Key Takeaways
- The entertainment and media industries experienced a significant decline in 2025, with over 17,000 job cuts announced through November.
- The job cuts were driven by consolidation, cost-cutting, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence.
- The media industry’s job losses were part of a broader trend of corporate retrenchment, with overall US job cuts topping 1.17 million through November.
- Companies are increasingly citing automation as a reason for trimming payrolls and streamlining operations.
- Newsrooms and digital publishers were particularly hard hit, with many experiencing significant job cuts and restructuring.
Introduction to the Media Industry’s Decline
The entertainment and media industries have been experiencing a brutal and ongoing contraction, resulting in the loss of over 17,000 jobs in 2025. According to data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, US-based media companies announced 17,163 job cuts through November, representing an 18% increase from 2024. This trend is part of a broader climate of corporate retrenchment, with overall US job cuts topping 1.17 million through November, marking the highest level since the pandemic.
The Impact of Consolidation and Cost-Cutting
The media industry’s job losses were driven by consolidation, cost-cutting, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence. The Paramount Skydance merger, for example, led to the elimination of roughly 2,000 positions, while Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCUniversal each launched their own restructuring campaigns, cutting staff ahead of planned cable spinoffs. The decline of traditional television revenue and the shift to digital operations have forced companies to reevaluate their staffing needs and streamline their operations.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Job Cuts
Companies are increasingly citing automation as a reason for trimming payrolls and streamlining operations. According to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, employers cited artificial intelligence for more than 54,000 planned economy-wide job cuts in 2025. Generative tools are beginning to absorb tasks once handled by designers, editors, marketers, and junior newsroom staff, leading to significant job cuts in the media industry. The use of artificial intelligence is expected to continue to drive job cuts in the media industry, as companies seek to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
The State of Newsrooms and Digital Publishers
Newsrooms and digital publishers have been particularly hard hit by the decline of the media industry. The Washington Post, for example, cut roughly 4% of its workforce, while CNN eliminated about 200 jobs and CBS News laid off about 100 staffers. Digital publishers such as Business Insider, Forbes, and Dotdash Meredith have also experienced deep reductions, with many citing a push to operate "AI first" or a need to reduce costs. The decline of advertising revenue and the shift to digital operations have forced newsrooms and digital publishers to reevaluate their staffing needs and streamline their operations.
The Outlook for the Media Industry
The data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas points to continued cause for caution heading into 2026, with hiring plans at a 15-year low and companies still citing restructuring, closures, and AI as leading drivers of layoffs. The media industry is likely to continue to experience significant job cuts and restructuring, as companies seek to reduce costs and improve efficiency in a rapidly changing market. The increasing use of artificial intelligence and the decline of traditional television revenue are likely to continue to drive job cuts in the media industry, making it essential for companies to adapt and evolve to remain competitive.
Conclusion
The entertainment and media industries have been experiencing a significant decline, resulting in the loss of over 17,000 jobs in 2025. The job cuts were driven by consolidation, cost-cutting, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence. Newsrooms and digital publishers have been particularly hard hit, with many experiencing significant job cuts and restructuring. The outlook for the media industry is uncertain, with hiring plans at a 15-year low and companies still citing restructuring, closures, and AI as leading drivers of layoffs. As the media industry continues to evolve, it is essential for companies to adapt and innovate to remain competitive and minimize the impact of job cuts on their operations.
