WKU Public Media cuts one third of staff
Bbadgett / Wikimedia Commons
The campus of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.
WKU Public Media in Bowling Green, Ky., eliminated one third of its staff Wednesday, the station said in a Facebook post.
The station cut six full-time positions and two part-time positions, according to the post. The cuts were made across the organization and included positions in development, editorial, operations and production, Jordan Basham, interim executive director, told Current in an email.
Two of the employees who left resigned following the rescission of federal funding in July, according to Basham. Four of the affected positions were vacant.
“The recent elimination of federal support for public media through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has created a significant, immediate funding deficit for our organization,” the station said in its Facebook post. “Despite budget realignment, operational cost reductions, and an incredible emergency fundraising response, the shortfall requires difficult changes.”
The station is “working through” a $1.2 million budget hole that was “previously filled through grants from CPB,” Basham said.
On the radio side, the station had about a $105,000 shortfall in FY24, according to its most recent audit. WKU’s television station saw about a $540,000 shortfall.
“Public media is a public trust,” the station said on Facebook. “With your partnership, we will adapt and continue to provide a free, reliable, fact-based source for everyone. It is a powerful and poignant time to reshape our community and media landscape.”
