In this Sept. 2, 2015, file photo the BuzzFeed website is displayed on an iPad held by an Associated Press staffer in Los Angeles.
Digital media company BuzzFeed has started laying off several employees after it announced it will be cutting 15 percent of its jobs, or about 200 people, to trim expenses and become profitable.
BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti wrote employees on Wednesday that the layoffs will help BuzzFeed avoid having to raise money from investors again.
Verizon Media Group also said on Wednesday that it is cutting about 800 jobs in its media division, which includes Yahoo and HuffPost.
15 people were laid off today at HuffPost amid broader Verizon Media layoffs. Statement from Writers Guild of America, East: pic.twitter.com/NCB6Tw5WlT
— Michael Calderone (@mlcalderone) January 24, 2019
The privately held company has not been profitable for several years. It has raised hundreds of millions from such investors as Comcast's NBCUniversal.
Based in New York, BuzzFeed is best known for its viral posts and quizzes and has a well-regarded news division.
Many of the laid-off employees took to Twitter to announce the news and seek new opportunities.
I’ve been laid off from BuzzFeed News, like so many of my brilliant colleagues. I gave a lot of myself to that team over the past two and a half years, and I loved working there writing about wild things. Drop me a line if you’ve got a job for me: blakersdozen@gmail.com 💙💙💙
— Blake Montgomery 💀 (@blakersdozen) January 25, 2019
After four years, I learned today that Monday will be my last day at BuzzFeed. My entire team was also let go. I don't even know what to say right now. I'm sad, shocked, and so deeply disappointed on so many levels.
— whomst is she? (@the_rewm) January 25, 2019
This feels surreal, but: I was laid off from BuzzFeed News today.
— Emily Tamkin (@emilyctamkin) January 25, 2019
After four years, I learned today that Monday will be my last day at BuzzFeed. My entire team was also let go. I don't even know what to say right now. I'm sad, shocked, and so deeply disappointed on so many levels.
— whomst is she? (@the_rewm) January 25, 2019
Other employees are still uncertain about their future at Buzzfeed as the lay off process has not been completed.
Media Twitter: only two departments are getting news about the layoffs at BuzzFeed today. The rest of us will find out between Monday and Wednesday of next week.
— spookaye ghoul (@ohkayewhatever) January 25, 2019
turns out buzzfeed is staggering the layoffs between today, tomorrow, and next week, and i'll be finding out my fate on tuesday. as we all know i am a supremely chill person who can totally handle the wait! i am anna the unanxious!
— anna borges (@annabroges) January 24, 2019
Many digital media companies have cut jobs or sold off in recent years as Facebook and Google gobble up the bulk of digital advertising dollars.
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