McClatchy cuts more than 90 journalists months after launching an AI tool its reporters refused to sign

McClatchy laid off more than 90 journalists across at least 13 papers in eight states, by union estimates, in what staff called its bloodiest round of cuts in years. The Miami Herald lost 20 journalists plus 10 vacant positions, the Charlotte Observer nearly a quarter of its newsroom, and five Pacific Northwest papers a third of their unionised staff. The company does not blame AI: its notice said it was "reshaping its newsroom structure to more closely align resources with changing subscriber interests," and an internal memo reported by TheWrap cited consumer revenue down 41% while local news costs stayed flat. Unions see a connection anyway. McClatchy had earlier built an AI tool that generates new pieces from reporters' work, and union members withheld their bylines from its output. "We've seen a major investment in AI, and we're seeing a major disinvestment in jobs," said Michael Applegate of the Pacific Media Workers Guild. McClatchy has not said the tool replaced any of the roles it cut.