Boston Globe Today is cancelled as the company focuses on other multimedia projects.
The Boston Globe has announced the cancellation of its weekday television programme, Boston Globe Today, which was a co-production with the New England Sports Network (NESN. The company laid off four employees and reported that two members of the production team would remain to support upcoming video initiatives.
CEO Linda Henry highlighted the complexities tied to daily television production as a driving factor in the decision. Boston Globe Media aims to invest in expanding its multimedia team, producing daily video content across news, sports and entertainment sectors. In her note to the business, Henry said: “We’re looking forward to the launch of our weekly sports show with NESN and the new work of our multimedia team.”
Many former newspaper companies have experimented with various versions of TV news, but few with success unless they have bought an existing TV station.
Boston Globe Today, which debuted in April 2023 under a two-year agreement, struggled to establish a foothold in a competitive media landscape populated by five commercial news stations. Representing a significant move into video journalism for the Globe, the programme attempted to provide unique coverage and analysis of regional stories.
A spokesperson for the Globe, Carla Kath, said: “The show successfully supercharged our video journalism skills and output, and helped our subscribers receive and consume our journalism in new ways.”
The programme aired Monday to Thursday at 5pm, featuring Globe journalists alongside guests discussing stories covered by the publication. However, it faced leadership instability, losing key figures such as former host Segun Oduolowu and programming director Jennie O’Hagan within a few months of its launch. O’Hagan expressed her sadness about the layoffs while acknowledging the skill development that came from the video venture.
Christopher Gasper, a sports columnist for the Globe, hosted a sports-focused segment broadcast on Fridays. Following the cancellation of Boston Globe Today, NESN and the Globe are partnering to launch a new weekly sports show in spring 2024, with Gasper as the host. This new initiative will aim to build on what was learned from the previous programme in a potentially more sustainable format.
The Boston Newspaper Guild, representing members of the Globe’s editorial staff, expressed disappointment regarding the company’s handling of the layoffs. The Guild stated that many affected employees were not members but underscored a lack of transparency throughout the decision-making process.
Despite the changes, the Boston Globe continues to report profitability and has seen growth in recent years, including the expansion of its geographical news coverage and the hiring of additional investigative journalists. However, it has also faced its share of challenges, such as laying off 11 employees from its health publication STAT in December due to rising expenses amid flat revenue.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.bostonglobemedia.com/brands/boston-globe-today/ – This URL supports the existence of Boston Globe Today as a program co-produced by Boston Globe Media and NESN, focusing on news, politics, business, and entertainment.
- https://www.bostonglobemedia.com/ – This URL provides general information about Boston Globe Media, which is relevant to understanding the company’s strategic shifts and initiatives.
- https://nesn.com/ – This URL is related to NESN, the partner of Boston Globe Media in producing Boston Globe Today and the upcoming weekly sports show.
- https://www.statnews.com/ – This URL is associated with STAT, a health publication owned by Boston Globe Media, which faced layoffs due to financial challenges.
- https://www.bostonglobenewspaperguild.org/ – This URL represents the Boston Newspaper Guild, which expressed concerns about the handling of layoffs by Boston Globe Media.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is very recent, dated March 2025, and discusses ongoing developments within Boston Globe Media, indicating high freshness.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Several direct quotes are provided, but without specific online references to verify their originality. However, they appear to be recent and contextually appropriate.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Boston Globe, a reputable publication known for its journalistic standards, which generally ensures reliable reporting.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about the cancellation of Boston Globe Today and the strategic shift towards video content are plausible given the context of media industry changes and the Globe’s recent activities.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be current and well-supported by quotes from relevant figures. The source is reliable, and the claims are plausible within the context of media industry trends.