NABJ, AAJA, JAWS, and NLGJA Meet with NBC Executives to Discuss Concerns About Recent Layoffs

The board members of the Asian American Journalists Association, National Association of Black Journalists, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Journalism & Women Symposium, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists are deeply disappointed by the decision by NBC News to lay off staffers from their sites dedicated to marginalized communities.

While cutting nearly 7 percent of its newsroom, NBC News laid off staffers who were fully dedicated to its verticals covering Black, Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander and LGBTQ+ communities. The company has said the verticals will continue to be updated by staffers across the newsroom, but dissolving these editorial teams represents a step back in NBC’s commitment to making sure their reporting represents the diversity of this country.

Leaders from AAJA, NABJ, JAWS, and NLGJA met with NBC executives on Wednesday to discuss our concerns. They said the decision was related to financial pressures, and reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the work to cover diverse communities and experiences.

As presidents of groups dedicated to ensuring the news industry and its coverage reflect our viewers, we urged NBC News to remain steadfast in their support for championing essential coverage of Black, Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander and LGBTQ+ communities – and to recommit to representative newsrooms that reflect the diversity of every community.