NPR Employees Cry Racism Amid CEO Discussing Mass Layoffs

Last week, during a virtual all-staff presentation, employees of National Public Radio (NPR) accused the company’s CEO of racism while discussing financial metrics and diversity updates. This came after NPR recently cut approximately 10% of its workforce, including 84 employees and four seasonal podcasts like “Invisibilia”, “Louder Than a Riot”, and “Rough Translation”. Another 13 positions from the digital team were also slated for elimination, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The meeting where employees raised concerns was attended by CEO John Lansing and other executives, who answered questions from the workforce on the basis of race and identity of those let go compared to those who kept their positions. Lansing stated that if the company retained its entire staff, it would have run out of money in three years. A black employee who was laid off grilled Lansing over several issues, including why some podcasts lacked marketing support, how the company would improve diversity, and called out by name the executives for repeating statements they made regarding accountability. Lansing pointed to the company’s mission statement and asked the workers to refrain from naming the executives.

However, Lansing’s remarks caused some employees to accuse him of “tone-policing” and feeling offended and uncomfortable with the conversation. They expressed their concerns in the chat, with one employee referencing an NPR segment called “When Civility Is Used As A Cudgel Against People Of Color” from its podcast Code Switch. Several employees called the CEO’s response “racist” during the meeting. NPR’s Chief Communications Officer Isabel Lara said in an email that the company respected the hard questions that came from the staff, acknowledged that it was a difficult time for everyone at the organization, and encourages feedback from the workers. In February, Lansing broke the news that NPR would have to cut most vacant positions and lay off around 10% of its current staff due to a “sharp decline” in advertisement revenues.

NPR employs more than 700 individuals, with around 490 employees filling the newsroom and 230 staff members in the programming division. As of now, it is struggling with a $30 million shortfall due to a decline in revenues from corporate sponsors.