CHICO, Calif. — Chico State Enterprises is set to regain control of North State Public Radio (NSPR) after five years under the operation of CapRadio, which severed ties due to financial struggles. On Sept. 30, NSPR staff were informed by Chico State and Chico State Enterprises representatives that they would lose their current employment effective Nov. 30 and must reapply if they wish to remain with the station.
“I was kind of taken aback by the idea that I would need to reapply to keep my job. And I think a lot of people at our station were,” said Sarina Grossi, a Morning Edition anchor/reporter for NSPR. Chico State, an equal opportunity employer, cannot guarantee retention of current staff, though leaders noted that existing employees would have an advantage due to their experience and institutional knowledge.
Grossi expressed concern about the qualifications of those interviewing her, questioning if they would have relevant journalistic and radio experience. Chico State Interim Chief of Staff Ashley Gebb assured that the hiring committee, still being formed, would include individuals with journalism backgrounds and radio experience.
There’s one end where there is anxiety over the fact that we don’t know if everyone’s going to get their jobs back, but there’s hope for I guess what the future of the station might look like,” Grossi said.
New fundraising efforts led by the university are part of the hope for the station’s future, as according to Grossi, CapRadio had not fundraised in over a year.
In addition to fundraising, NSPR’s return to Chico State presents greater educational opportunities for students. “We have programs all across the university from journalism to recording arts, et cetera, that we think may make great hands-on learning opportunities for our students. It might also help augment staffing at the station to provide them with some interns or employees to help support what’s going on,” Gebb said.
NSPR staff who reapply will learn their employment status before Nov. 30.
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