WOUB cuts six positions, plans for less support from university

WOUB Public Media in Athens, Ohio, has laid off three employees and will not replace three vacant positions.

CTO and Interim GM Stephen Skidmore said in an email to Current that the layoffs affected a radio employee and two staffers in engineering and technical operations. The three employees who had left the company and whose roles will remain vacant worked in accounting, archiving and community engagement.

A Friday WOUB news story about the staff cuts said that WOUB is anticipating less funding from its license holder, Ohio University. The university’s president said in October that the institution aims to “reduce expenses and/or increase revenues” by 2% and rely less on reserve funds.

WOUB’s audited financial statement for fiscal year 2024 showed a deficit of almost $2.6 million. Ohio University provided $3.1 million of its $6.2 million in revenue, and it received a CPB Community Service Grant of $1.4 million.

A WOUB news story reported in August that the station had identified $1 million in budget cuts following the rescission of federal funding. Skidmore told Current that the most recent cuts would save about $450,000 annually. Before the rescission, WOUB had 34 employees.

“Our federal and state funding reductions total approximately $1.7 million,” he said. “It is clear that we have not—and cannot—close this gap solely through workforce reductions. As a result, all areas of our operations are being carefully reviewed. While we believe that everything we do is important and provides valuable service to our community, we must prioritize those services that are most critical to fulfilling our public service mission.”