More layoffs are coming for ESPN, the second time this year that the network has had to reduce its staff across its many platforms. The sports network reportedly wants to trim $80 million this time around, which sets up another painful process for many in Bristol and abroad.
And, according to a report, those that remain but don’t work in Bristol will be flying in to do some training regarding the network’s new social media policy. In an effort to avoid snafus that get conservative bloggers upset, Sports Illustrated‘s Richard Deitch reported on Tuesday that ESPN would bring its entire editorial staff to Bristol as part of an educational explanation of the company’s new policy.
That social media policy seems to restrict political comments in a variety of ways, something the network has been sensitive to in the wake of Donald Trump’s White House voicing criticism of the network’s employees of color such as Jemele Hill, who caused outrage in September when she called the Trump a white supremacist.
Deitch reported that the meeting will take place on December 13, shortly after the layoffs reported earlier in the month are scheduled to take effect.
ESPN management is requiring all of its editorial talent, from people who appear on-air to those who write for the company’s many outlets, to attend a two-hour presentation at the company’s Bristol headquarters on Dec. 13.
The topics at the presentation will include the company’s current priorities, the recent changes to the social media policy, how political and social issues should be handled by editorial staffers and upcoming initiatives. Clearly, the timing is intentional with layoffs coming to ESPN this week as well as an endless cycle of negative news. The company told staffers that all employees are required to attend the presentation in-person (not an insignificant expense given ESPN has people based all over the country) and if talent cannot attend the meeting due to a work conflict, they must work with their supervisor to confirm the legitimacy of the excuse. Said one ESPN staffer: “I imagine it will be like Dorothy walking outside after the twister to see what’s still standing.”
Some could fault the network for spenidng all that money on plane tickets to bring its staff to Connecticut when it’s also enduring layoffs, but a few air miles are probably worth all the hassle another big social media conflict would bring the network. It’s been a rough year for just about everyone in 2017, but no one at ESPN wants things to get worse.
