Journalism is always in the process of evolving, but the alarming number of journalist layoffs is causing their purpose and their work to feel worthless. Some of the biggest publications and platforms have started to lay off thousands of journalists. NPR’s “A look at the wave of layoffs hitting the news industry” states that the “ Los Angeles Times laid off nearly a quarter of its newsroom,” and “The Washington Post just laid off 10% of its staff.” This is leaving all of us to think, what is causing this catastrophic unemployment in this once prestigious profession?

The recent cut of employees is having a concerning effect on the articles people read to get their daily dose of news. The use of inaccurate information or propaganda is on the rise as the work quality continues to decrease. More people are needed to produce well-written articles that will provide readers with accurate and factual information. 2024 is an important political year with a presidential election. Writers can only have so many politically driven articles about each candidate. This cut of employees is a growing concern to giant journalist corporations, where people count on receiving information to guide their future decisions, such as the LA Times, as they have been struggling with laying off employees since June of 2023. 

These issues reach all the way to our town: Laguna Beach. Take for instance our very own Brush & Palette at Laguna Beach High School, where we have struggled to keep our website up and printing articles. However, we recently hosted a talent show to raise money to support our website, and we were able to reach above our estimated goal of money needed. This shows how the journalism community is trying hard, and will always try harder when in need of help. 

So what can we do to support Journalism? What can we do so that this valuable profession is no longer overlooked? We can find the voices that are speaking the truth or providing different perspectives and we can follow them on social channels. Schools, like Laguna Beach High School, can support local journalists by emphasizing the art form just like they would with any other educational program dedicated to the arts. We can give students like us the modern tools we need to become great truth-tellers… not just a blog like Brush & Palette, but also a program that teaches us how to podcast and use our voices in other ways. Our words should be a shining example and support at LBHS. We’ve seen the downfall of publications despite journalists’ dedication to producing empowering and precise work. It is work that should be noticed. From the Washington Post to the Wall Street Journal, people are leaving their doors jobless by the day. This has left the journalism profession in a time of doubt. For journalists like myself and my classmates, the truth hurts… but there is no pain worse than a world without truth, so we will continue to speak up so our voices are heard, read, or seen. But just like Brush and Palette did, the journalist community will continue to show up for each other and serve as guides to produce excellent articles that we once had the staff and support to do.