Chicago Media Undergoes Cutbacks: What's Next?

Chicago's media landscape is seeing significant changes. Chicago Public Media, the organization behind the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ, is making some tough decisions to stay afloat. They recently announced voluntary buyouts for journalists at the Sun-Times and business employees at WBEZ. This move comes after struggling with financial issues in their unique nonprofit model. The goal is to cut costs and avoid more drastic measures in the future. The new CEO, Melissa Bell, hopes these buyouts will help reduce the company's annual budget by $3 to $5 million. Both the Sun-Times and WBEZ have seen money troubles, with the Sun-Times facing a $12 million deficit this year. The Sun-Times Guild, representing many journalists, is unhappy about these cuts. They feel management should have secured more revenue to avoid these staffing issues. The situation is complex, with the Sun-Times merging with WBEZ in 2022, initially backed by philanthropic support. However, the organization has faced difficulties, including the departure of the previous CEO, Matt Moog, who stepped down amid revenue shortfalls. Recent layoffs and buyouts in April trimmed the staff by 17, heavily impacting WBEZ's podcasting and Vocalo platforms. Bell, a seasoned digital journalism pioneer, plans to innovate and unify platforms. Her immediate focus is on cutting costs through voluntary buyouts before considering other measures. The long-term goal is to build a sustainable, innovative newsroom.