Pacifica's WBAI-FM New York, birthplace of 'Democracy Now!,' lays off most of its staff

[Newsjock]

Source: New York Times

WBAI-FM, the noncommercial radio station that has been a liberal fixture in New York for more than 50 years, laid off about two-thirds of its staff last week, including its entire news department, because of long-simmering financial difficulties.

In a tearful on-air announcement on Friday, Summer Reese, the interim executive director of the Pacifica Foundation, which owns WBAI, said that after talks with SAG-Aftra, the union that represents broadcasting talent, “we will be laying off virtually everyone whose voice you recognize on the air,” effective Monday.

... Pacifica also operates stations in Washington, Houston and Los Angeles, and syndicates popular public affairs programs like “Democracy Now!,” which started at WBAI in 1996.

... WBAI is not the only troubled Pacifica station. Ms. Reese recently said that WPFW-FM in Washington might not be able “to get through until September.” Over the weekend she said that since Pacifica had been dealing with these troubled stations, “the entire enterprise is distressed,” but that by fixing its finances the network could survive.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/12/business/media/wbai-fm-lays-off-most-of-staff.html?hp

[hrmjustin]

1. My friend lost her job. Heartbreaking!

I remember in the 90's my friends and I did a show on gay youth for the station during gay pride.

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

2. Our WEALTHY Supporters need to STEP UP, now!

What the hell, just six sponsors could keep them running, even without donations yearly, easily!

[awoke_in_2003]

5. Our wealthy supporters...

are part of the problem.

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

6. but could be part of the solution

some of them are in the game, but not enough!

[awoke_in_2003]

7. They only want to protect their wealth...

we are nothing to them.

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

8. not the progressives and liberals out there

they may just not be aware, as wealth creates it's own bubble.

not all rich are evil, mind you.

[limpyhobbler]

3. How sad. I listen to Rick Wolff's show from there every week. I hope it will continue.

[KharmaTrain]

4. More Radio Circling The Drain...

...Pacifica's fought the good fight with WBAI...keeping it going for many years rather than cashing in. At one point the station was worth upwards of $250 million...today it may fetch $50 million, but that money could be used to maintain the operations in other cities. Fortunately technology is enable one station to reach more and more people...I have KPFK and KPFA on my phone...and Pacifica can continue their high quality programming without the large overhead of operating a chain of stations.

The bottom line is except for the few minutes people are in cars, few are listening to radio in their homes or offices anymore. The corporate destruction of commercial radio has driven almost anyone under 40 away from listening and it's had a severe affect on non=profit stations that rely on large audiences for donations.