Funny With Money: NPR Cancels Newspaper Subscriptions, While Anchors Make Six Figures

March 13th, 2009 9:22 AM

Ellen McDonnell, National Public Radio’s director of morning programming, sent a memo to staff (reproduced at Poynter Online) that financial hard times require them to gut the basics:

As of April 1 NPR is cancelling all newspaper subscriptions. We are making some arrangments to get the Wall Street Journal either on line or hard copy. You have until tomorrow to appeal this if there is a solid reason why you should be exempt. This is a cost saving measure company wide.

Earth to Ellen: Have you considered that paying salaries of $300,000 or more might be a bigger problem than paying a few quarters for the morning papers? Recall NPR's list of their top five salaries:


1. Managing Editor Barbara Rehm, $383,139.
2. All Things Considered host Robert Siegel [pictured], $350,288.
3. Morning Edition host Renee Montagne, $332,160.
4. Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep, $331,242.
5. NPR afternoon programming director Richard L. Harris, $190,267.