KQED Lowers the Axe (Updated)

(News reports today indicate that 30 jobs were cut by NCPB, which is around ten percent of the company’s workforce — 2/3/09. KQED executives blame the weakening economy and falling revenue, but did not address the analysis contained in this post.)

Jeff Clarke, President & CEO of NCPB(*)/KQED sent this internal email today to all staff:

Dear Colleagues:

The past few months have been ones of enormous challenge as we have sought solutions to keep NCPB healthy for the immediate future and for the years ahead.  The decisions we have made have been tough and we appreciate staff’s guidance, input and patience during this difficult time.

Today is a day of great sadness as we will be bidding farewell to a number of our colleagues.  Reducing staff is never something that we take lightly and each decision was heartbreaking and difficult.  Please know that the necessity of layoffs is a result of the incredible pressure on our budgets from the current economic crisis and recession - not a judgment on the dedication and talent of the people leaving.  Be assured, NCPB is taking steps to provide support and services for those colleagues affected. We appreciate their many years of service and dedication to KQED, KTEH and NCPB.

Later today your department or division head will call a meeting in order for remaining staff to have additional questions answered.

We will also hold an all-staff meeting tomorrow at 11:00AM in the Atrium where I will share with you many of the plans we have to move the organization forward as well as the steps we will need to take ourselves to ensure success in the time ahead.

Thank you.

Cordially,

Jeff

I don’t know Mr. Clarke, but it is rarely easy for any executive to lay off staff, so I imagine he’s not having all that great a day. I’ve done it, and the exercise (including when I was at KQED) always involves adding people to the “cut” list until a certain level of cost savings has been achieved. None of the people who have been keeping me informed about these matters have mentioned what the overall corporate goal was for this round of layoffs. I also do not yet know what the headcount of those let go is.

I do know that Jeff Clarke reported to the IRS that he works 68 hours a week and was paid $399,712 in 2007 plus $18,161 in employee benefit contributions.

(*) From the company’s 990: IN MAY 2006, KQED INC. AND THE KTEH (SAN JOSE) AND KQET (MONTEREY/SALINAS), ANNOUNCED PLANS TO MERGE, FORMING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING (NCPB). THE MERGER WAS FINALIZED IN OCTOBER 2006 FOLLOWING FCC APPROVAL.