LOCAL
Judd Slivka, Tulsa Flyer
The Tulsa World has served the city for more than 120 years. Screenshot of Tulsa World.
The Tulsa World, which has served the city for more than 120 years, lost seven employees Friday morning. Six of them were laid off. One of them – executive editor Jason Collington – said he chose to leave.
“I have decided to leave the Tulsa World rather than make deeper cuts in the newsroom,” Collington texted several people around Tulsa early Friday morning. “Please keep the incredible people in the newsroom in mind today.”
Ginnie Graham, a columnist and a two-time recipient of the Great Plains Tulsa Press Club Reporter of the Year award, was among those let go.
Other positions eliminated were an assistant city editor, a features editor, a features reporter, a copy editor and a photographer.
This is at least the second layoff for the World’s newsroom this year; at least four employees were let go in April.
Lee Enterprises, the World’s parent, has struggled with keeping its properties in 72 different U.S. markets afloat as it transitions from a traditionally printed newspaper company to digital-only. Lee’s stock has lost 36% of its per-share value in the last year, and 67% of its per-share value since the beginning of 2025.
The company reported third-quarter operating revenue of $141 million – down from the $150.5 million in the third quarter of 2024. Its annual revenue through June 29 was $423 million, also down from $452.8 million thro June 29, 2024..
The World is one of Lee’s flagship newspapers. Two other of its higher-profile products, the Buffalo News and Richmond Times-Dispatch, had newsroom layoffs last week.
The Flyer reached out to Marc Chase, Lee’s Midwest news director for comment, but has not heard back.
