FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2009
CONTACT:
Larry Unger
410-581-4265
MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION ANNOUNCES STAFF LAYOFFS IN ORGANIZATION-WIDE RESTRUCTURING
Eliminated positions, salary freezes, other steps help station avoid budget shortfall in current FY10 budget
OWINGS MILLS, MD - Following what its management calls the unhappy trend of institutional and corporate budget cuts and staff restructurings now taking place across the United States, Maryland Public Television (MPT) today announced a series of administrative steps that will cut the MPT workforce to prevent a current-year budget shortfall. The MPT announcement mirrors those made by other public broadcasters, as an outgrowth of the nationwide financial crisis.
In all, 18 positions will be eliminated, representing approximately 10 percent of MPT's current full-time workforce. The positions are held by employees at all levels of the organization.
Prior to resorting to staff reductions, station officials scrutinized the MPT budget, cut non-essential expenses and froze salaries for FY10 to avoid a shortfall. Additionally, MPT employees will be furloughed in accordance with the State's recently enacted furlough plan.
Each year MPT earns two thirds of its budget through individual membership and corporate/institutional support while receiving one-third of its support from the State of Maryland. The decision to pare its staff comes at a time when MPT faces the same challenges as other public broadcasters: reduced state appropriations coupled with a significant drop in underwriting, foundation support and individual donations.
"The staff reductions at MPT, while extremely painful, will result in no loss of programming and no on-air talent will be affected," remarked Robert J. Shuman, president of the 40-year-old network. "We realize that there will be an end to the current fiscal crisis we and our sister-stations are facing at some point in the future," Shuman said, "but, for now, we have been forced to make a difficult decision that I'm sorry to say impacts the most important resource Maryland Public Television has - its people."
Positions to be eliminated effective October 6, 2009 include jobs in technology, content, institutional advancement, communications, and administrative units of MPT. For the individuals who are affected, MPT will provide outplacement assistance to help them identify other posts in the private sector as well as the state system.
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