MPR’s parent company announces layoffs due to state and federal funding cuts

MPR News’ parent company announced it would lay off employees in the coming weeks.

American Public Media Group leadership announced Thursday that it will be laying off 5 to 8 percent of its staff and making other cost reductions after state and federal funding cuts led to a $6 million budget gap.

APMG employs about 500 people, but it said the eventual scope of the layoffs will depend on multiple factors.

Leaders informed staff of the upcoming reductions at a meeting Thursday and confirmed the cuts in a statement to MPR News.

“While we are fortunate among public media organizations to be in a relatively strong financial position, these are significant cuts,” APMG’s chief people and culture officer Roycie Eppler said in the statement. “We shared with staff that we will be implementing cost savings including some reductions in employee benefits and a strategic reduction in force in the coming weeks. We are working through details with care and respect and will continue to keep our team updated.”

Eppler said the company will also make some reductions to employee benefits to make up the budget deficit. 

MPR/APMG had annual operating expenses of $117 million in fiscal year 2023, the most recent for which official documents were available. That was on revenue of $108 million. The entity also draws from restricted endowment accounts.

Besides MPR News, APMG is made up of radio stations and programs that include The Current, YourClassical and the national business show Marketplace.

The upcoming staff cuts won’t be the only ones the company has experienced recently. In June, APMG announced it would sell its BrainsOn! Universe science podcast geared toward younger listeners and eliminate 15 positions in the process. In April, seven positions were cut at Marketplace as part of a restructuring.

This is a developing story. Come back for updates.

Disclosure: This story was written by MPR News reporter Estelle Timar-Wilcox. It was edited by MPR News editors Lisa Ryan and Brian Bakst. When reporting on the business of MPR and public media, we do so independently from news executives and do not let them review material before it runs.