Personnel Cutbacks at Public Broadcasting Operations?

[Mark Giardina]

I was reading the latest on-line edition of Current and noticed that MPR is cutting back on personnel in order to get its budget in line.

I'm curious that with the economy in its current state of panic, the price of oil rising faster than someone who took a full a bottle of Viagara, just how many public broadcasting operations across the country are planning to cut back on staff this fiscal year?

Chime in if you can add any information.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Without Morning Edition and the other programs NPR provides, a number of stations would have to rely solely on local talent. Local talent costs money. (IE: salaries, medical & retirement and unemployment insurance). While the salaries paid to most public radio employees is far less than their counterparts at some commercial stations, it is cheaper to keep part-timers around than someone earning a full-time salary. Therefore it doesn't surprise me that Minnesota Public Radio and other NPR affiliates are cutting back on staff.
It is kind of sad when one considers that public radio remains the only bastion of true broadcasting left. While I've been critical in the past of the salaries paid to high-ranking management, I've always felt that public radio serves the general public. Therefore it is a shame to read that now these stations are cutting back on personnel.