat.