The atmosphere at ABC News has been somber this week following a major wave of layoffs that has left staffers in shock.
The latest cuts, which impact approximately 200 employees across ABC News and other Disney-owned divisions,
have particularly affected the network’s Good Morning America (GMA) franchise.
The restructuring has resulted in the near-total dismantling of the GMA3 team, sending ripples through the newsroom.
The abrupt dismissals have caused widespread distress among employees, with many seen making frantic phone calls to colleagues, trying to grasp the full extent of the layoffs.
Sources within the network have described the situation as tense, with staffers struggling to process the sudden changes.
ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic acknowledged the challenges, stating that the restructuring would be “undoubtedly difficult for our organization.”
This latest development comes just two years after GMA3 was engulfed in scandal due to the highly publicized affair between former co-hosts TJ Holmes and Amy Robach. Their relationship, which came to light in late 2022, led to their eventual departure from the network. Since then, the program has undergone multiple shifts in format and hosting personnel. Currently helmed by Eva Pilgrim and DeMarco Morgan, GMA3 is facing another dramatic upheaval, with much of its supporting team now eliminated.
Neither Pilgrim nor Morgan were affected by the layoffs, but the majority of the cuts will take effect on May 10. Employees impacted by the layoffs will receive severance packages, including regular pay for 60 days and an additional week of compensation per year served. However, some staffers have expressed frustration, noting that previous rounds of layoffs provided two weeks per year served.
ABC News has been steadily downsizing in recent months. In October, the network eliminated 40 positions, with Karamehmedovic stating at the time that tough decisions were necessary. The latest round of job losses has further consolidated ABC’s operations. Several key figures have been let go, including GMA3’s executive producer Catherine McKenzie. Additionally, ABC News Studios, 20/20, Nightline, and Impact x Nightline will now be managed under a single leadership structure as part of the broader restructuring efforts.
The sweeping changes extend beyond the GMA3 team. Cindy Galli, an executive producer on ABC’s investigative team, was also dismissed. Meanwhile, former executive director of ABC News Live, Seni Tienabeso, has been promoted to Vice President of the network’s streaming service. Digital and social media operations are being further integrated with news gathering and other teams in an effort to streamline ABC’s content delivery model.
Most of the layoffs have affected employees based in New York, many of whom had recently relocated from ABC’s longtime Upper West Side headquarters to Disney’s new office space in Lower Manhattan. This move was originally seen as a step toward modernization but has now coincided with significant job losses, further intensifying uncertainty among remaining staff.
The layoffs at ABC News reflect broader trends in the media industry, where traditional television networks are grappling with declining viewership and advertising revenue. Many media companies, including CNN and NBC News, have been making significant cuts in response to shifting audience habits. CNN recently laid off around 200 employees as part of a pivot toward digital-focused content, while NBC News has also seen notable departures, including longtime Meet the Press host Chuck Todd, who has transitioned to a podcasting venture.
The push toward digital content is evident in ABC’s latest strategy, as both GMA and GMA3 are now available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. However, these services do not yet offer live broadcasts, raising questions about how ABC News plans to engage its audience moving forward.
As the dust settles from this latest round of layoffs, the future of ABC News remains uncertain. The company’s shift in priorities appears aimed at adapting to the evolving media landscape, but at a significant human cost. Employees who remain at the network now face an altered work environment, with fewer resources and heightened pressure to maintain output with a reduced team.
Ultimately, the impact of these changes on ABC’s flagship programs remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the newsroom’s restructuring marks a significant turning point in the network’s history—one that reflects the ongoing transformation of the television news industry as a whole.
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