Report: WBAI Lays Off Most Of On-Air Staff

Layoffs

The VILLAGE VOICE is reporting that PACIFICA noncommercial Variety WBAI/NEW YORK's financial crisis has led the station to lay off its news department and most of its on-air staff  In addition, former sister Variety KPFA/BERKELEY-SAN FRANCISCO GM ANDREW PHILLIPS has been named Interim PD, and GM BERTHOLD REIMERS and Interim Development Director ANDREA KATZ are reportedly remaining with the station.

According to the VOICE report, on the air, PACIFICA RADIO NETWORK Interim Exec. Dir. SUMMER REESE said, "Today I have concluded union negotiations with SAG-AFTRA, regarding proposed layoffs here at WBAI, and with a very heavy heart, and very great difficulty, we will laying off virtually everyone whose voice you recognize on the air."  She added that only those "critically necessary" to operate the station -- about 25% of the staff -- will remain, and that the station has "barely made our transmitter payments" for its space at the EMPIRE STATE BUILDING.

« see more Net News