NBC News Lays Off 150 Employees, Gutting DEI and LGBTQ+ Teams Amidst Ratings Decline

NBC News Layoffs and Reorganization

• 📉 NBC News Group has laid off approximately 150 employees, representing about 7% of its newsroom, as part of a reorganization.
• 🎯 The cuts specifically targeted and eliminated dedicated editorial teams covering Black, Latino, Asian-American, and LGBTQ+ communities.
• 🏢 This move is framed by NBC executives as an efficiency measure to eliminate overlap and streamline operations, separating MSNBC from NBC News under a new entity called Versent.

Declining Ratings and Financial Pressures

• 📊 MSNBC and CNN are experiencing significant declines in viewership, with MSNBC averaging around 1 million viewers in prime time and CNN averaging even lower.
• 📉 In the key 25-54 demographic, MSNBC is averaging under 100,000 viewers, a year-over-year drop of 15% overall and 20% in the demo.
• ⚠️ The financial health of traditional television business is eroding, with declining TV ratings and ad revenue not fully offset by digital growth, leading to audience migration to streaming platforms.

"Go Woke, Go Broke" Narrative

• 💡 The layoffs are presented as an example of the "go woke, go broke" phenomenon, suggesting that DEI initiatives and coverage of marginalized communities are not profitable.
• 💰 The argument is made that when companies face financial hardship, they cut the