South Dakota Public Broadcasting is cutting a quarter of its staff and cancelling two programs following the elimination of federal funding for public broadcasting.
The organization, which operates statewide radio and TV networks, announced Thursday that it will lay off 15 workers as of Oct. 31 and also not fill five open positions.
SDPB will also cancel daily radio news show “In The Moment” and monthly public affairs TV show “South Dakota Focus.” It will also no longer provide educational resources and the number of episodes of TV show “Dakota Life” will also be reduced.
“This is the hardest decision we’ve ever had to make,” Julie Overgaard, SDPB Executive Director, said in a news release. “Our staff is the heart of our mission. Every person affected by these reductions is making vital contributions to public broadcasting in South Dakota. These changes are in no way a reflection of their work, talent, or dedication—but rather the result of unprecedented and sudden losses to our funding.”
The announcement says some of the cuts could be averted if alternate funding sources are identified.
The news release says network leaders decided to prioritize coverage of the South Dakota Legislature, SDHSAA athletic championships, and fine arts events. It also revealed that network leaders also considered whether to shut down some of the radio and TV transmitters but ultimately decided to keep them all on the air.
SDPB operates all of South Dakota’s PBS stations and a single-station NPR network reaching 98% of the state’s population.