Media Matters has recently made the decision to lay off a number of its staff members, following a federal investigation and lawsuit initiated by Elon Musk, the CEO of “X”. These layoffs have been announced by some of the long-standing employees on social media, expressing their sudden departure from the organization. The federal probes were launched by Republican Attorneys General Ken Paxton of Texas and Andrew Bailey of Missouri, who were investigating potential fraudulent activities related to the manipulation of data on “X,” previously known as Twitter.
In November, Musk filed a defamation lawsuit against Media Matters in federal court. The lawsuit was prompted by the outlet’s accusations of the organization “knowingly” creating and disseminating images that portrayed advertisements from major corporations alongside content generated by white supremacists and neo-Nazis.
Bad News: I’ve been laid off from @mmfa, along with a dozen colleagues.
There’s a reason far-right billionaires attack Media Matters with armies of lawyers: They know how effective our work is, and it terrifies them (him).
— Kat Abu (@abughazalehkat) May 23, 2024
After nearly four years of working at media matters, I got laid off. So if anyone is looking for researchers with video experience, drop a line.
— Bee (@mount_bees) May 23, 2024
I got laid off from Media Matters @mmfa today, proud of the 5 years of intense work I put into fighting right-wing hatred.
I'm an incredible manager with superb research skills. Please hire me!
— Alex Paterson (@AlexPattyy) May 23, 2024
The recent staff reduction at Media Matters is just one example of the ongoing downsizing trend in liberal media outlets. In February, NowThis made the decision to let go of half of its editorial team, citing the need to adapt to the changing media landscape and ensure long-term viability. On that very same day, The Intercept also laid off 15 employees, including its Editor-in-Chief Roger Hodge. This series of events highlights the challenges faced by media organizations in today’s ever-evolving industry.
