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Wisconsin Public Radio cuts staff, will end shows to reduce deficit

June 23, 2025

Exterior view of Vilas Communication Hall at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a large concrete and brick academic building with a cantilevered upper floor and tall vertical windows, partially obscured by leafy trees.

James Steakley / Wikmedia Commons

Vilas Communication Hall at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where Wisconsin Public Radio is headquartered.

Wisconsin Public Radio announced Friday that it is laying off employees and ending production of four programs to address a budget deficit.

The station will stop producing three nationally distributed shows: To the Best of Our Knowledge, Zorba Paster on Your Health and BETA. It is also ending University of the Air, a show that airs statewide.

Sarah Ashworth, Wisconsin Public Radio director — Ashworth

WPR did not disclose how many employees it is laying off in the announcement posted on its website. Citing an anonymous source, a WPR news article posted Friday reported that the station is cutting 15 full-time positions and leaving several vacancies unfilled. The station has not responded to Current’s request for details about the cuts.

“We’re saddened to say goodbye to these valued colleagues and shows that have been an important part of our recent history,” says Sarah Ashworth, WPR director, in the announcement. “This is a difficult decision and WPR must prioritize its capacity to provide what no other media outlet can: unique Wisconsin content from a decidedly Wisconsin point of view.”

The announcement also cited “pressures around state and federal funding” faced by public radio nationally. Other stations have pointed to those factors when announcing layoffs in recent months, including NJ PBS, GBH in Boston and Kentucky’s Louisville Public Media.

WPR did not share details about the size of its deficit in its announcement. Its weekly average audience declined 12.4% from fiscal years 2023 to 2024, according to a state budget request submitted in September 2024, mirroring national trends. Meanwhile, its total number of donors declined 3.8%, though total membership revenue increased slightly.

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Mike Janssen

Mike has held the role of digital editor since 2014. Before becoming editor, he covered public radio and digital initiatives in public media for Current. Mike has also written for a variety of publications as a freelancer, was a Public Media Corps fellow, and has hosted talk and music shows on community radio stations in the Washington, D.C., area. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing banjo, cooking, and making coffee and cocktails.

Jeff Krall 23 June, 2025 at 20:27 Reply

Frankly I’m delighted that there may actually be less tax dollars spent on Wisconsin public radio. First of all it helps to reduce taxes that hard working people in the private sector are forced to give up. Secondly and perhaps most important it will reduce the overall amount of left wing liberal propaganda that is usually mischaracterized as the “Wisconsin” way of thinking.
Katrina Kole 26 June, 2025 at 16:12 Reply

Here we go. Racing even more to the bottom. It’s all fun and games to the doge/magasphere now. But it’s coming for then too.
william bastian 31 July, 2025 at 11:30 Reply

The first step of a dictator is to silence the truth. Then democracy dies.
Cathe Rosenberg 4 August, 2025 at 20:17 Reply

THANKS for producing the Dr Zorba show all these years. Sad to see it go but grateful for what we had. It was always timely and entertaining.

Cathe Rosenberg KPBX Spokane subscriber
cecilia schefstrom 27 September, 2025 at 16:20 Reply

this was my favorite program on NPR. I’m so sad that To the Best of Our Knowledge is going off the air. Another reason to despise our current administration.