NPR offering buyouts to staff
Company hopes to cut 10 percent of workers
WASHINGTON – NPR said Friday that it was offering across-the-board buyouts in hopes of cutting its staff by 10 percent and eliminating its deficit.
The buyouts, which are to be offered across the entire public radio organization, were approved by NPR’s board of directors to help with a projected operating deficit of $6.1 million.
NPR, formerly known as National Public Radio, also announced Friday that Paul Haaga Jr., a board member since 2011, will take over as acting president and CEO effective Sept. 30. A search committee has been appointed to find a permanent replacement.
Haaga has served as chairman of the board at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History and is the retired chairman of the board of Capital Research and Management Co.
He succeeds Gary Knell, who is leaving after less than two years to become president and CEO of the National Geographic Society. Knell’s predecessor, Vivian Schiller, resigned under pressure after calling the tea party racist.
The leadership change was announced as the board approved a fiscal 2014 budget that includes $178.1 million in operating and investment revenues.
NPR distributes news, information and music programming to 975 public radio stations, reaching 27 million listeners a week. It also has focused heavily in recent years on expanding its digital presence.
In April, NPR moved to a new $201 million headquarters with all digital equipment in Washington.