Bell Media Reduces Workforce by 60 Employees
Bell Media has announced significant workforce reductions, laying off 60 employees as part of a transformation in its digital media operations. The layoff primarily affects corporate departments, and according to the company’s director of communications, Sara McLaren, no roles related to newsgathering or reporting were eliminated.
Details of the Layoffs
The union Unifor confirmed the impact of the layoffs, reporting that 20 of its members were affected. This included 11 journalists from various locations:
- Toronto
- North Bay, Ontario
- Halifax
- Calgary
In addition to journalists, other affected positions included traffic coordinators, schedulers, and promotional coordinators.
Context of the Cuts
Lana Payne, Unifor’s national president, indicated that expanding journalist tax credits to encompass broadcasters might have averted these job losses. The current layoffs follow a previous reduction in November 2022, where BCE Inc. cut 650 managerial positions at Bell, alongside 40 jobs at Bell Media.
McLaren noted that these recent layoffs are a continuation of changes initiated last year. In a statement, she emphasized that the role eliminations were primarily limited to corporate functions. Meanwhile, Payne expressed concern for the future of journalism in Canada, stating that such cuts deeply affect the industry.
