Just months after eliminating 75 jobs in an effort to curtail costs and streamline content (News, Nov. 27, 2000), Britannica.com is letting go another 68 workers, or an additional 20% of its overall staff, as part of a continued strategy to bring the dot-com to profitability. As part of the ongoing restructuring, the company is also pushing forward with plans to begin charging for content. Most of the layoffs will be employees who worked on the free consumer site.
The introduction of subscription services will begin this summer with the launch of Britannicaschool.com. The company also will refocus on "reference, education, and learning content and away from topical features."
Don Yannias, CEO of Britannica.com, said, "There was a time not long ago when most observers believed that Internet services had to be supported mainly through advertising. We are out there in the marketplace, however, and we're convinced that a diversified business model combining free and subscription-supported products is the road to success."
