Doha: Broadcaster Al-Jazeera said on Sunday that it is to shed around 500 jobs, most of them at its Qatar headquarters, as part of a "workforce optimisation initiative."
Al-Jazeera said in a statement that after a management review it was "expected that around 500 positions worldwide will be impacted, the majority of which are in Qatar".
"Over the past few months, we have carefully evaluated every option available to the Network in order to ensure that we are best positioned in light of the large scale changes underway in the global media landscape," said Mostefa Souag, the acting director general of the Network.
"Based on this review, we have embarked on a workforce optimisation initiative that will allow us to evolve our business operation in order to maintain a leading position and continue our recognised commitment to high quality, independent and hard-hitting journalism around the world."
He added: "While our decision is consistent with those being made across the media industry worldwide, it was difficult to make nonetheless. However, we are confident it is the right step to ensure the Network's long-term competitiveness and reach."
The announcement comes just two months after the company said it would also close Al-Jazeera America.
AFP/ Al Jazeera
