In what’s believed to be the first major downsizing at a public radio station in this recession, Chicago Public Radio has laid off 11 staffers.
The cuts, spread out among WBEZ(FM), WBEW(FM), chicagopublicradio.org, and Vocalo.org, a site where listeners upload their own material for possible on-air use, represent around 9 percent of the CPR budget, reported the Chicago Tribune.
An article on www.wbez.org cited management as saying the move was in response to a projected $1.5 million revenue shortfall. Hard times for listeners and businesses mean fewer individual donations and a drop in corporate gifts.
Open positions remain unfilled and senior staffers are taking salary cuts.
