Media Matters, a liberal self-proclaimed “media watchdog” known for its attacks on conservatives, found itself in the midst of a significant restructuring on Thursday, resulting in the layoff of at least a dozen staff members. The moves have sparked accusations from both management and some of the affected journalists, who have pointed the finger squarely at Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, formerly known as Twitter.
The layoffs come in the wake of a defamation lawsuit filed by Musk against Media Matters last November. In the suit, Musk claimed that the nonprofit organization had manufactured images showing advertisements from major companies alongside posts made by alleged “white supremacists and neo-Nazis” on the social media platform. This legal action prompted federal probes by Republican Attorneys General Ken Paxton of Texas and Andrew Bailey of Missouri, who investigated the outlet for possible fraudulent activity related to the alleged manipulation of data on X.
While Media Matters did not immediately respond to requests for comment, its president, Angelo Carusone, released a statement addressing the layoffs. Carusone cited the ongoing “legal assault on multiple fronts” and the rapidly shifting media landscape as key factors necessitating the difficult decision to streamline operations and allocate resources more strategically. “Nobody does what Media Matters does,” Carusone asserted, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to remaining “sustainable, sturdy and successful for whatever lies ahead.”
The layoffs have not been met with silence from those impacted. Kat Abughazaleh, one of the ousted staffers, took to social media to express her frustration, directing her ire towards Musk. “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),” she wrote.
Other former Media Matters journalists also took to social media to lament their sudden dismissal and share their availability for new opportunities. “After nearly four years of working at media matters [sic], I got laid off,” wrote a staffer named Beatrice, while Bobby Lewis, a now-former Media Matters writer, quipped, “Journalism milestone achieved (got laid off).”
The layoffs at Media Matters are part of a broader trend of staffing reductions across the media industry, with liberal outlets being particularly affected. Organizations such as NowThis and The Intercept have also implemented significant cuts in recent months, citing financial challenges and the need to adapt to the evolving media landscape.