National Geographic's Staff Writers Face Layoffs, Shift to Freelancers

National Geographic magazine, owned by Walt Disney Co., has laid off all of its remaining staff writers, marking the latest in a series of cutbacks under the company. This move comes as the magazine struggles to adapt to the decline of print media and the rise of digital news. The layoffs, which also included the elimination of the magazine's audio department, will result in article assignments being contracted out to freelancers. In addition, the iconic print publication will no longer be sold on newsstands in the United States starting next year. Despite its decline, National Geographic remains one of the most widely read magazines in America, with just under 1.8 million subscribers at the end of 2022.