The newly merged organization behind The Public’s Radio and Rhode Island PBS is weighing staff reductions after losing $1.1 million in annual support with the shutdown of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Employees have been offered voluntary buyouts through September 5, with layoffs possible if not enough staff participate.
President and CEO Pam Johnston told employees the cut represents “a significant and painful” loss. She said the group has already tightened expenses while working through its merger, but the gap remains too large to close. “We’ve also received an outpouring of support from our community and have hosted two of our most successful pledge drives ever,” she wrote in a staff message. “Despite these efforts, it is not enough to close the financial gap.” Johnston did not estimate how many jobs could be eliminated.
The Public’s Radio broadcasts on WNPN 89.3 as well as WNPE in South County and Newport and WPVD-AM/W275DA in Providence. Expansion plans include new signals in Westerly and on Block Island. The station merged with Rhode Island PBS in 2023, and the combined organization plans to rebrand as Ocean State Media later this year.
Rhode Island’s public media operation is not alone in grappling with cuts. American Public Media Group has laid off about 6% of its staff after a $6 million shortfall linked to rescinded federal and reduced state funding. WFAE in North Carolina and South Dakota Public Broadcasting have also reduced staff following the Congressional pullback.