The South Bethlehem headquarters of Lehigh Valley Public Media, AKA Channel 39.
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
The staff of Lehigh Valley Public Media, also known as Channel 39, has dropped to 44, according to the organization’s website.
The staff was about 80 two years ago after LVPM expanded in digital news. It went on a similar hiring spree earlier when it created something called “Reporter Corps,” a television news program that didn’t last.
After each hiring spree came cuts. Meanwhile, the organization still does not have a chief executive.
LVPM operates a public television station and its digital news outlet, and it manages WLVR FM 91.3, the radio station owned by Lehigh University.
The fate of WLVR is up in the air, and Lehigh Valley Public Media has still not announced a new chief executive. It has been without a full-time CEO for more than a year.
I didn’t write much about LVPM’s Board of Directors meeting on March 31, instead running board Chairman Michael Keim’s statement on the state of the organization.
The theme of that meeting was, “We can’t go back and undo what was done before.” That was refreshing, finally a blunt statement that this organization has had a lot of problems: financial follies, lack of direction, and in general lots of blathering and jargon instead of action.
Then there’s the $8.66 million deficit it ran in fiscal 2023.
The board has made changes. Former board leader Susan Yee deemed the 2023 results to be unacceptable, the top four officers from that era are “no longer with the company” and limits have been placed on who can tap the organization’s $75 million or so endowment.
Also, the board will get more frequent reports on finances.
Still, LVPM runs a public television station with falling ratings, and a public radio station that appears to be ignored. That leaves the digital news outlet, which competes with private media for attention, money and staff, while being backed by public money.
Here are some of my notes from the March 31 meeting:
First, Keim made his statement. He said that starting in 2019, the organization “began making investments to be the go-to trusted source for local journalism.”
Fair enough, though the word “investment” is used loosely these days. To me, an investment means spending money on a long-term goal. LVPM may have tried that, but the television show did not prove to be an investment. Well, failure happens.
Keim discussed the search for a new CEO. Part of that search includes a ridiculous statement that appears to be a self parody (read about it here). After seeing that awful piece of work, the board should have fired their search consultant.
He discussed the need for “sound financial planning.”
Keim said 16 Lehigh University students have had internships since Lehigh Valley Public Media took over WLVR Radio in 2019. I pointed out that comes out to about 2.5 per year; Keim noted again, they can’t undo the past.
He said LVPM is in talks with Lehigh about the station and its future. Here is how the deal was announced back in 2019.
As of today, April 29, nothing has been announced about the station or a new CEO.
Again, the “time of transformation” was discussed. Transformation has been talked about for a few years, but so far, the only transformation has been in size. The payroll keeps getting smaller.
During the public comment section of the meeting, Lehigh Class of 1972 graduate Jim Cameron, a professional broadcaster, said he is “profoundly disappointed” with how what is now known as Lehigh Valley Public Media has handled the radio station.
“You have not lived up to the terms of the agreement you signed,” he said, adding later, “WLVR today is mostly just an NPR (National Public Radio) outlet with minimal local programming. The Valley already has a great NPR affiliate, WDIY, broadcasting since 1995.”
Cameron said Lehigh should take back WLVR and make it into a student and community station.
The next board meeting of LVPM will be in-person on May 19 at the South Bethlehem headquarters. I hope to be there, but as a semi-retired journalist and crazy blogger, I make no guarantees.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 