NBC News has disbanded its diversity-focused reporting teams amid a 7% newsroom layoff, reflecting both budget cuts and a wider media retreat from DEI initiatives.
NBC News has eliminated its dedicated teams covering Black, Asian American, Latino and LGBTQ+ communities as part of Wednesday’s layoffs affecting about 150 employees, sources said.
The move dissolves the NBC BLK, NBC Asian America, NBC Latino and NBC OUT vertical teams, though related coverage will be redistributed across the broader newsroom. The cuts represent roughly 7% of NBC News’ 2,000-member newsroom and 2% of the wider NBCU News Group, which includes Telemundo and local stations.
The decision was announced at a 10 a.m. meeting by executive vice president Catherine Kim, who called it a “difficult day for a lot of us.” NBC cited budget concerns and the consolidation of operations following MSNBC’s transition under Versant.
The layoffs reflect industry-wide media contraction and a broader pullback from corporate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. It marks NBC News’ second round of cuts this year, though the company says some roles will be repurposed.