NPR Restructures Newsroom, Offers Buyouts Amid $8M Budget Gap

NPR is restructuring its newsroom, cutting reporting and editing jobs, and offering buyouts to about 300 employees as it faces an $8 million budget gap due to the elimination of federal subsidies and softening corporate sponsorship. The network expects $15 million less in station fees and a drop in sponsorship revenue. Up to 30 buyouts will be accepted, with targeted layoffs if insufficient volunteers come forward by May 26. Paradoxically, NPR recently received $113 million in private gifts, but most is earmarked for tech innovation. Editor-in-Chief Thomas Evans is merging desks: National and General Assignments will combine; culture, education, religion, addiction, and sports will form a society-and-culture desk; science and climate will unify; global health moves to International; Washington desk expands to include states and power/money coverage. A new daily business podcast is planned. Leadership changes include Eva Rodriguez becoming a consultant, replaced by Krishnadev Calamur; Eric Marrapodi moves to video; Sami Yenigun oversees broadcast; Courtney Dorning fills in for Yenigun. NPR is hiring a chief content officer. This follows a 10% staff cut in 2023 under John Lansing. The network has 425 newsroom employees; seven vacancies will remain open. SAG-AFTRA commended the approach. The changes reflect broader media industry cuts, including at the Washington Post, CBS, and the Associated Press.