Tuesday, September 24

More Staffing Cuts at NY Public Radio– Digital Formats, Declining Radio Listenership Blamed

Picture Credit: John Jemison

New York City Public Radio is making cuts to staffers and shows throughout numerous of its stations, consisting of canceling numerous podcasts.

NYPR CEO & & President LaFontaine Oliver provided the news to staffers in an e-mail on Thursday, specifying cuts in the regional news space, the cancellation of the “Notes from America” program with Kai Wright, and stopping production on WQXR podcasts. The personnel note likewise states NYPR will lower the variety of occasions prepared at The Greene Space, a place and multimedia production studio situated in Lower Manhattan.

In the letter, Oliver blames decreasing listenership for its radio programs, in addition to a shift in marketing dollars to concentrating on digital platforms. The Gothamist reports out of 302 overall staff members, 14 staffers were laid off and 12 took voluntary layoffs. “The minute we’re in is needing us to make essential modifications so we can stay feasible and appropriate for several years to come,” Oliver composed.

A New York Public Radio representative decreased to verify LaFontaine Oliver’s payment bundle as the CEO & & President of NYPR. His previous settlement as the President & & CEO of Baltimore Public Media Corporation was $292,150. According to ProPublica, NYPR reported income of $73,675,936 for the financial 2023 year, with costs of $87,923,886. A few of the greatest paid staff members and officers on that list consist of:

  • Amy O’Hara– $617,929
  • Rebecca Hasse– $610,455
  • Cynthia King Vance– $528,759
  • Brian Lehrer– $469,512
  • Andrew Golis– $406,164

Cuts will strike public radio news station WNYC 93.9, podcast production home WNYC Studios and classical WQXR 105.9 FM. Cuts to the classical station will consist of removing early morning news casts and including no hosts throughout the night time shows.

“We are gutted that our company’s leaders have one once again chose to lay off individuals who make New York Public Radio,” checks out a composed declaration launched by union stewards of SAG-AFTRA, who represent their associates. “NYPR continues to recycle a playbook concentrated on material cuts that total up to a short-term band-aid instead of a long-lasting service to our multi-million dollar deficit.”

The cuts made are anticipated to conserve around $6 million every year. NYPR cut 6% of its staffers in 2015 and cancelled the podcasts “More Perfect” and “La Brega.”

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