BuzzFeed terminates 'BuzzFeed News' news division after laying off 15% of employees

Online media 'BuzzFeed' has announced that it will terminate the news division 'BuzzFeed News' due to a personnel reduction plan. Regarding news, it will be integrated into 'HuffPost', which was acquired in 2020.

BuzzFeed News Is Shutting Down, Company Laying Off 180 Staffers - Variety

BuzzFeed News to shut down

BuzzFeed Lays Off 15% of Staff, Shuts Down News Division - The New York Times

The closure of BuzzFeed News was revealed in an email sent to employees on April 20 by CEO Jonah Peretti. BuzzFeed is reducing personnel in all departments because it is not profitable, and about 180 people, or 15% of employees, have been dismissed. Along with this, the decision was made that 'it is no longer possible to continue to fund BuzzFeed News as an independent organization,' and the closure was decided.

BuzzFeed acquired 'HuffPost' from Verizon in November 2020, and it seems that the news business will be concentrated on HuffPost in the future. The main site, BuzzFeed.com, will continue as is.

BuzzFeed was founded in 2006. Initially, we used an algorithm that sorted out the signs of trends on the Internet to discover viral content, and sent out quizzes and articles related to pop culture. Started reporting in the latter half of 2011, and separated news and entertainment in 2016. This is when BuzzFeed News was born.

For a while after the separation, the 'BuzzFeed News' tag was attached on the original site, and the app was separate, but from 2018, it will be operated under its own domain 'buzzfeednews.com', and the distinction will be further differentiated. clarified. At this point, BuzzFeed News is reported to have 200 million PV per month.

BuzzFeed launches a new website for its real journalism | TechCrunch