E.W. Scripps is laying off 268 employees as the company restructures its local TV business around digital-first news production and streaming. The media organization moves forward with this reduction in its broadcast television operation as part of a new phase of its transformation plan, its chief executive said on Tuesday.

The restructuring involves several operational changes designed to shift the company's focus. E.W. Scripps plans to centralize some newsroom functions to streamline operations across its stations. The company also plans to use more automation in its news production processes to support the transition.

As part of the pivot toward digital platforms, E.W. Scripps plans to launch 24/7 local news streams. These continuous streams represent a significant departure from traditional scheduled broadcast programming. The initiative aims to provide constant access to local information through online channels rather than relying solely on linear television schedules.

Scripps is scheduled to disclose their quarterly financial earnings later this week. The timing of the layoffs and restructuring announcement precedes this financial report. The chief executive described the workforce reduction as a strategic move to adapt to changing media consumption habits among audiences.

The shift in strategy occurs as audience behavior for local news changes significantly. According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey from the Pew-Knight Initiative, 43% of U.S. adults who get news from local TV primarily access that content online through station websites, apps, email newsletters or social media. This figure represents a substantial increase from 2018, when 22% of U.S. adults who get news from local TV primarily accessed that content online. That is a fall of 21 percentage points in the share of users relying exclusively on traditional methods relative to the growth in digital access.

Preferences for platforms also show a gradual shift away from television as the dominant medium. According to the 2025 Pew Research Center survey from the Pew-Knight Initiative, 34% of U.S. adults prefer TV over any other platform for getting local news and information. In 2018, 41% of U.S. adults preferred TV over any other platform for getting local news and information.

That is a fall of 9 percentage points in the preference for television as the top choice for local news delivery. The Pew Research Center was established in 2004 and continues to track these media consumption trends.

Why It Matters

The reduction of 268 jobs and shift toward automation reflect a broader industry realignment driven by changing audience habits. With online access to local TV news rising from 22% in 2018 to 43% in 2025, the move prioritizes digital streams over traditional scheduled broadcasting. This restructuring alters how communities receive local information as preference for television as a primary news source declines.