National Geographic Hit With New Round of Layoffs
National Geographic Partners laid off 12 full-time staffers last week, Mediaite has learned, the latest round of cuts that comes as parent company 21st Century Fox is expected to be sold to Disney in the coming months.
All of the staffers laid off by National Geographic Partners — owner of the storied yet recently troubled National Geographic magazine and television channel — worked for the company’s digital newsroom and digital operation.
A source told Mediaite the magazine’s editor in chief, Susan Goldberg, tried to cast the cuts as indicative of a move to emphasize the digital operation of National Geographic, even though all terminated employees worked in digital, and no magazine staffers were laid off.
In a statement a National Geographic spokesperson told Mediaite: “Two months ago, we announced structural changes to the organization to drive growth. Changes last week were a continued effort to evolve our organization as we – like many others in media – continue to address the ever-shifting landscape.”
The organization has seen its staff gradually cut since it was placed in a joint partnership with 21st Century Fox in 2015. Around 200 employees were cut in 2015, and several smaller waves of layoffs hit the organization in 2017 and early 2018. National Geographic’s properties are part of a pending deal for 21st Century Fox to be sold to Disney for $70 billion.
The layoffs were announced last Thursday. On Tuesday, Mediaite has learned, an all-hands meeting was held with National Geographic Partners CEO Gary Knell and new National Geographic Society CEO Tracy R. Wolstencroft — who both made comments some staffers found “tone-deaf.”
In the company meeting confirmed by Mediaite, Wolstencroft described one of the organization’s mission statements as shining a light on “the so-called dark continent” of Africa.
Knell, who was named CEO of National Geographic Partners earlier this year, also told staff in the meeting that he has never asked for a raise or a promotion. One source said staffers were “incensed” that leadership could be so “tone-deaf” just days after laying off a dozen staffers.
A National Geographic spokesperson told Mediaite that Knell’s comment was made to “illustrate his point that he has always followed his passion for making a difference in his career decisions, including making the move from National Geographic Society to National Geographic Partners.”
Some recent firings at the network have rankled staff. Patrick Witty, the magazine’s former deputy director of photography, left National Geographic in December amidst an investigation into accusations of extensive sexual misconduct. Since, other senior employees have been abruptly fired, but leadership declined to explain to staff the reason for their dismissal. One source said they believe that’s because executives fear “rocking the boat” ahead of 21st Century Fox’s pending merger with Disney. A spokesperson denied this.
[image via National Geographic]
