Major Layoffs Affect Race and Ethnicity Coverage at The Washington Post and Other News Outlets

This week, The Washington Post underwent significant layoffs, impacting numerous employees including its noted race and ethnicity reporter, Emmanuel Felton. Felton, whose X profile now identifies him as the Post’s ‘first and last race and ethnicity reporter,’ indicated he was among the hundreds let go from the ‘Democracy Dies in Darkness’ publication, emphasizing that his termination was more ideological than financial.

Felton revealed via social media, ‘This comes six months after hearing in a national meeting that race coverage drives subscriptions. This wasn’t a financial decision; it was an ideological one.’ Describing the staff changes, he noted, ‘The other reporter on my team covering race was also laid off as well as the editor in charge of race coverage across national. The team covering America beyond DC is now 90% White.’

Despite requests, neither Felton nor The Washington Post has commented further on the matter. The layoffs at the Post align with a broader trend seen across numerous media outlets that initially expanded race-focused coverage following the 2020 racial equality protests ignited by George Floyd’s death.

Recently, other media organizations have been scaling back these initiatives. NBC News, for example, slashed approximately 7-8% of its news staff in October, impacting those associated with ‘diversity verticals,’ like NBC BLK, NBC Asian America, and NBC Latino, which provide perspectives from various ethnic communities.

Similarly, CBS dismantled its Race & Culture Unit, a move that was part of larger cutbacks. This unit was initially created post-2020 to ensure consistent, accurate, and dynamic reporting on issues related to race and culture. Its closure followed complaints about internal diversity and coverage policies.

The Los Angeles Times also faced substantial layoffs early in 2024, affecting its Latino-centric division ‘De Los’ and prompting significant reductions in reporting staff. In the same vein, The Philadelphia Inquirer eliminated its Communities and Engagement Desk, which was dedicated to covering marginalized communities as part of its DEI efforts.

While some organizations, like Politico and Bloomberg, have chosen to suspend newsletters and initiatives focused on race and identity, many still strive to address systemic racism and foster inclusive reporting.