31 employees have been laid off at GBH. Management warned staff about potential job cuts due to a significant budget deficit back in March. The cuts represent 4% of the outlet’s work force. Among the affected are approximately 10% of GBH’s News department.
CEO Susan Goldberg addressed the layoffs in an email to staff, stating “We made these hard choices only after implementing a range of other cost-saving measures and operating efficiencies. The basic reason for these reductions is simple: revenues are flat and the cost of doing business has gone up. A lot.”
GBH, a major producer of public media content, is facing a $7 million budget gap. Goldberg announced that popular local television programs such as Greater Boston, Talking Politics, and Basic Black would no longer be produced for TV due to changing viewer habits and declining viewership. However, the shows will be reimagined as digital-first programming.
13 different departments throughout GBH were impacted by the layoffs according to Goldberg’s email. It is unclear if there will be further cost-cutting measures in the future.
Zoe Mathews, a union steward for the newsroom, expressed surprise and disappointment at the sudden layoffs especially since discussions with the union during recent all-staff meetings held by organization leadership did not occur.
“Over the course of the past few months, when we have had all-staff meetings with organization leadership, we in the newsroom were not unaware of the financial situation at GBH, but I’m shocked that management has decided to make cuts from the newsroom and not explore other options,” said Mathews.
The GBH layoffs come one month after Boston’s other NPR station WBUR announced cuts of up to 14% of its staff. Those moves were said to be necessary due to a steep decline in on-air sponsorships.
Goldberg’s announcement did not mention any changes to flagship programs such as FRONTLINE, NOVA, Antiques Roadshow or Masterpiece. GBH is also known for producing popular children’s programs for public broadcasting. The news comes shortly after the announcement of GBH News’ General Manager Pam Johnston’s resignation at the end of the month.
