CNET Layoffs Amid Ziff Davis Acquisitions: What It Means for Media Workers

The recent CNET layoffs have sparked industry-wide concern as parent company Ziff Davis makes aggressive acquisitions while cutting jobs. On July 30, 2025, Ziff Davis confirmed that 15% of its unionized workforce — a total of 23 employees — will be laid off, with 19 of them coming from CNET. This news comes even as the company has spent the year acquiring outlets like TheSkimm and Well+Good. For readers and journalists alike, the question is clear: what does this mean for CNET’s future and the broader digital media landscape?

CNET layoffs highlight ongoing struggles in digital media

The majority of the cuts impact CNET’s finance, broadband, and sleep coverage, as well as the copy desk, leaving critical areas understaffed. Union representatives from the Ziff Davis Creators Guild have expressed frustration, arguing that the layoffs are profit-driven rather than based on journalistic priorities. With copy editors and fact-checkers among those affected, there are rising concerns about how this will impact content quality and audience trust.

Ziff Davis expands while trimming its workforce

Ironically, the layoffs come amid a buying spree. Ziff Davis has acquired five companies in 2025 alone, with TheSkimm and Well+Good being its most notable purchases. CNET itself was bought for $100 million in 2024 after years of instability under Red Ventures, which faced backlash for publishing error-filled AI-generated articles. While these acquisitions suggest a growth strategy, employees worry that cost-cutting measures will weaken CNET’s journalistic reputation just as it is recovering from past controversies.

Impact on CNET’s reputation and the future of tech journalism

The timing of the CNET layoffs raises concerns for digital media’s sustainability. Industry experts note that trimming experienced staff while expanding a portfolio sends mixed signals to readers and investors. CNET’s unionized team emphasizes that these cuts undermine the outlet’s human expertise at a time when trust in tech journalism is fragile. As media conglomerates prioritize acquisitions over newsroom investments, the question remains whether outlets like CNET can maintain credibility and retain loyal audiences.

What readers and industry watchers should expect next

For readers, the immediate impact may be fewer in-depth stories and reduced coverage in niche beats. For journalists, the layoffs reinforce the growing tension between corporate growth strategies and newsroom stability. Whether Ziff Davis can balance its expansion with sustaining high-quality journalism will be closely watched, as CNET’s credibility hinges on its ability to deliver reliable reporting in a rapidly changing media environment.