Washington Post Guild's Fundraiser Exceeds $500,000 Following Major Layoffs
In a remarkable show of solidarity, the Washington Post Guild has launched a GoFundMe campaign that has rapidly garnered overwhelming public support after more than 300 journalists were laid off from the iconic newspaper on Wednesday morning. The fundraiser, managed by economics reporter Rachel Siegel and other Guild members, has seen an influx of donations from across the globe, highlighting the deep concern for the affected staff.
Fundraiser Surpasses Initial Goal with Massive Donations
At the time of reporting, the campaign had attracted contributions from over 4,600 individuals, raising upwards of USD 500,000—far exceeding its initial target. According to the GoFundMe page, these funds are designated to assist former employees with critical expenses, including moving costs, visa fees, childcare, healthcare, and meals. In an update, Siegel expressed that the team was "bowled over" by the outpouring of support on what she described as "an incredibly hard day." The fundraiser emphasized the resilience of the Post community, stating, "What has made The Post special for so long is the people at this company. How resourceful we are. How much we care for each other. And that will continue."
One-Third of Newsroom Axed, Including Entire Sports Desk
The sweeping layoffs impacted nearly one-third of the newsroom, with the entire sports desk being eliminated—a move that comes ahead of major sporting events such as the Winter Olympics and Super Bowl LX. Staffers were reportedly instructed to "stay home" and join a Zoom call at 8:30 a.m. ET regarding "significant actions across the company," as per an internal email obtained by CNN. In a letter to employees, executive editor Matt Murray called the decision "painful," noting that the company's structure was "too rooted in a different era, when we were a dominant, local print product."
Guild and Netizens Voice Strong Opposition
The Washington Post Guild issued a strongly worded post on X, vehemently opposing the layoffs and calling on Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who owns the newspaper through Nash Holdings, to step aside if he no longer supports its century-old mission. The GoFundMe also triggered sharp reactions online, with users criticizing the circumstances of the layoffs. One X user commented, "While I love the camaraderie that WaPo journalists are showing one another, this mess falls squarely on @JeffBezos shoulders to get the people HIS newspaper fired home safely. People should be publicly condemning the act of stranding one’s former employees overseas." Another user added, "This is astonishing to think they were fired then abandoned overseas. Unprofessional @washingtonpost at the very least, dishonourable too." A third post read, "In America, your laid off coworkers fundraise money to get you out of a war zone that your billionaire boss left you stranded in."
Fundraiser to Remain Open as Support Continues
The GoFundMe campaign will stay active for at least the next few days as donations continue to pour in, reflecting ongoing public empathy for the displaced journalists. This initiative underscores the challenges facing the media industry and the community-driven efforts to support those affected by corporate restructuring.
