Minnesota Public Radio Cuts Jobs, Programs Amid Economic Downturn

SAINT PAUL, MN — Minnesota Public Radio and its parent company, American Public Media, announced major layoffs and program cuts Tuesday. In a letter to listeners, APM CEO Jon McTaggart blamed the company's "large and unexpected financial challenge" on the crisis caused by the new coronavirus.

As a result, APM is ending its production of "Live from Here" with Chris Thile, the variety show that succeeded Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion."

"The Hilarious World of Depression" podcast with John Moe is also ending.

In addition, APM said it's cutting 28 jobs.

"Like all our media peers, over the past few months, some of our revenue sources have dramatically and simultaneously declined, particularly from regional and national underwriting, corporate sponsorship, national program distribution, ticketed events, custom travel, financial investments and other earned income," McTaggart wrote.

"While recent MPR and APM member drives and emergency fundraising efforts have been successful, with gifts from our Board and other donors, the generosity of our valued contributors is unfortunately not enough to offset the rapid loss of revenue we are experiencing."

The COVID-19 crisis is having a significant impact on the Minnesota media landscape overall. Four newspapers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro have been shuttered since it began.

In May, sports radio station SKOR North issued a number of layoffs.