L.A. Times lays off 115, including many sports beats

The L.A. Times is laying off 115 staffers as billionaire owner Patrick Soon-Shiong "looks to stem losses that have grown to" $30-$40M a year. The layoff figure "includes both union members and non-union managers." Matt Pearce, a Times reporter and president of Media Guild West, said that "94 union staffers were being let go." The layoffs were "expected to impact employees with the least seniority," per the union’s contract. The union "rejected a management proposal to offer buyouts in exchange for giving up the seniority rule" (VARIETY, 1/23).

Among others, the paper laid off Clippers beat writer Andrew Greif, Angels beat writer Sarah Valenzuela and Dodgers beat writer Jack Harris. The L.A. Times currently has "no full-time beat writer" for the Dodgers, Angels, Clippers, Kings, Ducks, Sparks, LAFC, Galaxy or Angel City (X, 1/23).