NatGeo lays off last remaining writers, copies to go off newsstands next year

National Geographic, an award-winning magazine known for covering science and the natural world in great depth, has laid off the last of its remaining writing staff.

For some time now, the magazine has been struggling, with the decline of print and the growth of digital spaces. These are the second layoffs over nine months, and the fourth since layoffs commenced in 2015.

According to Washington Post, the magazine will now approach freelancers for writing articles, or they will be assembled by the editorial staff. 19 staff writers who were let go on Wednesday, were notified about this possibility in April.

Besides, the magazine also got rid of its small audio department as part of the cutback. The bright-yellow-bordered copies of the NatGeo publications will go off newsstands starting next year, as part of a cost-cutting move.

Taking to Twitter, some of the writing staff that was laid off, shared their experience working with National Geographic. “I’ve been so lucky. I got to work w/incredible journalists and tell important, global stories. It’s been an honor,” said Craig Welch in a tweet.

“It’s been a wonderful five years—an honor and a joy. Very proud of the work that my colleagues and I have done here,” wrote Douglas Main, one of the staff writers who was laid off on Wednesday.

Photographers used to work in the field to capture pictures that made it to the cover and inside the NatGeo magazine. However, the photo contracts have also been significantly reduced, staffers said.

The reshuffling of staff initially began in 2015, when the ‘Society’ and 21st Century Fox formed a partnership. Later in 2019, Fox and Disney agreed to a whopping $71 billion deal, the Washington Post said.

National Geographic spokesperson Chris Albert reacted to the lay off, saying it would give “more flexibility” to tell stories. The cutback will not affect the publishing of National Geographic magazine monthly, he said to The Post in an email.