WFUV/New York Undergoes Restructuring
• UPDATED: In response to the total loss of federal funding, Fordham University’s non-comm Triple A 90.7 WFUV/New York announced a reorganization designed to sustain and strengthen its service to listeners.
With July’s rescission of support for The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, WFUV lost $500,000 in annual support, or 7% of its budget. In response, WFUV has reduced expenses by eliminating five positions (12% of its staff), in the areas of programming, digital and corporate underwriting. “We are saddened to say goodbye to talented colleagues who have served WFUV and our community for years,” said Chuck Singleton, WFUV GM. “This budgetary decision was a painful one. Our colleagues’ contributions have been vital, and we are deeply grateful.”
WFUV has also reconfigured leadership, programming, and corporate underwriting roles, streamlined operations, and expanded community partnerships.
RAMP has learned that this reorganization has impacted eight positions, which have been reconfigured to better enable WFUV to meet the moment’s challenges:
> GM Chuck Singleton will sharpen his focus to concentrate on major fundraising, strategic partnerships and long-range sustainability.
> Rich McLaughlin (formerly WFUV Program Director) has been named Associate General Manager, where he will function as WFUV’s COO and support strategic leadership and long-term planning.
> Russ Borris (formerly Music & Industry Relations Director) and Meghan Suma (formerly Production Director) have named Director of Music Programming and Director of Audio & Digital Content, respectively. Together they will serve as a co-program directorship, and shape WFUV’s programming strategy across music, audio, and digital platforms.
> Alisa Ali (Midday Host), has added new responsibilities as Assistant Director for Community Music Partnerships, working to strengthen WFUV’s connections with local artists, labels, and nonprofits across New York City.
> Kara Manning (formerly Music Content & Communications Director) has been named Digital Content & Communications Director, where she will work to align WFUV’s editorial and digital storytelling.
> Lisa Smith (formerly Corporate Underwriting Account Manager) has been named Assistant Director of Strategic Business Development, with a focus on new revenue opportunities.
> WFUV is also creating a new underwriting position with a sharp focus on digital business and has engaged Jacobs dr (Paul Jacobs and Chris Brunt) to strengthen its digital marketing strategy.
McLaughlin remarked, “We’ll be reimagining how WFUV serves listeners and artists in New York. These changes align us with the future of public media: more local, more digital, and more connected to our community. They position us not only to adapt, but to thrive.”
