More Public Radio Cutbacks

[TheBigA]

I'm posting this here because it's part of a series of staff cuts at public radio stations around the country.

Largest Public Radio Station In Kentucky To Reduce Workforce.

Louisville Public Media is laying off eight of its employees. The lost jobs are the result of a move to reduce operating expenses by roughly 10% for the budget year

www.insideradio.com

The last paragraph to me told the whole story.

Louisville Public Media just two years ago was in expansion mode. Bolstered by a $1.7 million capital campaign, LPM gained five reporters and a VP of content.

Engagement analytics, LPM says, indicate the growth was a key factor in 20% higher audience growth, “mostly in digital and news.” LPM says the expansion also resulted in more public service stories produced in the newsroom by 50%, George said. But the expansion hasn’t generated enough new memberships to keep pace with expenses.

So the increased news staff brought more listeners, but not more members. That's what matters in non-com radio, not ratings.

 

[radiofan2023]

I'm posting this here because it's part of a series of staff cuts at public radio stations around the country.

Largest Public Radio Station In Kentucky To Reduce Workforce.

Louisville Public Media is laying off eight of its employees. The lost jobs are the result of a move to reduce operating expenses by roughly 10% for the budget year

www.insideradio.com

The last paragraph to me told the whole story.



So the increased news staff brought more listeners, but not more members. That's what matters in non-com radio, not ratings.

Donations don’t have to come from members. They aren’t getting enough donations, and possibly not enough company sponsorships.

 

[Don CT]

Isn’t that the problem with public broadcasting as a whole. I’m sure the tv side is dealing with the same issues.

 

[Delete My Account]

A substantial number of people want what public radio provides, and more local and regional reporting, but don't want to pay for it. What a spiral.

 

[Kelly A]

Isn’t that the problem with public broadcasting as a whole. I’m sure the tv side is dealing with the same issues.

Oh yes they are.

 

[bturner1]

I looked at Minnesota Public Radio and associated 'companies'. The year ending June 2023, Underwriting was $26,189,000. The year ending June 30, 2022: $33,834,000. That's a big hit. Luckily their listeners gave more and the change is not multi-millions.

Public radio is having a tough time, losing corporate underwriting and listeners with tighter budgets.

 

[TheBigA]

The Corporation For Public Broadcasting released some financials for 2023:

Public Radio Sees Revenue Growth While TV Lags, Says CPB - Radio Ink

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has released its first post-pandemic State of the System report, with surprising results for radio.

radioink.com

Obviously things will not look as rosy when they look at 2024.

The same story, reported by Current, says radio was stagnant:

CPB’s first post-pandemic analysis of stations finds stagnating radio revenue, drop in TV income - Current

The latest State of the System report was shared during the Public Media Business Association’s annual conference.

current.org

Here is a link to the actual CPB report:

2024 CPB State of the System.pdf

drive.google.com

 

[TheBigA]

Now you can add PBS to the public broadcasting layoffs:

PBS CEO Paula Kerger sends email announcing strategic layoffs for future stability - Editor and Publisher

In a recent communication to local station general managers, PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger outlined significant organizational changes aimed at maintaining fiscal stability and operational efficiency amidst ongoing economic instability and disruptions in the media landscape. The email...

www.editorandpublisher.com

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Now you can add PBS to the public broadcasting layoffs:

PBS CEO Paula Kerger sends email announcing strategic layoffs for future stability - Editor and Publisher

In a recent communication to local station general managers, PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger outlined significant organizational changes aimed at maintaining fiscal stability and operational efficiency amidst ongoing economic instability and disruptions in the media landscape. The email...

www.editorandpublisher.com

Woah now the network itself is facing cuts right after some of the most notable affiliates like KQED and WGBH made cuts at the same time they were responding to cuts related to their radio operations.

 

[TheBigA]

A group of reporters at WBEZ Chicago are calling for the ouster of the station GM over layoffs caused by declining revenues.

WBEZ Staff Demand CEO Matt Moog's Removal Over Layoffs - Radio Ink

Journalists at Chicago Public Media's WBEZ are calling for the immediate removal of outgoing CEO Matt Moog after April layoffs.

radioink.com

The GM had previously announced his resignation, so I'm not sure what they hope to accomplish. He's leaving anyway.

