The National Geographic Society of Washington is laying off about 180 of its 2,000 employees, or about 9 percent of its workforce.

The announcement comes after the organization sold its magazine, and its stake in the TV channel, for $725 million to a for-profit partnership controlled by 21st Century Fox, which is owned by businessman Rupert Murdoch and his family, according to The Washington Post.

Employees have been calling October “Choptober” and November “Knivember.”

Several of those terminated employees were in the National Geographic Channel’s fact-checking department.

Although we understand the budget pressures most media organizations are facing, the fact-checking department is the last place that should be cut.

Journalism’s basis is in truth and credibility and with fewer fact checkers, National Geographic is walking on thin ice.

National Geographic is world-famous for its photography and storytelling, but even a media giant like Nat Geo is not immune to the problems facing the media industry.

It is unfortunate that these cuts to media have to be made. Real journalism is being sacrificed for clickbait, short listicles and stories that lack true reporting.

Readers should pay more attention to what they read both online and in print. 

The above editorial is a consensus opinion of The Kent Stater editorial board, whose names are listed above.