Before recent layoffs of many SAG-AFTRA members who produce content you get from WBEZ, 'Chicago Public Media’s investment portfolio grew by nearly 40%,' Dave McKinney found wbez.org/stories/chicag…

Come see me and Mariah Woelfel at City Lit Books tomorrow evening for a talk about THE CITY IS UP FOR GRABS

This is so outrageous.

Chicago **PUBLIC** Media's board has held 11 of 15 board meetings completely in closed session since October, including the March meeting where lame-duck CEO Matt Moog says they voted unanimously to lay off 14 of our colleagues this week.

.Dave McKinney and our editors showing once again how we as journalists must report on our own issues just as we cover anybody and everybody else.

Lots of important new facts and perspectives in this follow-up story to WBEZ's layoffs of so many valued colleagues

Our lame-duck CEO Matt Moog has said the vote to kill podcasts and decimate Vocalo was unanimous. It seems Dave McKinney went to fact check that and found a troubling pattern of closed, private meetings at our public news organization.

Please read and share... a concise story of #VocaloRadio

Logging back on here to say that I was one of the people laid off yesterday. I am so proud of the work we did at Nerdette Podcast and we hope to find it a new home. In the meantime, I'm a soup to nuts producer looking for new opportunities

Listen. Nerdette Podcast needs a new home. I hope some smart person/podcast biz scoops it up AND that WBEZ will let it go if that opportunity opens up. Greta Johnsen is a treasure and the podcast is a beautiful space for discovery and delight.

In the WBEZ Rundown newsletter, readers share their “disgust” and concern over the layoffs:

“It does not make me inclined to give knowing that priorities are to take care of the people on the top at the expense of the rank-and-file.”

Shout out to Patrick Smith for starting a GoFundMe to help the full-time WBEZ and Vocalo folks cut by CPM. Please contribute if you can, and spread the word. Now, more than ever, it takes a village: gofund.me/b99d2397

Layoffs are never easy, but this one hits especially hard. These folks are THE reason a lot of us (myself included) fell in love with radio/podcasts in the first place.

If you can, please contribute to this GoFundMe for our laid off We Make WBEZ + Vocalo colleagues.
gofundme.com/f/raising-fund…

We are losing many incredible colleagues at WBEZ & our sister station Vocalo. H/t to Patrick Smith for starting a GoFundMe to help. Please contribute if you can, and spread the word: tinyurl.com/58xbmaaw

Anna is a delight, I’m devastated for her, her team and for all Nerdette Podcast listeners! Hire her!

Anna is the best producer anyone could ask for. She’s quick, she’s got a keen ear, she’s organized, and she’s also just an absolute delight. I’ve been so lucky to work with her and you would be too.

This is extremely concerning WBEZ. As a long time supporter and listener, the podcasts and Vocalo Radio 91.1 were important parts of your future and engaged a broader base of listeners. Your donors would like an explanation.

adding my Vocalo Radio 91.1 photo to the love fest thread.

good times with friends were had up there: 2018 & 2019

“Making Obama” introduced me to WBEZ and Vocalo gave me my first opportunity to go live on-air.

I am heartbroken by today’s news.

Closing Vocalo Radio 91.1 also effectively ends the legacy of Radio Arte, a community radio station focused on Latino youth.
In 2012, Chicago Public Media bought the signal and promised to incorporate programming.

💔

Long live ⁦Vocalo Radio 91.1⁩ — @wbez what is this “nonprofit” nonsense. Shame on board/leaders for throwing Vocalo & podcasts under the bus. Truly how much could that save them w/$108 million in assets & $8 million profit in 2023? This needs to be reversed and salaries investigated.

So many people give to WBEZ — whether they listen to these programs or not — because they think leaders value this work & communities it serves, not page views or downloads. That’s what our lame duck CEO, our board, & leadership involved in this decision thoroughly misunderstand.