Following A "Free Fall In Advertising," New York Public Radio Has Laid Off 12% Of Its Staff

New York Public Radio is letting off 12% of its employees as a result of a “free fall in advertising.”

According to The New York Times, New York Public Radio plans to let off 12% of its personnel as a result of a “free fall in the advertising market,” as described by the company’s president and CEO LaFontaine Oliver. The move follows a swath of bigger layoffs at parent network NPR, which affected 10% of personnel – the organization’s largest swath of job cuts since 2008.

“Knowing macroeconomic factors have led to this moment doesn’t soften the blow when national trends land on your own doorstep,” Oliver told the Times. He added that “this news is hard to hear.”

NYPR employs approximately 340 individuals, and the layoffs will affect approximately 40 of them, with the firm pledging to maintain its journalistic and music offerings. The broadcaster is the creator of the popular podcasts “Radiolab” and “The New Yorker Radio Hour,” as well as the radio stations WNYC and WQXR, as well as the NYC-focused website Gothamist. Those who will be affected will be notified this week.

The New York Public Radio Union, which represents NYPR’s SAG/AFTRA personnel, has launched a Twitter campaign to promote a petition and solicit money.

“The NYPR union is still fighting to save the jobs of as many valued colleagues as possible,” the organization said in a tweet last week. “Layoffs are not the only — or smartest — way to handle financial shortfalls.”

Another nonprofit New York-based news organization, The City, recently agreed with its staff to reduce their hours by 20% in order to avoid layoffs following a $1.5 million fall in financing this year. This reduction in hours allows employees to seek for state financial assistance.

NPR did some substantial housekeeping in August, unifying its news and programming departments and announcing that SVP Anya Grundmann will leave the network after an eight-year run as a podcast development leader. CEO John Lansing will also leave the company at the end of the year.

Following A “Free Fall In Advertising,” New York Public Radio Has Laid Off 12% Of Its Staff

New York Public Radio is letting off 12% of its employees as a result of a “free fall in advertising.”

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