Atlanta Journal-Constitution to eliminate about 50 jobs as newsroom pivots further toward digital growth

Layoffs follow end of daily print publication and a yearslong shift to a digital-first model

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said Tuesday evening it will eliminate approximately 50 positions across the organization, including newsroom and non-newsroom roles, as it continues a broad restructuring tied to its digital transformation. The cuts amount to about 15% of the company’s headcount, and roughly half of the affected jobs are expected to come from the newsroom.

The announcement comes weeks after the AJC ended its print run. The final print edition was published on Dec. 31, 2025, closing a 157-year chapter as a printed daily newspaper. The organization continues publishing on its website and app, and through video, podcasts, social platforms and a digital replica product.

Company leadership framed the reductions as a cost-management move intended to redirect resources toward areas viewed as critical for audience and revenue growth. The AJC said it has made significant investments in editorial, product and business operations over the past three years and expects to continue investing in what it describes as distinctive journalism while adapting staffing levels.

The company said the reductions are intended to focus resources on the work expected to have the most impact for its audience.

Operational changes and employee timeline

Staff members were informed late Tuesday that the AJC’s Midtown Atlanta offices would be closed Wednesday, with work conducted remotely. The company said affected employees would receive details in meetings on Wednesday. Most impacted staffers are expected to have their final workdays within 30 days, and the company said severance packages will be provided.

An employee town hall was scheduled for Thursday to discuss plans moving forward.

Digital subscription gains and shifting coverage priorities

The AJC said it ended 2025 with more than 100,000 digital subscribers and exceeded internal goals for retaining print subscribers as digital customers following the decision to stop printing. The organization has also emphasized recent investments meant to support digital growth, including expanded video capacity, new bureaus in Athens, Macon and Savannah, and broader coverage areas that include business, high school sports and politics. It has also promoted UATL, a digital product focused on Atlanta’s Black culture.

Editor-in-chief Leroy Chapman said the newsroom would continue to prioritize coverage areas important to subscribers, while acknowledging that some responsibilities may shift as part of the restructuring. The company also said it has expanded its use of data and analytics to better understand subscriber interests and guide coverage and product decisions.

• About 50 jobs are expected to be eliminated, roughly 15% of headcount.
• About half of the cuts are expected to come from the newsroom.
• The final print edition ran Dec. 31, 2025; the organization is now fully digital.
• Employees were told to work remotely Wednesday as meetings proceed.

The AJC said it remains in active recruitment for some roles, signaling that staffing reductions and targeted hiring may occur simultaneously as the organization reallocates resources around its digital strategy.