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The Washington Post’s announcement Wednesday that it will lay off roughly one-third of its workforce—more than 300 employees, including journalists covering sports, international news and local metro areas—represents a critical blow to American democracy, according to a Syracuse University journalism expert.

, professor of magazine, news and digital journalism in the Newhouse School of Public Communications and a former investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune, says the cuts to one of the nation’s most prominent newspapers come at a particularly troubling time for press freedom.

“The Washington Post layoffs are the latest hole in our First Amendment dyke, and perhaps the largest to date,” says Kaplan, who is also director of the program which trains future arts reporters and communicators.

“No, the Post isn’t going away, but it is being stripped down to just a few usable parts. One of our two biggest guardians of democracy, along with The New York Times, is being hollowed out at a time when we need it most. Journalism and journalists are under attack everywhere and the Post just waved the white flag.”

Journalists are welcome to use Professor Kaplan’s quote directly. For those seeking more information or wanting to schedule interviews, please contact Keith Kobland, associate director of media relations, at kkobland@syr.edu.