ABC News cuts 300 jobs, merges ‘GMA’ and ‘World News’ staffs

Posted Feb 24, 2010 by Walt Belcher

Updated Mar 5, 2010 at 10:11 AM

Remember when Al Franken was a one-man-band reporter on ‘SNL?’

ABC News plans to cut 300 jobs (25 percent of the 1,300 in the news division). ABC News President David Westin announced Tuesday that there will be a division-wide buyout offer. If there are not get enough volunteers, layoffs will begin soon.

In a statement e-mailed to the media, Westin says there will be increased reliance on digital one-man-band journalists, there will be more freelancers hired, and the staffs for “Good Morning America” and “World News” will be merged.

“The time has come to anticipate change, rather than respond to it,” wrote Westin. “We have a rare opportunity to get in front of what’s coming, to ensure that ABC News has a sound journalistic and financial footing for many years to come, and to serve our audiences even better. But we must move boldly and promptly. In the past, we’ve sought out less expensive ways to replicate what we’ve always done. The time has come to re-think how we do what we are doing.”