New York Public Radio (NYPR) is cutting 26 positions, representing an 8.5% workforce reduction, and will cease production of the nationally distributed show “Notes From America,” with its final broadcast scheduled for December 29. CEO LaFontaine Oliver announced these measures in an email to staff on Thursday, citing a projected $12 million budget deficit for the fiscal year. The layoffs affect both operational and content teams, encompassing union and non-union roles, with 12 positions eliminated through voluntary departures.
In addition to staff reductions, NYPR will discontinue producing seasonal podcasts for WQXR, its classical music service, due to the significant resources required to make them sustainable. WQXR will also transition to unhosted music during overnight hours and eliminate morning newscasts. The station plans to scale back events at the Greene Space, limiting them to those directly tied to NYPR.
Looking ahead, Oliver emphasized a renewed focus on local news and a cautious approach to investing in national shows, prioritizing those that consistently attract both audience and revenue. He also mentioned plans to revamp NYPR’s membership model in response to evolving audience behaviors and the digital marketplace, with a transformative multi-year fundraising campaign coinciding with the station’s upcoming 100th anniversary.
These cutbacks follow a previous reduction of 20 positions last year. Union stewards representing NYPR’s news staff expressed their dismay, stating, “We are gutted that our organization’s leaders have once again decided to lay off the people who make New York Public Radio.” They criticized the repeated reliance on content cuts as a short-term solution to the station’s financial challenges.
Oliver acknowledged the difficulties, stating, “I am deeply sorry to lose the talented colleagues and friends who will be leaving us, and I wish we were in a different place.” He highlighted the broader industry challenges, including shifts toward digital platforms, declining radio listenership, and changes in advertising trends, many of which accelerated during the pandemic and have not reversed.