Thirty-one employees at WBUR, representing around 14 percent of the station’s workforce, are leaving the company through layoffs and buyouts. The decision was announced in a message sent to staff on Wednesday by chief executive Margaret Low.
Twenty-four of the affected employees accepted a voluntary buyout offered last month, including four senior managers. Seven additional staff members, including three part-time employees, were laid off. The station is also eliminating nine open positions, reducing travel expenses, and pursuing lower rates for contract services, according to Low.
These changes are anticipated to save the station $4 million. However, Low indicated that the upcoming fiscal year will still involve deficit spending as they work towards financial sustainability.
The station’s editorial union, affiliated with SAG-AFTRA, expressed sympathy for the affected colleagues and disappointment that alternative cost-saving measures were not explored further. Nevertheless, they acknowledge that the buyouts helped mitigate the number of job losses and provide opportunities for internal redeployment.
The decision follows an initial announcement two months ago by Low regarding WBUR’s financial difficulties. Factors contributing to the shortfall include a 40% decline in on-air sponsorship revenue over the past five years. The station had previously implemented layoffs in 2020, affecting 10% of its workforce.
WBUR is not the only public radio station facing financial challenges. Similar issues have been reported across the country due to declining advertising and rising costs. Notably, GBH, another public media organization in Boston, has also warned of potential layoffs amid a budget deficit.
The situation raises questions about the viability of maintaining two NPR news stations in Boston, which is uncommon even in larger cities. The challenge lies in balancing the demand for local news coverage with the financial constraints faced by public media organizations.
