Circa, the mobile news site acquired by Sinclair about two years ago, is restructuring and launching a live news app. As part of the changes, the company is reportedly cutting seven staff members.
The Circa news app will offer live video covering breaking news stories. Sinclair said that Circa will now be able to build upon breaking news stories from Sinclair's National News Desk in Washington, D.C., by combining resources. Circa will be using content from the more than 70 local Sinclair newsrooms from across the country.
"As the largest producer of local news content in the country, our mission is to expand our news enterprise and evolve how we connect with consumers and address changing news consumption habits," said Scott Livingston, vice president of news at Sinclair, in a statement. "Circa's focus will be on live stories trending from around the country, optimized for mobile and social media engagement. Our goal is to make the most relevant content ubiquitous so it can be consumed wherever and whenever you want and to keep you informed about the stories that matter most to you. We want to empower the consumer with the best possible information and stories to share at the dinner table, the water cooler, the assembly line or the board room."
According to the Washington Post, the shift at Circa is resulting in seven staff members being let go.
After buying Circa in late 2015, Sinclair relaunched in July 2016. In the years following, Circa moved ahead with initiatives including a campus-based user-generated news platform for students and a partnership with Ownzones to help grow its international footprint.
RELATED: Sinclair's Circa taps Ownzones for European OTT expansion
"We are thrilled to be partnered with the innovative team at Ownzones Media Network to build a global OTT footprint for our content," said John Solomon, Circa's chief operating officer, in a statement. "The company's seamless technology and impressive list of distribution partners were a perfect fit for Circa in gaining massive reach while ensuring pristine video quality for our viewing audience."
As the report points out, Solomon left Circa in July 2017 and then in December 2017, Circa Laughs, a comedy venture launched by Circa, faced a lawsuit over alleged sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation.