Two days after a public 100th anniversary celebration in Central Park, New York Public Radio has conducted a round of significant cuts.
In a memo to staff on Thursday, CEO LaFontaine Oliver said fourteen of 302 employees were being let go, while twelve others took voluntary buyouts. Gothamist adds that two staffers will be transferred into new positions with the company forgoing its upcoming promotions cycle and annual increases for non-union staff. An additional reporter, Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky, said she was denied for the contract buyout, but resigned instead.
The cuts will include the elimination of newscasts in mornings and hosted overnights on Classical 105.9 WQXR Newark NJ. Current weekend overnight host Nimet Habachy will exit the station after 42 years, while weeknight host Lauren Rico will continue to host “Sunday Evenings” from 5-9pm. Other cuts will include the show “Notes from America” with Kai Wright on Public News/Talk 93.9 WNYC-FM New York, the podcasts “More Perfect” and “La Brega” from WNYC and all six of the podcasts produced by WQXR, and a reduction in events planned for their “Greene Space” performance space at their Manhattan headquarters.
In the memo, Oliver said, “Despite our best efforts to contain costs and grow our revenue, we continue to face severe financial headwinds. Our deficit has continued to mount and it has become painfully clear that without swift action, we will soon face significant questions about our ability to continue to serve New York.”
New York Public Radio spokesperson Jennifer Houlihan Roussel told the organization’s Gothamist that sponsorships fell from $23 million in 2022 to $16.2 million in 2023. The group also cut 40 positions in October 2023.
In addition to 93.9 WNYC-FM and 105.9 WQXR, New York Public Radio operates 820 WNYC New York, Gothamist.com, and WNYC-FM simulcasters “New Jersey Public Radio” 88.1 WNJT-FM Trenton, 88.5 WNJP Sussex, 89.3 WNJY Netcong, and 90.3 WNJO Toms River.