SEATTLE, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A prominent news organization in the state is making major changes in the face of cuts to federal funding.
Cascade PBS, formerly known as Crosscut, announced on Monday that it’s eliminating 16 positions across its marketing, creative and editorial departments.
The cuts represent a 12% reduction in staff and will end the outlet’s production of long-form written journalism.
“This unprecedented federal decision has had devastating effects on more than 300 public television and radio outlets across the country, and we’re not immune here at home,” said Cascade PBS president and CEO Rob Dunlop.
Cascade PBS was the first to report on sexual harassment allegations that were made against Jon Hutchings, the former director of Whatcom County Public Works. It resulted in the county council launching an investigation into the county’s handling of workplace harassment.
The announcement comes as Cascade PBS says it lost $3.5 million from its annual budget following Congress’s decision in July to completely defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
The organization serves all of western and central Washington, along with British Columbia.
