Observed Signal · Nov 14, 2022 · Layoffs · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Negative
Twitter fires thousands of contractors
Twitter reportedly terminated between 4,400 and 5,500 contract workers under Elon Musk, with recipients learning of the layoffs only after Slack and email access were shut down over a weekend. Casey Newton of Platformer reported the figure on November 12, 2022, and noted that the news was shared publicly via Twitter. Company sources and reports from Axios and CNBC corroborate that the cuts were part of a reprioritization and savings effort and are expected to affect content moderation and essential infrastructure services that keep the platform running. Employees across regions and roles—including moderation, facilities, marketing, and technology—were impacted, and managers reportedly were not informed in advance. The move follows broader staffing reductions and leadership departures and has provoked concern among advertisers and users about the platform’s stability and future strategy.
Mass layoffs at a major platform affecting operations and advertising ecosystem.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Twitter reportedly fired 4,400 to 5,500 contract workers.
- Layoffs reportedly occurred with Slack and email access cut off over a weekend.
- The terminations were described as part of a reprioritization and savings plan.
- Affected groups included moderation, facilities, marketing, and technology staff worldwide.
- Company sources indicate potential significant impact on content moderation and core infrastructure services.
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Axel Springer Plans Job Cuts Across Premium Group
Axel Springer is planning job cuts across its Premium Group, which includes Welt, Politico, Business Insider, and Icon. The company confirmed reductions affecting all areas, from editorial to graphics and business divisions. The cuts are expected to be in the medium double-digit range across all brands, aiming to eliminate duplicate and triple structures. While Süddeutsche Zeitung reported around 50 roles mainly at Welt, Springer did not confirm this, emphasizing all brands are affected. As a first step, the regional editorial offices of Welt am Sonntag in Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia are being dissolved, with printed regional supplements discontinued at year-end. This impacts six permanent editors and several freelancers. The company is in discussions with the works council to find mutually agreeable solutions. This follows Axel Springer's recent acquisition of the British Telegraph.
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