We’ve known this was coming since October when Chris Licht sent out a memo warning that he would need to make changes to the organization. “These changes will not be easy, because it will affect people, budgets and projects,” he wrote. Five weeks later the layoffs have started.

Scoop @PuckNews: The long-anticipated CNN layoffs, expected to target hundreds of employees, are underway as of today…

— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) November 30, 2022

Here’s the full statement. Notice that this specifically mentions paid contributors.

CNN boss Chris Licht informs employees in an all-staff note that layoffs are underway.

Licht says those being notified today are largely paid contributors and then tomorrow CNN "will notify impacted employees."

Licht will then provide an update to staff afterward. pic.twitter.com/nD0pt9Ruwj

— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) November 30, 2022

Deadline reports the number of layoffs is unclear but could be in the hundreds:

A spokeswoman declined to share additional details, but there have been reports that hundreds of employees could be affected. CNN has about 4,000 employees worldwide…

The layoffs cap a tumultuous year for CNN. Its longtime president Jeff Zucker abruptly departed in February over his failure to disclose a relationship with an associate. The much hyped launch of CNN+, its subscription streaming service, turned out to be a dud, and the venture was shut down less than a month later.

Axios suggests maybe only a couple hundred (5%?) of the workforce:

A source familiar with the cuts told Axios that “a couple hundred” people in total will be impacted…

Those whose jobs are being impacted will be notified about the changes and severance packages via an in-person meeting or via Zoom.

CNN Business reports the number of employees facing the ax is unknown and also cites “economic headwinds” as a cause.

CNN declined to say on Wednesday how many employees precisely would be impacted by the layoffs.

The layoffs come as media companies are being battered by brutal economic headwinds that have taken a bat to the advertising sector. Licht noted in October, when he signaled large cuts were coming, that there is “widespread concern over the global economic outlook” and that CNN “must factor that risk into [its] long-term planning.”

All of that is true but the NY Times is bit more blunt about the reasons these layoffs are necessary.

“It is incredibly hard to say goodbye to any one member of the CNN team, much less many,” Mr. Licht wrote in the memo, which was seen by The New York Times. “I recently described this process as a gut punch, because I know that is how it feels for all of us.”

The cuts come as CNN lags behind its chief competitors, Fox News and MSNBC, in total viewership this year, according to Nielsen data. It has notched some wins over MSNBC with viewers in the coveted advertiser demographic of 25- to 54-year-olds, but the sagging ratings overall have affected CNN’s profitability this year.

What I haven’t seen anywhere is any indication which contributors are part of this round of layoffs. Maybe that’s the news that will come tomorrow?

I’m not generally a fan of CNN’s approach and think they’ve been involved in some egregious myth-making over the past several years. That said, a month before Christmas is a tough time for anyone to lose a job. That doesn’t mean I won’t dance a little jig if Jim Acosta finally gets kicked to the curb but so far that doesn’t seem to be the case.

I’ll update this story below if any more specific announcements are made but it sounds like most people won’t find out until tomorrow.