Some of the nation’s largest local newspapers have been gutted as industry giant McClatchy Media pivots toward artificial intelligence-generated articles about sober sauna raves, nugget ice and poop.
Mass layoffs were announced Thursday across McClatchy-owned newspapers, including The Kansas City Star, the Idaho Statesman and The Charlotte Observer. Many of the outlets suffered steep cuts, including the Miami Herald, where the editorial staff was slashed by a third.
More than 90 journalists across 17 publications were laid off, according to the NewsGuild, accounting for some 40% of the company’s unionized workers…