Journalists of Color Disproportionately Affected by Layoffs Across US Newsrooms

December 14, 2025 – USA – 

Journalists of color are being hit hardest by a new wave of layoffs sweeping through U.S. newsrooms, raising renewed concerns about equity, representation, and the long-term impact on media diversity. Industry observers warn that the cuts risk reversing years of progress toward more inclusive journalism at a time when news organizations are under intense financial pressure.

Recent layoffs at major media outlets have disproportionately affected reporters, editors, and producers from marginalized backgrounds, according to accounts from affected journalists and newsroom diversity advocates. Many of those laid off were hired in recent years as part of initiatives aimed at broadening coverage and better reflecting the communities’ newsrooms serve. As budgets shrink, those same positions are now among the first to be eliminated.

Journalists of color say the trend reflects structural vulnerabilities within media organizations. Often, newer hires are more likely to hold contract roles, temporary positions, or jobs tied to grant-funded diversity projects. When funding dries up or cost-cutting accelerates, these roles are frequently deemed expendable, despite their contributions to audience growth and more representative reporting.

Media workers and unions have expressed alarm that the layoffs will narrow the range of perspectives in news coverage. They argue that journalists of color are often responsible for reporting on undercovered communities, racial justice, immigration, and social inequality. Losing those voices, they say, weakens journalism’s ability to hold power to account and accurately reflect society.

Some affected journalists have also raised concerns about transparency and decision-making processes behind the layoffs. In several cases, newsroom leadership publicly reaffirmed commitments to diversity while simultaneously cutting positions that embodied those goals. Critics describe this contradiction as damaging to trust and morale within news organizations.

Industry analysts note that the layoffs come amid a broader crisis in journalism, driven by declining advertising revenue, shifts in audience behavior, and consolidation. While these pressures affect all journalists, advocates stress that the unequal impact on journalists of color reveals deeper inequities that were never fully addressed.

Press-freedom and labor groups are calling on media companies to reassess how cuts are implemented and to consider diversity and equity as core values rather than optional initiatives. They urge newsrooms to protect hard-won gains in representation and to involve journalists and unions in decision-making during restructuring.

For many journalists of color, the layoffs feel like a setback not only professionally but institutionally. As one journalist put it, diversity in journalism is not a trend to be scaled back in difficult times but a necessity for credible, trustworthy reporting. Without sustained commitment, advocates warn, newsrooms risk becoming less representative, less relevant, and less capable of serving the public interest.

Reference – 

https://www.nairaland.com/8581578/journalists-color-being-laid-off

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/14/journalists-of-color-layoffs