NPR Not Immune To Pay Cuts

• Like most major media companies, National Public Radio (NPR) has been forced to cut pay and benefits for some staffers in a bid to “save jobs and support the future of NPR” after the coronavirus pandemic has ballooned its projected losses to as much as $53 million over the next two years.

Bloomberg reports that NPR employee making over $80,000 a year will have their base pay reduced on a sliding scale of up to 9% through Sept. 30 and workers will be offered furloughs, according to a staff memo issued by NPR Chief Executive Officer John Lansing (left). NPR is also stopping employer contributions to its 403(b) retirement plan.

NPR had already been projected to lose from $30 million to $45 million in fiscal 2020 and 2021, but that number has now been adjusted upward to $40-$53 million. Lansing’s memo stated, “That is still a very early estimate that could easily become worse if, for example, a second wave of Covid-19 were to occur later this year.”

Most media organizations are reeling from COVID-19-related budget cuts, but NPR has unique challenges, as it relies on contributions to stay afloat. To help close its budget gap, the organization is looking for expansion opportunities internationally and is calling on its member stations to seek more money from major donors and foundations. In a separate statement, NPR said, “We do not have a profit motive or shareholders to serve like commercial media, so all of our resources go toward public service. We will continue to manage our budgets closely across the organization — our main priority is to preserve jobs so we can continue providing an essential public service to audiences across platforms.”