Detroit-based Crain Communications Inc. cut staff across much of its group of industry and city-focused publications late last week, including a half dozen from its Automotive News editorial team.

Publications hit by the cuts included those that cover business issues in cities, such as Crain's Detroit Business and Crain's New York Business, as well as industry-specific publications, like Automotive News, Modern Healthcare and others, according to several people familiar with the cuts.

While it appears at least 20 people were laid off companywide, the sources said, Crain leadership had not shared how many people were impacted and at which publications. Crain executives didn't respond to requests for comment.

The layoffs at Automotive News hit both editors and reporters, and at least two editors who served Crain's Detroit Business were cut. Those impacted said they were caught off guard Friday morning when they were asked to join a brief group call where the layoff occurred.

The company has faced pressure from ad revenue declines with management also describing a need to restructure and utilize artificial intelligence, the people said. A note to staff about the cuts from CEO KC Crain posted by the media industry site Talking Biz News said the company needed "to become nimbler and more efficient," and noted a push to invest in "new formats, data, analytics and digital products to meet audiences where they are and where they're headed."

The media industry at large is feeling similar pressures right now around ad revenue, subscription growth and how to work with AI. A number of major outlets have carried out layoffs in recent months.

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