NPR will end production of some seasonal podcasts, including Invisibilia, Rough Translation and Louder Than a Riot, amid layoffs at the network this week.
NPR will also stop production of Everyone & Their Mom, a midweek podcast spun off from Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!, NPR spokesperson Isabel Lara told Current in an email.
“These projects include some of the best work NPR has ever done,” Lara said. “We are exploring ways this work can continue in other forms. We are losing some amazing people. Our narrative journalism efforts will continue with Embedded and Up First Sunday, which will showcase the best longform journalism projects from NPR and across the public radio system.”
Production of the podcasts will end after their current seasons, Lara said. She declined to disclose whether staffers on the shows will be laid off.
The Twitter account of Louder Than a Riot announced Thursday, “Our producers and editor have been laid off, although NPR would like everyone to stay on until June to finish publishing the show. We are taking some time to process what this looks like for our staff.”
Gregory Warner, host of Rough Translation, said on Twitter that he was among those who lost their jobs.
“We’ve tried as much as possible to … focus on key strategic priorities, daily habits, and serving new audiences,” Lara said.
NPR announced last month that it would lay off about 10% of its staff this week to offset a $30 million budget shortfall caused by a drop in corporate sponsorship. A news report from NPR said Thursday that most staffers affected by cuts will continue working at the network until April 28.
This story has been updated to include a tweet from Louder Than a Riot.