A week ago, Wisconsin Public Radio made the announcement that it would be terminating the employment of at least fifteen employees and canceling four radio programs. This decision was made in response to the station’s budgetary constraints and the impending possibility of reductions in its federal funding.
Among the programs that have been canceled are the nationally syndicated “To the Best of Our Knowledge,” the arts and culture show “BETA,” the health show “Zorba Paster On Your Health,” and the local “University of the Air.” The staff members were informed of the layoffs on Friday through a notification.
A proposal to rescind federal money that was previously allocated to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which is responsible for distributing federal funds to local stations across the country, has been under consideration by Republicans of the United States Congress, which is currently in control of these bodies. The United States House of Representatives voted earlier this month to take $1.1 billion from the Compensation and Pension Benefits Board (CPB), and the Senate has until the middle of July to pass its own version of the provision.
Funding from the federal CPB accounts for approximately four percent of the budget for WPR.
Before the cuts made by the Republicans, however, WPR was already experiencing financial difficulties, as the station had been operating with a budget deficit for the past few years. WPR has reported that the possibility of layoffs was brought up almost a year ago, and there is a plan in the works to merge WPR with PBS Wisconsin, which is more financially stable than WPR.
We are saddened to say goodbye to these valued colleagues and shows that have been an important part of our recent history,” Sarah Ashworth, the director of WPR, said in a letter announcing the changes. “We are saddened to say goodbye to these shows and colleagues.” This is a challenging decision, and Wisconsin Public Radio must prioritize its ability to provide something that no other media outlet can: content that is exclusive to Wisconsin and is presented from a perspective that is decidedly Wisconsin. Our obligation to the public and our most abundant opportunity for public service is to concentrate on producing content that is specific to Wisconsin and aimed at audiences in Wisconsin.
