Sony Pictures Entertainment frames layoffs as a reset; ProPublica union conducts 24-hour strike over AI

Greetings, comms pros! Let’s take a look at a few news stories from the last week and see what we can learn from them.

1. Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO tells employees that layoffs are about structural changes

Sony Pictures Entertainment chief Ravi Ahuja sent a memo to employees announcing layoffs across the company, stating that the hundreds of job cuts were part of “refining our organization for the next phase of growth.” In the note obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Ahuja also stated that follow-ups on the details of the move will happen shortly, and that he’d host a check-in later this month to answer employee questions.

Over the past year, we have sharpened our strategy and clarified where we believe the greatest opportunities exist. As we lean into those priorities, we need to operate with greater focus, speed, and alignment to strengthen our differentiated capabilities. To support our growth, we are aligning our organization with where the business is going — not where it has been. That requires changes to how we are structured and where we invest.

Ahuja’s note uses a lot of staid, corporate language to discuss the layoff, talking extensively about future strategy and just a little about the impacts of the cuts on both affected workers and those who will remain in the aftermath. The memo feels as if it’s meant for the company’s shareholders over its employees.

Communicators need to keep in mind that for tone signals intent. Ahuja’s note i, could leave employees to fill in gaps as to SPE’s future with their own theories, and that can erode trust.

2. ProPublica union goes on 24-hour strike as organization grapples with how to adjust to AI

Earlier this week, ProPublica’s union went on a one-day strike earlier this week, protesting the length of time it’s taken to get a deal done with the company., The union has been negotiating with ProPublica since late 2023, seeking layoff protections, with as the use of AI as a major factor in the talks. According to Poynter, environment reporter and union bargaining committee member Mark Olalade said that the union has made concessions on AI use at the publication but that the nonprofit has yet to clarify the details on AI implementation.

“I’m asking for things like the ability for my members to say no to using a certain AI tool and not be disciplined for it if they in good faith believe that it would introduce factual inaccuracies into their work, slow down the workflow or break ethical guidelines that the company itself has written,” Olalde said.

In response, a ProPublica spokesperson committed to providing the union a fair contract, but also emphasized the need to do more to determine how AI will help the publication’s reporting.

“It’s too soon to know exactly how AI will affect our work. Rather than make promises we can’t responsibly keep, we are exploring how these technologies can create more space for investigative reporting and thinking deeply and creatively, not less.”

ProPublica’s response prioritizes flexibility and avoids commitments. That caution is a typical tactic during labor comms, but it also understandably can frustrate employees who have been looking for answers on AI for multiple years. ProPublica is asking its employees to trust its judgment, while employees want clarity and answers — and a contract. That gap is the main communication issue at play here.

3. Report: Nearly three-quarters of employees think RTO is a ‘stealth layoff’ tactic

According to recent data from Enhancv, 72% of employees said return-to-office initiatives weren’t driven by a desire for collaboration or a better culture, as is often communicated, but were instead a tool to drive employee attrition and avoid severance payouts. In addition, the report found that 36% of employees admitted to applying for new jobs at their desks, and 32% intentionally reduced their output as a form of protest.

Effective RTO comms are rooted in trust and transparency. It’s one thing to tell people that you’re doing an RTO push because of collaboration, but you need to follow up and show that. That means sharing examples of how people are adjusting to being back in the office and how it’s impacting their workflows. If people see it modeled, they’re more likely to buy in. With messaging and no proof, trust is precarious.

4. How about some good news?

• The first 3-D printed pedestrian bridge was announced in Singapore, with a completion date of 2028.
• An architect in London was able to quit his day job after the success of his new app, which tells users what pub gardens in England’s capital city are sunny at a given time. The app, Sunseekr, has over a quarter of a million users.
• NASA released photos of Artemis II’s flyby of the dark side of the Moon.
• Ragan Training is an excellent place for communications professionals to find inspiration and valuable resources.
• You should be rewarded for your work. Find out how to earn an award here!

Have a great weekend comms all-stars!

Sean Devlin is an editor at Ragan Communications.