Ziff Davis, the media conglomerate that owns shops like CNET, ZDNET, PCMag, and Mashable is shedding 15 % of the unionized workforce, or 23 whole individuals.
Nearly all of layoffs are coming from CNET, the place 19 individuals will lose their jobs — at the same time as Ziff Davis goes on a purchasing spree. The layoffs will hit CNET protection areas just like the finance, broadband, and sleep beats, in addition to the outlet’s copy desk. A handful of staffers throughout Lifehacker, Mashable, and ZDNet may even be laid off.
“It’s very clear to us that these cuts aren’t about journalism,” Anna Iovine, unit chair of the Ziff Davis Creators Guild, says. “They’re primarily based on cash and greed.” Iovine famous explicit issues round reducing copy editors and reality checkers.
“Eliminating any protection is absolutely devastating. These journalists, a few of them have a long time of expertise, and we’re shedding [that],” Iovine says.
Ziff Davis has acquired 5 different firms this year alone, most notably the favored publication TheSkimm and the well being outlet Nicely+Good. CNET was acquired by Ziff Davis in 2024 for $100 million. Ziff Davis didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
“At a time when CNET remains to be constructing again its repute after a dangerous AI scandal underneath Pink Ventures, Ziff’s determination to additional undermine CNET’s human authority is disturbing,” an announcement from the bargaining unit reads.
“Our members are a lot greater than {dollars} and cents, even because the capricious administration at Ziff Davis tries to deal with us as such,” the assertion continues. “We received a powerful collective bargaining settlement simply over a 12 months in the past, and we’ll combat to implement it so we are able to protect our capability to proceed producing high-quality work for our readers.”