I’m sad Chicago Public Media decided to end @vocalo. A station that supports local independent artists and journalist of color. Vocalo was my way into public radio
I’m so grateful to every single Vocalo staffer and former staffers for gifting us such a cool station #SaveVocalo

'The school district has yet to release the school budgets to the press and, at this point, does not plan to until later in the process.'

In this way, less transparency than in the past at CPS, reports Sarah Karp of WBEZeducation wbez.org/stories/chicag…

Another mind boggling move. I'd wager the combined tenure of the CC staff they are letting go is close to a half century.

Curious City is not just a podcast. It is a training ground for new talent, a engagement engine like no other, and a model that spread across the country.

Our lame-duck CEO Matt Moog has said the vote to kill podcasts and decimate Vocalo was unanimous. It seems Dave McKinney went to fact check that and found a troubling pattern of closed, private meetings at our public news organization.

In the WBEZ Rundown newsletter, readers share their “disgust” and concern over the layoffs:

“It does not make me inclined to give knowing that priorities are to take care of the people on the top at the expense of the rank-and-file.”

Sun-Times Guild leadership is disturbed by the layoffs of nine of our We Make WBEZ + Vocalo siblings and five non-union colleagues at the Sun-Times and WBEZ.

We are demanding financial transparency from the Chicago Public Media board and management about the future of the organization.

Ultimately, our goal still is to save the jobs of our very talented colleagues who have much to contribute to WBEZ.

We are losing many incredible colleagues at WBEZ & our sister station Vocalo. H/t to Patrick Smith for starting a GoFundMe to help. Please contribute if you can, and spread the word: tinyurl.com/58xbmaaw

Closing Vocalo Radio 91.1 also effectively ends the legacy of Radio Arte, a community radio station focused on Latino youth.
In 2012, Chicago Public Media bought the signal and promised to incorporate programming.

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Rhymefest announces he is running for school board. Starts with one of his most famous songs

14 beloved Chi Public Media WBEZ ChicagoSunTimes colleagues were laid off today. The station decimated efforts to engage young, diverse audiences. Vocalo and artists who made beautiful radio were laid off. I love my job and believe deeply in it, but today I am sad, embarrassed.

WBEZ SAG-AFTRA said in a statement that the move 'contradicts CPM’s stated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion — both at WBEZ and to communities of color that we serve.'
chicagobusiness.com/marketing-medi…

Dave McKinney brings the heat. “Moog is a lame-duck CEO now overseeing those layoffs that he said wouldn’t happen, and they come after his steep increase in executive pay… Moog [makes] $633,310 – a nearly 19% increase from a year earlier.” wbez.org/stories/chicag…

This is a massive loss for the city of Chicago

LONG LIVE Vocalo Radio 91.1! LONG LIVE MAKING! LONG LIVE WHEN MAGIC HAPPENS! LONG LIVE Nerdette Podcast! My heart breaks for my people. This sucks.

Where is the accountability for the $600K/a year boss who has been charged with making sure the company doesn't hit a financial low so quickly after being healthy enough to buy the Sun-Times, to the point that he feels he has to issue layoffs?

Laying off your entire award-winning podcast department and the radio station that actually has the Black and Brown listenership you claim you want to grow, and doing this as a PUBLIC RADIO STATION, is a choice. Frankly, I’m not just disappointed. I’m angry.