The ESPN layoffs will be "larger than reported"
Clay Travis reported this several weeks ago. ESPN denied it. Indeed, they did more than just deny, they sent their PR after him
Here is Richard Deitsch's post on it --
You are going to be reading a lot about ESPN’s layoffs over the next couple of weeks. It’s a major business story inside and outside the sports media, and there will be significant on-air names affected at ESPN. I’ve heard from people I trust that employees in Bristol will be informed as early as tomorrow. The numbers will be larger than previously reported. It is not a fun story to report.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the ESPN layoffs over the past few weeks since I first wrote about this on March 5. I’m asked on social media daily what names am I hearing. I don’t answer. Most of the questions are not asked maliciously, though the worst of the lot attaches a name to someone they hope loses their job.
As it stands now, my instinct is not to report any names I know before the person announces it themselves. I've struggled with coming to terms on whether that's the right call, but I end up on the side, first and foremost, that you aim not to do harm in journalism. As someone smart in the field told me: Those affected deserve to hang on to the dignity of framing this in their terms and on their timetable. It’s the same I thing I attempted to do when FS1 went through layoffs in March 2016.
I will continue to report on what I know about total staffing deficits, the timing, and why and what the cuts mean. But the only names I’m going to mention are those who either mention it on their own terms, or grant me permission to do so either in print or audio form. Wanted to let you know. Thanks.