world-economy

NPR Cuts Newsroom Jobs Amid $8M Budget Gap From Lost Federal Funding

NPR is restructuring its newsroom and offering voluntary buyouts to roughly 300 employees as the broadcaster grapples with an $8 million annual budget shortfall. President and CEO Katherine Maher cited elimination of federal subsidies for member stations and declining corporate sponsorship as the primary drivers. The network expects to lose $15 million in station fees this year. NPR will accept up to 30 voluntary departures, with forced layoffs to follow if insufficient employees accept buyouts by May 26. News program hosts remain exempt from cuts. The restructuring comes weeks after NPR received two private donations totaling $113 million, the organization's second- and third-largest gifts in its 56-year history. Most of this funding is designated for technology infrastructure.