State funding cuts trigger layoffs at Virginia's Community Idea Stations

Virginia's Community Idea Stations — WCVE Public Radio, WCVE PBS and WCVW PBS in Richmond and WHTJ PBS in Charlottesville — on Friday (April 20) announced elimination of 11 positions, about 18 percent of its workforce, before the end of June. A statement on the network's website said the decision was in response to lack of pubcasting funding in the commonwealth's budget. The stations had received about $700,000 this fiscal year; the General Assembly last week approved a budget that does not contain that support, reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Six of the 11 positions will be lost in the Educational Services department. The stations will no longer provide technology training for teachers or engineering support for schools, and will stop producing the EdTech Conference, an annual statewide technology gathering for teachers and administrators. It also will cancel a Sunday afternoon film package and “Behind the Scenes,” a web-only program on local arts organizations.