MPR’s parent company announces layoffs, citing cuts in government support

American Constituents Media Group the nonprofit parent company of Minnesota Masses Radio reported Thursday that it will be reducing its staff as a development of latest establishment budget cuts to inhabitants broadcasting APMG plans to lay off to of its staff in the coming weeks and reduce employee benefits as it faces a more than million budget deficit due to federal and state budget cuts the St Paul-based media company mentioned in a comment While we are fortunate among inhabitants media organizations to be in a relatively strong financial position these are critical cuts Roycie Eppler chief people and civilization officer for APMG mentioned in the comment In a move spurred by the Trump administration the Republican majorities in the House and the Senate last week rescinded billion in already-approved funding for the Corporation for Constituents Broadcasting in and That effectively fully defunded the organization that directs federal dollars to National Residents Radio the Constituents Broadcasting System and particular local community radio and TV stations around the country including Minnesota Constituents Radio Federal funding accounts for about of MPR s budget the organization s news division communicated Minnesota lawmakers aiming to tighten the new state budget earlier this year also cut million annually from MPR s allocation for cultural heritage and legacy initiatives That left the broadcaster with million through June down from million in the prior state budget according to MPR News With a staff of approximately to employees at APMG could soon lose their jobs The company did not share details about which positions could be cut We are working through details with care and respect and will continue to keep our association updated Eppler noted APMG includes MPR and its news division The Current its contemporary music institution and YourClassical its classical music amenity It also includes American Masses Media which produces national residents radio initiatives such as Marketplace and The Splendid Table and Southern California Populace Radio a citizens radio organization in the Los Angeles area Thursday s announcement comes on the heels of layoffs at Twin Cities Community Television the PBS station in Minneapolis-St Paul which was also impacted by the clawed-back federal funding St Paul-based TPT revealed this week that it is laying off approximately people across multiple departments The federal budget cuts are also expected to disrupt operations at four PBS outlets in greater Minnesota as well as other masses radio stations outside the large MPR system including Jazz society radio station KFAI and others For nearly years residents media has earned the assistance and trust of the American people as the country s only local no-cost commercial-free nonprofit news information and civilization utility resulting from a highly efficient public-private partnership Eppler revealed While we work through these financial challenges we remain dedicated to our general system mission The CPB a private nonprofit was created by bipartisan congressional approval in the s Trump administration functionaries tied the current funding cuts which passed in both the Senate and House of Representatives on slim party-line margins to an alleged left-leaning political bias within residents media programs though such concerns have not been well-substantiated by policymakers Related Articles Federal regulators approve Paramount s billion deal with Skydance capping months of turmoil Millions of HydroTech hoses recalled after hundreds burst leaving at least people injured Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern confirm merger talks to create coast to coast railroad Winners losers movers Highlights of US auto sales six months in Average long-term US mortgage rate eases to keeping home loan borrowing costs elevated