Business · Companies · 9 hrs ago
Tamedia lays off 41 staff, including prominent journalists
Swiss publisher Tamedia laid off 41 employees this week as it cuts costs.
Among them are Tages-Anzeiger culture editor Nora Zukker and technology journalist Rafael Zeier.
Zeier has 145,000 YouTube followers, and his video about losing his job had been viewed more than 450,000 times.
The cuts show that building a personal following does not protect journalists from layoffs.
Journalists who continue independently may struggle to earn enough, while readers could also cancel newspaper subscriptions in solidarity.
The commentary argues that Google, Meta and other tech firms may benefit, as publishers face pressure from lost advertising income; it gives no specific next steps for the journalists.
Tamedia laid off 41 employees this week, including prominent journalists Nora Zukker and Rafael Zeier.
The company said the layoffs were for economic reasons, according to Zukker.
Zeier announced his dismissal in a YouTube video, which had been viewed more than 450,000 times by the time Watson published its report.
The article says Zeier’s YouTube channel has 145,000 followers.
It argues that laid-off journalists who build personal audiences may still struggle to earn a living and that technology companies could benefit.
- Who
- Tamedia laid off 41 employees, including journalists Nora Zukker and Rafael Zeier.
- What
- The company dismissed 41 staff members.
- When
- During the week of October 23, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Zukker said the dismissal was for economic reasons; the article links it to cost-cutting pressure on publishers.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
He showed Tamedia CEO Jessica Peppel-Schulz the new iPhone and laughed with her.
Zeier was called to a dismissal meeting.
Tamedia laid off 41 employees.
Zeier’s video announcing his dismissal had been viewed more than 450,000 times.
- Employees laid off
- 41
- Dismissal reason
- Economic reasons, according to Nora Zukker
- Nora Zukker
- Former literature editor; twice named Culture Journalist of the Year
- Rafael Zeier’s YouTube following
- 145,000
- Zeier’s dismissal video views
- More than 450,000
What people are saying
On the one hand I am stunned, and on the other hand it does not surprise me that much.
I was affected too.