Buzzfeed and Verizon Media announce staff cuts

There’s no easy way to announce layoffs.

Buzzfeed and Verizon Media (formerly Oath) informed their respective teams by email that there would be staff reductions. The moves are part of digital publishers’ efforts to turn a profit and streamline current offerings.

The cutbacks come one day after Gannett conducted a nationwide purge in its newsrooms.

Buzzfeed announced its news via email around 6:30 p.m. Eastern time.

The New York Times reported:

“Hello BuzzFeeders,” [Buzzfeed chief Jonah Peretti] wrote. “I’m writing with sad news: we are doing layoffs at BuzzFeed next week. We will be making a 15% overall reduction in headcount across the company. I’m sending this tonight because I wanted you to hear it from me directly instead of from the press.”