DORAL, FLA. — Flights from nearby Miami International Airport aren’t the only thing around here taking off.
It appears upward of 150 people are also taking flight, for good, from Univision Communications.
It’s the second, and deeper, round of job cuts at the Hispanic and millennial-focused company in eight weeks. The company explains it is part of its “multi-year transformation initiative,” and also involves its English-language properties.
According to TheInformation.com, the 150 layoffs came yesterday (4/12), and does involve employees at Univision-owned Fusion Media Group.
The job cuts follow the departure of roughly 20 individuals from Univision in March 2018.
And, Thursday’s layoffs follow the announcement this week that Gizmodo Media Group Editor-in-Chief Raju Narisetti will be resigning.
According to a March 16 report in The Wall Street Journal, the job cuts were recommended by Boston Consulting Group as part of a review the company’s business. A preliminary recommendation saw BCG suggesting that Fusion cut its budget by up to a third, “people familiar with the matter” told the newspaper.
While Univision is still largely known for its Hispanic-centric television and digital media properties, it is also the owner of satirical news brand The Onion and the Gawker group of websites.
Asked for comment, a Univision spokesperson told RBR+TVBR, “UCI is undergoing a multi-year transformation initiative as part of our efforts to navigate and prosper in today’s media landscape and remain an unwavering advocate and source of information for the Hispanic community, and the rising and diverse American mainstream.
“We are focused on challenging ourselves to pursue strategies that strengthen our competitive edge and best position us for the future. As part of this process, we have made the difficult decision to eliminate some positions across various UCI business units. We are taking steps necessary for our business to continue to thrive, but we will never compromise our duty and purpose to inform, entertain and empower our community, which is more important today than ever before.”
It is not known if Univision Radio or its broadcast television O&Os were impacted by yesterday’s layoffs.
