Veteran Suffolk-raised sports reporter reflects on Washington Post cuts

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Chuck Culpepper, a veteran sports reporter who grew up in Suffolk, Virginia, is reflecting on his decades-long journalism career after The Washington Post laid off one-third of its staff and shuttered its entire sports department. Culpepper, who has covered major sporting events around the world for The Post in recent years, is taking a philosophical approach to the layoffs, noting he has experienced similar situations at other publications in the past. Despite the disappointment of missing out on covering the upcoming Olympics, Culpepper is grateful for the opportunities he's had and the experiences he's gained over the years.

Why it matters

Culpepper's story highlights the challenges facing the journalism industry, particularly in the sports reporting realm, as publications continue to grapple with declining revenues and staffing cuts. His perspective on the layoffs, drawing on his prior experiences, also provides insight into how veteran journalists are navigating these turbulent times in the media landscape.

The details

Culpepper, a Nansemond-Suffolk Academy graduate, started his journalism career at the Suffolk Sun at age 14 and later worked at the Suffolk News-Herald. He went on to have a globe-trotting career, covering major sporting events for publications like The Los Angeles Times, USA Today's Sports on Earth, and most recently, The Washington Post, where he worked for the last dozen years. During his time at The Post, Culpepper visited 17 countries and 43 states, covering everything from tennis at Wimbledon to the World Cup in Qatar. However, Culpepper recently learned that he would not be sent to cover the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics, and shortly after, he received the news that The Post was laying off one-third of its staff and shuttering its sports department entirely.

• On Jan. 21, Culpepper received a notification that a Zoom meeting to discuss how The Post would cover the Olympics had been canceled.
• On Jan. 23, The Post announced it would not be sending anyone to the Olympics, before later backtracking to say four reporters would attend.
• On Feb. 4, Culpepper received the news that The Post was laying off one-third of its staff and shuttering its sports department entirely.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Culpepper is uncertain about his next steps after the Washington Post layoffs, but he is taking a philosophical approach and drawing on his prior experiences of navigating similar situations at other publications.