24. Why are so many American public media jobs being cut?

from Media Uncovered · host Public Media Alliance

Why are so many American public media networks downsizing, and laying off staff? For this episode, we head to the US. In February 2023, NPR announced it was laying off 10-percent of its workforce – at least 100 people – facing a shortfall of $30 million. And in June 2024, it was announced that PBS would be making 24 people redundant. In the intervening months between those two announcements, there has been a litany of layoffs from regional networks, from GBH in Boston to Colorado Public Radio in Denver. What's causing these layoffs? And what impact will they have on the staff, on the content, and on the audiences? Presenter: Harry Lock. Correspondents: Jamie Tahana and Charlotte Pion. Guests: Mary Cavallaro (SAG-AFTRA), Ken Doctor (Lookout Local), Patricia Harrison (CPB), Professor Nikki Usher (University of San Diego), Sofia Verza (Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom). Music: Rachel Still, Lucas Thompson, Tom Brazier. Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/newsletters/

What this episode covers

Why are so many American public media networks downsizing, and laying off staff? In this episode, we head stateside. In February 2023, NPR announced it was laying off 10-percent of its workforce – at least 100 people – facing a shortfall of 30-million dollars. And in June 2024, it was announced that PBS would be making 24 people redundant, and 7 vacant positions would be removed. In the intervening months between those two announcements, there has been a litany of layoffs from regional networks, from GBH in Boston to Colorado Public Radio in Denver. What’s causing these layoffs? And what impact will they have on the staff, on the content, and on the audiences? Presenter: Harry Lock. Correspondents: Jamie Tahana and Charlotte Pion. Guests: Mary Cavallaro (SAG-AFTRA), Ken Doctor (Lookout Local), Patricia Harrison (CPB), Professor Nikki Usher (University of San Diego), Sofia Verza (Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom). Music: Rachel Still, Lucas Thompson, Tom Brazier. Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/newsletters/