Public media outlets in Illinois are feeling the effects of a state budget crisis that could be heading into a third year in June. Services classified as nonessential by the state have received no state support for two years. That includes the Illinois Arts Council, which distributed $10 million in state funds to hundreds of organizations in fiscal 2015, including 18 public broadcasters.
Facing a $400,000 funding shortfall, Maine Public Broadcasting Network said Friday it will lay off nearly 10 percent of its workforce and put a locally produced show on hiatus. MPBN was already facing a $260,000 reduction in state funding before the federal government’s automatic budget cuts took effect, adding another $100,000. That prompted cost-cutting measures mainly coming from the dual licensee’s television-production unit.
State Cuts Trigger Layoffs At Va. PBS Stations
Virginia’s Community Idea Stations — WCVE-TV-FM and WCVW-TV Richmond and WHTJ-TV Charlottesville — on Friday (April 20) announced elimination of 11 positions, about 18% of its workforce, before the end of June.