 

[radiofan2023]

A group of reporters at WBEZ Chicago are calling for the ouster of the station GM over layoffs caused by declining revenues.

WBEZ Staff Demand CEO Matt Moog's Removal Over Layoffs - Radio Ink

Journalists at Chicago Public Media's WBEZ are calling for the immediate removal of outgoing CEO Matt Moog after April layoffs.

radioink.com

The GM had previously announced his resignation, so I'm not sure what they hope to accomplish. He's leaving anyway.

The article says they want him out now, not whenever his successor is named.

 

[DarrenVision]

A group of reporters at WBEZ Chicago are calling for the ouster of the station GM over layoffs caused by declining revenues.

WBEZ Staff Demand CEO Matt Moog's Removal Over Layoffs - Radio Ink

Journalists at Chicago Public Media's WBEZ are calling for the immediate removal of outgoing CEO Matt Moog after April layoffs.

radioink.com

The GM had previously announced his resignation, so I'm not sure what they hope to accomplish. He's leaving anyway.

Does the Sun-Times react also?

 

[TheBigA]

Does the Sun-Times react also?

Did you read the second paragraph in the linked article?

 

[DarrenVision]

Did you read the second paragraph in the linked article?

oh, i meant the reaction of the paper's staff. I never expect that SAG is also in radio biz if i'm thinking about the double Hollywood strikes last year.

 

[TheBigA]

oh, i meant the reaction of the paper's staff. I never expect that SAG is also in radio biz if i'm thinking about the double Hollywood strikes last year.

Here's the second paragraph:

Union members from WBEZ’s SAG-AFTRA local and the Chicago Newspaper Guild at the Chicago Sun-Times – which was acquired by CPM under Moog’s leadership – participated heavily in the vote, with 86% turnout and 96% in favor of Moog’s removal. Nine of the 14 cuts were unionized content creators at WBEZ.

 

[Kelly A]

Here's the second paragraph:

Well, I guess that means all the other public stations that have needed cuts will have to can their management too.
Scorched earth thinking.

 

[TheBigA]

Well, I guess that means all the other public stations that have needed cuts will have to can their management too.
Scorched earth thinking.

No longer an issue in that WBEZ has announced a new CEO:

Melissa Bell New CEO At Chicago Public Media.

Chicago Public Media (CPM) has appointed Melissa Bell, former Vox Media publisher and Vox.com co-founder, as its new CEO. The CPM Board of Directors announced the decision Thursday, highlighting Bell’s

www.insideradio.com

She takes over in September. Not an enviable position.

 

[boombox4]

A substantial number of people want what public radio provides, and more local and regional reporting, but don't want to pay for it. What a spiral.

A substantial number of people probably don't have the spare money to donate. And that is a problem.

 

[Kelly A]

A substantial number of people probably don't have the spare money to donate. And that is a problem.

This, and what's become known as 'donor fatigue' with all the charities last winter and spring dominating TV with heartstring-tugging pleas for donations. Many media consumers have already given what they have to give for the year.

 

[Gregg.]

I really don't think it's "donor fatigue" as much as TV/radio fatigue. Is there any proof that the average American donates less money to charities in 2024 than in 2020 or 2010? Yes, inflation has made us all reevaluate our spending. But inflation is now close to manageable levels. Unemployment is at a record low. The stock market is at a record high.

I think it's just a case that we don't use radio and television as much as we once did.

In fact, if you look at the ratings for each large market, you see public radio listening is stronger than ten or twenty years ago. WNYC-FM is #10 in NYC. It wasn't that long ago it was around #17 or so. WAMU is #1 in Washington, KQED-FM #2 in San Francisco, KPBS-FM #2 San Diego, WBUR #4 and WGBH #10 in Boston. I'd say if you looked at ratings in 2000, these stations were not this highly rated. But we can also say public radio takes up a larger slice of a shrinking pie. Being #2 in 2024 means you probably have fewer people listening than being #10 in 2000.

The same thing that's happening to ad sales on commercial stations is happening to donations on public radio stations. In a world of streaming and podcasts, we just aren't listening as much and donating as much as in past decades.