Massive layoffs in media and entertainment over the last two years reveal a steep decline in public trust and a growing backlash against “woke” content.
Key Facts:
– Around 15,000 people lost media and entertainment jobs in 2024, following 21,417 layoffs in 2023.
– This total more than quadruples the combined losses seen in 2021 and 2022.
– Firms like Vice Media, CNN, ABC, Scripps, Amazon Studios, Disney, and Warner Bros. each cut hundreds to over a thousand jobs.
– A Gallup poll found only 31% of Americans trust the news media to report “fully, accurately and fairly.”
– “President-elect Donald Trump’s trademark claim that most outlets peddle ‘fake news’ is believed by a majority of citizens,” The Wrap reported.
The Rest of The Story:
A wave of restructuring, streaming disruptions, and AI developments has hit the entertainment and media industry hard.
Some of the biggest names in media and entertainment have downsized or closed entire divisions.
While financial challenges have played a part, shifting public attitudes also loom large.
Many viewers have grown weary of cultural lectures and hyper-partisan news.
Alongside the job cuts, industry watchers note that consumers now turn to alternative voices, podcasts, and social media rather than traditional outlets.
With trust at a historic low, mainstream media finds itself at a crossroads, forced to rethink its approach to storytelling and reporting.
As ratings crater, CNN is set to 'axe top stars in layoffs that'll see hundreds fired’ per Daily Mail.
Here, CNN's Brian Stelter and Abby Phillip explain to viewers that tanking public trust in media isn't the fault of the media —
— it’s the fault of Americans believing lies… pic.twitter.com/X3zVxTfjUm
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) November 12, 2024
Commentary:
To reverse this downward trend, media entities must refocus on their original purposes.
News outlets need to deliver straight facts without political agendas, allowing audiences to make informed decisions.
The days of heavy bias and sensationalism should end so that readers can rediscover confidence in reliable journalism.
Entertainment providers can also draw people back by creating shows and movies that simply amuse rather than preach.
Instead of lecturing their audiences, these creators should return to content that uplifts, thrills, or just makes us laugh.
This shift back to fundamentals is the only way to regain the trust of millions of viewers who are tuning out.
The Bottom Line:
Many well-known organizations have been caught off guard as viewers push back on politicized, agenda-driven content.
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If the media and entertainment industries want to survive, they must win back trust by getting back to basics.