Multiple NBA writers are among those impacted by the layoffs at The Athletic, announced Monday by the New York Times.
Rich Hoffman, who covers the 76ers for the subscription-based website, said he had been let go, as did longtime Indiana-based columnist Bob Kravitz, who occasionally covers the Pacers.
Kelsey Russo, who covers the Cavaliers, also announced she’s been laid off after four seasons on the beat.
Sports business reporter Bill Shea, who describes himself as a “Cleveland guy living in Detroit,” was among the other cuts. The Athletic is said to be doing away with its coverage of sports business entirely.
The New York Times bought The Athletic for $550 million in January 2022. It announced Monday that it is laying off 4 percent of its workforce as it shifts coverage away from traditional beats in sports other than the NFL and international soccer.
Twenty newsroom employees will be laid off and 20 others will be reassigned, the Times said. All are part of what The Athletic publisher David Perpich and executive editor Steven Ginsberg called “a significant reorganization” in a note to newsroom employees.
“The Athletic has generally viewed every league in a similar manner, with similar beats and offerings. But our growing body of research and our own understanding of the sports we cover compel a more nuanced approach,” the note said. “There is no perfect formula for determining which teams to cover, but we are committing dedicated beat reporters to the ones that most consistently produce stories that appeal to both large and news-hungry fan bases, as well as leaguewide audiences.”
The Times reported it has lost about $36 million since purchasing The Athletic, though overall revenue has increased.
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