In a significant shakeup within the media industry, Disney has announced the closure of FiveThirtyEight,
the renowned political data analysis site originally founded by statistician Nate Silver in 2008.
The decision comes as part of widespread layoffs at ABC News and Disney Entertainment Networks, which will affect approximately 200 employees,
or six percent of the workforce, with the majority of cuts occurring at ABC News in New York.
The shutdown of FiveThirtyEight will result in the elimination of around 15 jobs and marks a major loss for political journalism and data-driven reporting.
The site has been widely regarded for its election forecasts, polling analysis, and statistical insights, providing crucial data to journalists, analysts, and the public.
Staffers were reportedly informed of the decision in a meeting led by ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic, who, according to sources, read from a prepared statement without offering a clear explanation for the closure. Within minutes of the meeting, the website was taken offline, and employee access was revoked.
While ABC News has stated that it will continue offering political data analysis across its platforms, it remains uncertain whether current FiveThirtyEight editorial director G. Elliott Morris or any other team members will be retained. Morris expressed disappointment over the abrupt shutdown, noting that all planned updates to polling data and election averages have been canceled indefinitely. He described the loss as a significant setback for political journalism, lamenting that FiveThirtyEight’s extensive database and methodologies could now be lost unless a new home is found for them.
The closure of FiveThirtyEight is just one part of a broader restructuring at ABC News. Alongside the elimination of the data site, ABC is consolidating its programming, including integrating all three hours of its flagship morning show Good Morning America under a single leader, executive producer Simone Swink. Previously, the third hour, known as GMA3, operated independently under executive producer Catherine McKenzie, who, along with much of the GMA3 team, has now been laid off. The newsroom has reportedly been left shaken by the sweeping changes, with employees expressing distress and uncertainty about their futures.
Additionally, long-form news programs 20/20 and Nightline, which have been a part of the network since the late 1970s and early 1980s, will now operate under a single leadership unit. Further key departures include Cindy Galli, executive producer of ABC’s investigative team, and Zach Toback, vice president of news and non-fiction production, who had played a crucial role in ABC News’ move to its new headquarters in New York City.
The scale of the layoffs has drawn strong reactions from both within and outside the network. Employees have described the situation as dire, with one likening the work environment to the intense competition and uncertainty seen in the hit Netflix series Squid Game. The job cuts follow a larger trend in the media industry, where traditional television networks are struggling to retain viewership and advertising revenue amid the rise of digital streaming platforms.
According to a recent report from Nielsen, streaming now accounts for more than 40 percent of viewing time, while cable and broadcast television have fallen to roughly 27 percent and 21 percent, respectively. This shift has forced media companies, including Disney, to rethink their strategies. In response, Disney has been prioritizing investments in sports and entertainment content over traditional news programming, a move similar to those made by other major networks facing similar challenges.
Other media companies have also been implementing drastic cost-cutting measures. CNN recently reduced its workforce by six percent as part of a digital-focused transformation, while MSNBC announced that around 100 employees would be affected by restructuring efforts. Paramount, the parent company of CBS, is also undergoing major layoffs, potentially impacting up to 15 percent of its U.S. staff.
The closure of FiveThirtyEight and the broader staff reductions at ABC News highlight the rapidly changing media landscape. While Disney executives frame the layoffs as necessary to adapt to new audience habits and financial realities, many journalists and media professionals see them as a troubling sign for the future of data-driven and investigative journalism.
The fate of FiveThirtyEight’s vast archive of election data and analytical tools remains uncertain. Many industry professionals have expressed hope that another organization may step in to preserve its work, as its data-driven approach has been instrumental in shaping modern political journalism. As layoffs continue to reshape the media industry, the loss of FiveThirtyEight stands as a stark reminder of the challenges traditional news organizations face in an increasingly digital world.
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