YOUNGSTOWN PBS 45/49 plans to lay off 7 workers

The PBS layoff news comes less than a week after another local television station threatened job cuts.
By CYNTHIA VINARSKY
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- Public Broadcasting Channels 45 and 49 will lay off about 19 percent of the stations' combined work force to avoid ending the fiscal year in the red.
Trina Cutter, who joined 45/49 last month as president and chief executive, said plans to reorganize and reduce staff will not result in a reduction in programming.
Seven full-time positions will be eliminated, dropping the staff roster from 37 to 30.
One management position vacant for more than 18 months will remain unfilled, at least until July, and one full-time hourly position will be switched to part time.
Situation at WKBN
The PBS layoff announcements come less than a week after union leaders at WKBN-TV in Youngstown were told that job cuts would be made there.
Officials for Local 47 of the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians said WKBN-TV warned last week that layoffs would come after the union refused wage reductions of 1.95 percent and a wage freeze next year. Negotiations between the company and the union resumed Monday, however. Union and station representatives were unavailable to comment late Monday night.
The local PBS stations said their money problems were related to drops in both corporate and individual giving over the past year. Federal and state funding to public broadcasting also have decreased, the stations said, while operating costs have grown.
"We fully expect to rebound from the shortfall," Cutter said, "but that turnaround requires difficult decisions, such as a reduction of the work force. PBS 45 and 49 will have to face cutbacks right now to ensure a financially sound future."
Without the cutbacks, officials said, the stations were projecting a deficit by June 30, 2003, the end of their fiscal year.
Other areas hit
Other PBS affiliates across the country have been experiencing similar financial troubles. A 45/49 press release reported affiliates in Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City and other cities have already reduced staff to cut costs.
WNEO/PBS Youngstown and WEAO/PBS Akron are owned and operated by Northeastern Educational Television of Ohio, a private, nonprofit corporation based in Kent.
The stations get about 61 percent of their support from individuals, corporations, foundation grants and entrepreneurial activities, such as tower rental income.
State funding provides about 23 percent of the budget and is used to support a Department of Educational Services outreach to public schools in eight Ohio counties. Federal funds make up the remaining 16 percent of the budget.