KQED announced a workforce reduction of 15% impacting 45 staff members and 12 voluntary buyouts. The company faces significant challenges, including attempts to reduce federal funding for public media, a $12 million annual deficit, and declining revenue in corporate sponsorship and grants. Despite substantial investments in infrastructure and digital capacity, revenue streams to support expanded services have not materialized. Previous layoffs occurred more than a year ago when KQED laid off 34 employees after offering buyout packages.
KQED is in the midst of one of the most difficult moments in the 71-year history of the station. There are a number of concurrent attempts to eliminate or impair federal funding for public media.
KQED has been operating under a $12 million annual board-approved deficit, brought about by investments in our infrastructure, and digital capacity, content and platforms. But those investments have not yet resulted in adequate revenue streams needed to support this expansion in service.
Collection
[
|
...
]