Largest US newspaper chain is hiring Taylor Swift and Beyoncé reporters, drawing interest and ire

Gannett, the United States’ biggest newspaper chain, posted two unusual job listings to its site. On Tuesday, they revealed they are hiring a reporter focused on Taylor Swift. On Wednesday, they shared a posting for a dedicated Beyoncé reporter who will be employed through USA Today and The Tennessean Online criticism of these new roles come in part because of major layoffs at Gannett. The NewsGuild says that Gannett's workforce has shrunk 47% in the last three years due to layoffs and attrition. One journalist said the likelihood of fans to click on stories about Swift or Beyoncé makes it an obvious motivating factor in designing the new jobs.