The Washington Post has announced sweeping layoffs that have cut roughly one-third of its workforce and shuttered iconic sections, prompting debate about the paper’s future direction and influence.

In a move described internally as a “strategic reset,” Executive Editor Matt Murray informed staff that the newspaper would eliminate or dramatically restructure key departments, including the sports section, book coverage and its daily podcast, while also reducing international and metro news operations.

The cuts follow years of financial losses and repeated cost-saving measures, including voluntary buyouts and previous staff reductions, and come as the Post seeks to adapt to changing reader habits and heightened competition in the digital news marketplace.

The scale of the layoffs — estimated at around 300 newsroom positions — has drawn sharp reactions from current and former journalists, with some lamenting the erosion of one of the United States’ most influential news institutions and others warning of diminished journalistic capacity.

Former executive editors and industry figures have publicly expressed concern that the reduction of experienced reporters and foreign bureaus undermines the paper’s longstanding mission and reputation.

Management has framed the restructuring as necessary to secure financial stability and refocus editorial priorities on areas such as national politics, government coverage and topics like science, technology, health and business.

The Post’s changes reflect broader structural challenges facing legacy media organisations as they balance traditional reporting ambitions with the economic realities of the digital age and shifting consumer behaviours.