Big cuts at WBUR

By adamg on Wed, 04/24/2024 - 3:13pm

WBUR self reports the NPR news station says two dozen employees have applied for buyouts and that the station plans to lay off seven and eliminate nine currently vacant positions, all by June, in an effort to cut $4 million from its budget due to a decline in sponsorships. Competing GBH is also looking at possible cuts.

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Comments

The US House of

By Don't Panic on Thu, 04/25/2024 - 12:54am.

The US House of Representatives Freedom Caucus also has plans to defund NPR so WBUR isn't going to be the only NPR affiliate station facing these issues.

It's a crying shame to because most Talk Radio is so damn right-wing these days.

3% Of BUR's Budget...

By John Costello on Thu, 04/25/2024 - 7:53am.

Is Fed. That's it.

If the real estate company known as Boston University can't make up that difference by admitting a few more unqualified full freight payers from China and the Gulf States, then perhaps they shouldn't have moved to those swanky digs.

I stopped giving when Here and Now turned into dentist waiting room background noise.

NYTimes article

By BostonDog on Thu, 04/25/2024 - 10:00am.

There's a longer NPR story in the Times. Every NPR station is hurting as methods of listening change from live radio to podcasts where the local affiliate matters a lot less. There's no clear path for the local stations or the national network to replace the funding they previously got from local underwriters. News is expensive.

The government funding isn't a huge percent but you're right it's going to be cut quickly once the GOP returns to power next year.

Locally, I've always thought it was a mistake for WGBH to move into WBUR's field. Boston is a large market for public radio but not enough for two stations to air identical content.

lol

By lbb on Thu, 04/25/2024 - 9:02pm.

once the GOP returns to power next year

lol

No more quirks

By AdamA on Thu, 04/25/2024 - 5:48pm.

I do miss when NPR had odd, quirky programs. These were interesting. Even All things Considered was full of fascinating stories. NPR today is deadly dull, except some weekend content.

Agreed

By BostonDog on Thu, 04/25/2024 - 8:50pm.

Car Talk got started at WBUR when one of the brothers was invited to be on a panel at the station and a producer thought he was fun to bring back. I'm skeptical the same thing could happen today.