McClatchy Cuts 90+ Journalists Nationwide in Restructuring, California Papers Hit Hard

NewsData.io · United States · Sep 11, 2026

McClatchy eliminated more than 90 journalist positions across at least 13 newspapers in eight states, with California newsrooms among the hardest hit — The Sacramento Bee lost at least 10 staff, the Fresno Bee seven, and Modesto three. The company framed the cuts as a restructuring to align staffing with subscriber interests, while union leaders noted McClatchy made a 'major investment in AI' alongside the reductions. The layoffs underscore continued contraction in the media sector, with McClatchy — owned by Chatham Asset Management since its 2020 bankruptcy exit — shrinking its footprint and deprioritizing backfill hiring. Staffing agencies serving media, publishing, and content clients should note the accelerating displacement of journalism roles as AI investment grows.