Chicago Public Media Announces Layoffs
• Chicago Public Media (CPM), the parent company of NPR affiliate WBEZ/Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times announced the layoff of 14 staffers at both organizations Wednesday, including the shuttering of WBEZ’s Urban Alternative Vocalo unit. The downsizing comes amid a worsening financial crisis for the news organization marked by declining fundraising, listenership and philanthropic support.
News of the layoffs was shared with the staff in a letter from Chicago Public Media CEO Matt Moog, the Chicago Public Media Executive Leadership Team, and Robert Pasin, Chair of the Chicago Public Media Board of Directors, which reads, in part, “Today, we’re announcing the difficult decision to make a limited set of programming changes and staff reductions outside the newsroom that will allow CPM to best serve our community and manage the organization for long-term sustainability.”
The letter continues, “Fourteen roles are being eliminated from WBEZ’s Content Development Unit, Vocalo’s radio broadcast, and Chicago Sun-Times business roles. We are also phasing out the WBEZ fellowship program in FY25. Impacted staff members have been notified. These are painful decisions that affect our valued colleagues. We are working diligently to minimize the negative impact on each individual and provide them with financial and transitional support. We are so grateful for their many contributions over the years.”
Urban Alternative Vocalo Radio 91.1 will discontinue its radio programming by May 1. Five unionized staffers were involved in the production of Vocalo. Chicago Public Media said two of those positions will migrate to a new arts and culture unit and cover Chicago music and events. Chicago Public Media added that four job cuts would be made to unspecified “business roles” at the Sun-Times. The full story is posted at WBEZ.org.
