Viacom announced today that 25% of U.S. operations staff was to be laid off, including a shut down of MTV News. A company-wide email detailed that the layoffs are a result of the recent merger with ShowTime and Paramount+. In efforts to restructure the company, Paramount CEO Chris McCarthy stated that “Through the elimination of some units and by streamlining others, we will be able to reduce costs and create a more effective approach to our business as we move forward.” The company recently faced a 25% value drop on the stock market.
MTV News began in 1987, notably with programs hosted by acclaimed journalist and critic Kurt Loder and Tabitha Soren. The pair of hosts are receiving widespread praise today across social media for successfully bridging the gap between news and entertainment.
MTV News got an entire generation of Gen Xers and older millennials to start paying attention to global events, politics, the world. Kurt Loder & the MTV News crew expanded a part of my brain that living in small-town rural America never could. https://t.co/ZehpNmx6jD
— Alisha Grauso (@AlishaGrauso) May 9, 2023
Damn, Donald Trump being found liable for sexual abuse and defamation is exactly the kind of news story we would have learned about from Kurt Loder when he broke in during TRL with a special report. https://t.co/rXtSwXkBaH pic.twitter.com/oxDiXwQ88b
— John Elrod II (@LOTNorm) May 9, 2023
MTV News struggled to keep up with the changing landscape of video journalism starting in the early 2000s. The company made initial cuts to keep up with competitors like Buzzfeed and Vice. However, nothing competed successfully with MTV News’ original model. Contemporary programming primarily included feature interviews. Today, journalists and fans of the 36-year-old programming are mourning the loss of the News division.
mtv news was one of the first places i started writing for; i got a pitch accepted when i was 18 for an anniversary piece about a fall out boy album (a dream). i later interviewed ethel cain, slayyyter, sasami, julien baker, cloud nothings, & bartees strange for the site. rip
— danielle chelosky (@dniellechelosky) May 9, 2023
I’m not exaggerating when I say that MTV News was my primary news source in my formative years. I paid more attention to anything Kurt Loder had to say than almost any other adult in my life. It’s heartbreaking the way media has been allowed to become a total fucking wasteland. https://t.co/eXMoGV9w2O
— Brianna Ashby (@brianna_ashby) May 9, 2023
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MTV famously brought music videos to the mainstream pop culture. The news division allowed for music lovers to tune into their favorite artists’ videos and receive daily updates on world and national news in the process.
Damn, Donald Trump being found liable for sexual abuse and defamation is exactly the kind of news story we would have learned about from Kurt Loder when he broke in during TRL with a special report. https://t.co/rXtSwXkBaH pic.twitter.com/oxDiXwQ88b
— John Elrod II (@LOTNorm) May 9, 2023
Recent Layoffs
The news of MTV News’ shutdown comes shortly after countless other popular media brands doled out layoffs. Buzzfeed recently also shut the doors on their News division, opting to prioritize the creative side of the brand. Insider, Vice, and Vox similarly laid off thousands leading up to the MTV layoffs. Each company had a unique scenario–some were acquired by new parent companies, others merged, and several just did not have the funds to staff reporters.
The media layoffs are disheartening reporters across social media. In wake of the latest wave of layoffs, many are offering to support to the thousands that suddenly find themselves unemployed.
what a run! my freelance career started with mtv news because you were willing to take a chance on me when i had little to no idea what i was doing, eternally grateful for every chance we've had to work together — wishing you so much luck on whatever comes next!!
— ???????????????????????????? (@bylarisha) May 9, 2023
MTV News and 25% of Paramount Media Networks are gone. This is not normal. https://t.co/99KBetXneS
— kelsey weekman (@kelsaywhat) May 9, 2023
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Many writers are crediting the network’s creative outlook on news for inspiring them to pursue careers in music journalism, and for jumpstarting their professional careers.
Interviewed an artist for MTV News literally yesterday. It played a huge role in giving me my freelancing career. Yet another digital pub gets slashed. This really, really sucks.https://t.co/VgWvTKQJ2H
— Grant Sharples (@grantsharpies) May 9, 2023
According to several employees affected by layoffs, Friday will be their last day working for the company.
Hi! This Friday, May 12 will be my last day at MTV News after eight years. Very open to writing/editing gigs, band bios, anything digital/social. Email is in bio!
— Patrick Hosken (@patrickhosken) May 9, 2023
MTV’s company leads have not issued further comment on layoffs at this time, nor provided further clarification on whether MTV’s entertainment programs, including “Drag Race”, will be affected.
