National Geographic to cut almost 200 employees

The downsizing at National Geographic Society could top 200 jobs.

The company said earlier this week it was cutting 9 percent of it 2,000 person workforce, or around 180 people. But that figure does not include voluntary buyout packages that are being offered to longtime employees there as well.

A spokeswoman said she could not estimate how many people would be offered voluntary buyout packages or how many would accept, but acknowledged those would be in addition to the already announced layoffs.

NatGeo’s magazine and digital operations, which include the flagship National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler, and several kids magazines, lost only six people, the spokeswoman said.

“Most of the cuts were in the service area in places like accounting, HR and other support areas that would be duplicative with Fox,” she said.

The cuts come in advance of closing a deal with 21st Century Fox, which is paying $725 million to take a 73 percent stake in the company, which also includes the National Geographic Channel.

The deal is expected to be completed sometime in mid-November.