WQED reduces staff, salaries as part of budget cuts

WQED Multimedia made broad layoffs and cut executive pay Thursday as part of a three-year plan to secure the future of public media programming in Pittsburgh and restore donors' confidence, officials said.

WQED President and CEO Deborah Acklin declined to identify those laid off or say how many employees were let go, citing privacy concerns.

But sources affected by the moves who requested anonymity out of fear of jeopardizing their severance packages said 14 full-time employees and one part-timer received layoff notices during an emotional morning and afternoon at WQED's Oakland studio, and two other full-time workers were offered part-time jobs or severance pay.

“This is very raw and very real. They are absolutely talented people, gifted people, good people, and we fought for every job,” Acklin said. “While we are sad today, we are also optimistic. Give WQED a few years. We won't just bounce back; we'll bounce higher.”

A list of the employees obtained by the Tribune-Review shows the casualties include on-air hosts and producers Michael Bartley and Tonia Caruso, Chief Financial Officer Carole Bailey and Vice President and General Counsel Jacquelyn Thomas.

WQED, the nation's first community-supported television station, had 60 full-time employees prior to the layoffs.

The public broadcaster made staff cuts last year, laying off four workers, reduced hours for five others and eliminated four vacant positions. That followed layoffs in 2010, 2009 and 2005.

Acklin said she does not anticipate any cuts next year.

In the evening, WQED's board of directors approved a $12.3 million operating budget for the coming fiscal year that slashes spending by 7 percent, or roughly $1 million.

“WQED stakeholders want and deserve decisive action that delivers great programming while confronting the legacy of unsustainable debt and dramatic ongoing change in the media landscape that has threatened the future of public broadcasting across the country,” said Acklin, who along with other remaining executives will take pay cuts of 8 percent to 9 percent. She made $259,878, according to 2013 tax records.

WQED officials said they would restructure the local television production unit and announce a new schedule of programming in October. They will refinance $5 million in debt and plan to erase it by 2030.

Vice Chairman W. Thomas McGough Jr. said WQED no longer has assets it can sell to reduce debt, as it did when it sold properties such as WQEX, WonderWorks library and Pittsburgh Magazine.

Acklin said WQED was forced to reduce spending because contributions are down.

Among local foundations, the Richard King Mellon Foundation has not provided funding to WQED this year, down from $600,000 a year ago and from $1.18 million in 2013, records on the foundation's website show.

The foundation did not return messages.

The Heinz Endowments has not contributed this year after providing $35,000 in 2014 and $150,000 in 2013, online records show.

“Our recent history with WQED has been based around specific projects aligned with our grant-making interests. It doesn't always happen on a scheduled basis. (The amount contributed) fluctuates from year to year,” Heinz Endowments spokesman John Ellis said.

The Grable Foundation has given $77,475 this year, down from $292,530 in 2014 and $257,326 in 2013, online records show. Executive Director Gregg S. Behr did not return a message.

McGough does not think the foundations turned their backs on WQED.

“They are not in the business of funding operating deficits. We can't really ask them to fund us if we don't have our financial ship in order. They have funded us in the past. ... They will be funding us again in the future,” McGough said.

Tom Fontaine is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7847 or tfontaine@tribweb.com.