Sun-Times To Lose 20% Of Staff

The Chicago Sun-Times, a prominent newspaper in Chicago, is undergoing a significant staff reduction as approximately 20% of its employees—30 out of about 150 staff members—have accepted a voluntary buyout offer. 

The development is part of a broader effort by its nonprofit owner, Chicago Public Media (CPM), to address ongoing financial challenges. CPM, which also oversees the public radio station WBEZ, initiated the buyout program in January to cut costs by $3 to $5 million, aiming to stabilize its fiscal situation without resorting to immediate layoffs.

The buyouts affect various roles, including high-profile columnists, editorial writers, and sports journalists, with 23 of the departures coming from the Sun-Times newsroom, which currently has 107 union and nonunion personnel. Notable exits include veteran sports writers like Rick Telander and Annie Costabile, as well as columnist Michael Sneed, who has nearly six decades of journalism experience, and much of the editorial board. Additionally, five WBEZ employees are part of the 35 total departures across CPM.

This move follows a merger three years ago between the Sun-Times and WBEZ under CPM’s nonprofit umbrella, intended to bolster both entities. However, financial difficulties have persisted, exacerbated by a rough start to 2025, as noted by CPM CEO Melissa Bell. While the buyouts have met the cost-reduction targets through voluntary exits, there remains uncertainty about further cuts, with layoffs still a possibility if financial pressures continue. The Sun-Times union has expressed hope that these departures will prevent forced layoffs, though concerns linger about the allocation of funds, with some questioning spending on management rather than retaining editorial staff.

This staff reduction reflects broader trends in the media industry, where even established outlets face economic strain, prompting difficult decisions to maintain operations while preserving their core mission—in this case, delivering impactful journalism to Chicagoans.