As part of Paramount Global’s recent round of significant layoffs, MTV News is set to close its doors after 36 years, according to a memo released by the company on Tuesday. Launched in 1987, MTV News served as an alternative to traditional news networks, focusing on topics such as music, pop culture, news, and politics. Renowned reporters like Kurt Loder, Tabitha Soren, Gideon Yago, Alison Stewart, and SuChin Pak conducted numerous high-profile interviews over the years, including notable figures like former President Barack Obama, John McCain, and Bill Gates.
One memorable moment from MTV News occurred during a town hall in 1994 when a participant asked former President Bill Clinton if he preferred “briefs” or “boxers.” Clinton made history by candidly responding, “Briefs,” which caused a sensation and became a running joke referenced even to this day, gaining coverage in various news outlets nationwide.
An internal memo obtained by the LA Times from Chris McCarthy, the president of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks, stated that the decision to shut down the news division aligns with the company’s current wave of layoffs, which reportedly reduced the staff of MTV and Showtime by nearly 25%. McCarthy described this as a challenging but necessary strategic realignment aimed at cutting costs and enhancing overall efficiency. Several fans and former colleagues of MTV News expressed their sadness on Twitter, reminiscing about Kurt Loder’s coverage of pivotal moments in pop culture. Josh Horowitz, who has been MTV’s movie coverage face since 2006, tweeted his sympathy, acknowledging the talented individuals who lost their jobs and expressing gratitude for his 17-year tenure with MTV News.
The news of MTV News’ closure was described as the end of an era by TV host Aliya Jasmine, who had anchored the show for over a decade. Many Twitter users expressed nostalgia for MTV’s peak years, recalling the iconic figures of Kurt Loder and Tabitha Soren. These voices from Generation X and older millennials recognized MTV News for its role in fostering interest in international news, politics, and the broader world. The impact of MTV News on shaping youth perspectives and engagement was acknowledged by Susan Gonzalez, a social media expert, who credited the outlet with teaching a generation of journalists about the importance of youth voices.
According to the LA Times, the layoffs were announced following a net loss of $1.1 billion in the first quarter of this year reported by Paramount Global, MTV’s parent company.