SINGAPORE – Yahoo will disband its editorial and social media teams, laying off 17 employees. The staff reduction is part of Yahoo's decision to pivot towards content curation.

A representative from HR, along with Yahoo’s Senior Director of Content for Australia and Southeast Asia, Simon Wheeler, briefed affected employees about the changes, as reported by The Edge Singapore.

The employees’ last day will be on 7 May. They are slated to receive slightly more than two weeks' pay for every year of service. This compensation detail comes from an anonymous source who is close to the matter but has chosen to remain confidential due to the privacy of the proceedings.

The severance package reportedly complies with Singapore’s Employment Act.

Among the laid-off staff, one had been part of the Yahoo team for over 15 years, highlighting the depth of experience that would be lost.

No indication of coming layoffs

The layoffs caught staff by surprise, especially since there had been no indications of potential job cuts at the company’s last town hall on 19 April.

An affected employee shared that the timing of the layoffs was unexpected, particularly as there had been no previous announcements or hints at the local level, despite recent layoffs in Yahoo US.

Yahoo’s broader trend of restructuring included about 1,000 job cuts, or roughly 12% of its global workforce, in February 2023 as part of a plan to overhaul its advertising technology division.

In contrast to the editorial teams, Yahoo’s sales team in Singapore remains unaffected by this round of layoffs. Although they have ceased selling advertorial content, they have not shifted their focus towards branded content.

The restructuring in Singapore marks another significant change in Yahoo's operations in the region, which also saw layoffs of seven journalists in 2022 and a previous retrenchment round in 2016.

The impact of Yahoo layoffs on digital media

The restructuring at Yahoo raises questions about the future of digital news operations in the region. It reflects broader industry trends where traditional editorial roles are increasingly scrutinised for viability in the digital age.

Analysis cited by The Straits Times reveals partner content has consistently driven better engagement for Yahoo than in-house articles.

Under the new direction, Yahoo will cease creating original content from its Singapore hub and instead focus on syndicating content from a variety of sources including HuffPost, AFP News, Reuters, EdgeProp, and The Edge Singapore.

The company plans to fill newly created roles for three “curation editors” and a market lead for Yahoo News Singapore, with job applications open to the public and detailed on LinkedIn as remote positions.

A Yahoo spokesperson stated that the company’s new editorial strategy aligns better with its strategic priorities in Singapore.

“Readers can expect to continue seeing the content they most regularly engage with and enjoy,” the representative said. “We remain focused on delivering a diverse selection of high-quality and engaging news, lifestyle and finance content, from local and international sources.”