During a virtual all-staff presentation last week, National Public Radio (NPR) employees accused the network’s CEO of racism. The presentation included financial metrics and diversity level updates after the organization cut approximately 10% of its workforce, laying off 84 employees and halting production on four seasonal podcasts. Another 13 employees from the digital team are also set to be cut, according to The Wall Street Journal.
According to The Daily Wire, NPR CEO John Lansing and other executives addressed the news department and programming team during the meeting, taking employee questions. The questions included inquiries about the number of employees of different races and identities laid off compared to those who retained their jobs.
At one point, a laid-off black employee asked Lansing why some podcasts lacked marketing support, called out executives by name for repeating statements about more accountability, and questioned how the network would make diversity essential. Lansing pointed to the network’s mission statement and urged the group to “turn down the rhetoric” and avoid naming individuals.
However, some employees accused Lansing of “tone-policing” and called his response “racist.” One employee even referenced a segment from NPR’s Code Switch, titled “When Civility Is Used As A Cudgel Against People Of Color,” and wrote, “Civility is a weapon wielded by the powerful.”
In response, NPR Chief Communications Officer Isabel Lara said the organization respects staff conversations and values feedback. She also acknowledged the difficulty of the situation and the staff’s right to hold NPR leadership accountable.
In February, Lansing had broken the news to NPR staff that the network would have to cut most vacant positions and lay off around 10% of its current staff due to a “sharp decline” in advertisement revenues. This came after he had pledged to avoid layoffs, as the network faced losing approximately $10 million from the current fiscal year budget. However, new projections now show at least a $30 million shortfall.
