Essence magazine has switched up its online look and streamlined the Web staff.
 
Journalisticks.com reports that the magazine laid off most of its Web staff Tuesday over budget issues. The publication recently relaunched its Web site, Essence.com, with simplified blog theme.
 
Anywhere from 12 to 15 workers were cut, and one former Essence staffer said they were blindsided by the news they no longer had a job.
 
“They told us it was downsizing,” the insider told Journalisticks. “We’re very confused. We worked so hard for the relaunch.”
 
Now the site being run by the online managing editor, Emil Wilbekin, who was the only member of the web department to survive the staff cut.

But the Web workers weren’t the only ones sent packing, several people on the magazine staff were laid off too. Among them was a special projects director who had been working for Essence since the ’70s.

-- Sonya Eskridge

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