Chicago Public Media, parent of Public News/Talk 91.5 WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times is the latest Public Media outlet to announce staff cuts and the elimination of multiple divisions.
The organization has revealed that fourteen employees will be laid off as Chicago Public Media eliminates its Content Development Unit, business reporting at the Chicago Sun-Times, its fellowship program, and Urban Alternative “Vocalo 91.1“.
CEO Matt Moog and Chairman Robert Pasin shared the decision in a memo writing, “These are painful decisions that affect our valued colleagues. We are working diligently to minimize the negative impact on each individual and provide them with financial and transitional support. We are so grateful for their many contributions over the years. As we head into another intense news cycle during a consequential election year, reliable local news and information matter now more than ever. Yet, like many news organizations, our traditional sources of revenue — sponsorship, advertising, subscription and membership, and philanthropic funding — are not growing to support our mission.”
They note that while revenue is not growing, their digital channels are growing to over 4.5 million weekly listeners and readers with 750,000 daily email subscribers and their daily news podcasts reaching nearly 100,000 downloads per week.
In regards to Vocalo’s radio programming, the station as heard on WBEZ-HD2, 91.1 W216CL Chicago, and 89.5 WBEW Chesterton IN, reaches just 11,000 listeners weekly after 17 years of operation running at a significant financial loss for many years. While the radio side of the brand will end before May 1, the brand will continue as a digital platform with two staffers moving to WBEZ’s Arts & Culture unit to cover Chicago music and events. They and others will continue to manage its “The Goods” newsletter, which has grown to over 50,000 subscribers.
WBEZ’s Content Development Unit will wind-down with its non-news podcasts including Nerdette, Making, and When Magic Happens coming to an end. The unit’s Reset podcast is being expanded online with in-depth write-ups and Q-and-As alongside the audio program and video content on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Moog and Pasin state, “While these changes are difficult, they represent Chicago Public Media’s commitment to delivering high-quality local news that our loyal audiences depend on and innovating to reach new, expanded audiences. We believe these limited changes will continue to move us toward delivering on that promise. We would like to recognize the commitment and important work of our impacted staff members. Their devotion to telling stories that matter and the incredible talent and care they brought to their craft are a source of great pride. We endeavor to provide as much transition time and support as possible and give them a chance to say a proper goodbye to the audiences they have served.”
