Scoop: Employees say WLRN's future at stake in latest escalation with leadership
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The school district and WLRN have been involved in legal battles since the summer. Photo: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Miami's NPR station faces a growing revolt among employees who say board chair Richard Rampell is putting the station in jeopardy.
Why it matters: The future of public radio in Miami is at stake in an escalating conflict between South Florida Public Media Group, which manages WLRN, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
- The contract between the school district, which holds WLRN's broadcast license, and SFPMG is set to expire in June 2027.
The latest: Most of WLRN's staff signed a letter to SFPMG's board, dated Sunday, detailing the lack of trust they have in senior leadership following an internal meeting last week.
- The letter, obtained by Axios, cited examples of Rampell's name-calling of school district officials and said the meeting "underscore[d] the depth of operational inefficiencies, communication breakdown and leadership disconnect" at WLRN.
- The meeting itself was in response to an earlier letter from a smaller group of senior employees to the board that detailed a "growing loss of trust" in the board's leadership.
Catch up quick: The conflict stems from SFPMG's plans to acquire a West Palm Beach station, which sparked a monthslong legal fight with the school district.
- The district argues the acquisition would be funded by an endowment for WLRN meant to support the Miami community, which Rampell disputes.
Zoom in: During the meeting last week, Rampell referred to a senior school district official as "the superintendent's Ghislaine Maxwell," referring to the convicted accomplice of child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
- He also, per the staff's letter, repeated "sexually explicit language in full" when recounting a statement attributed to former U.S. Attorney General John Mitchell during the Watergate era.
What they're saying: "These remarks, delivered in a professional forum of employees, were widely perceived as inconsistent with the standards of neutrality, decorum and civic respect expected of leadership in a public media organization," the letter read.
The other side: In an interview with Axios on Tuesday, Rampell said the district official he likened to Maxwell "deserved every bit of that accusation."
- "He was nasty to me [and other leadership] and threw a bunch of false accusations at us."
- Emails revealed in court records show Rampell previously referred to the same district official as a "petty, small-minded, vindictive bureaucrat" and called a school board member "a two-faced shamelessly ambitious politician."
School district officials in a statement to Axios said they are "deeply concerned by the loss of confidence expressed by SFPMG employees in their leadership [and] are committed to ensuring the brand and integrity of WLRN remain strong."
- Officials did not respond to Rampell's remarks.
Between the lines: Mediation between both parties is set for Thursday.
Friction point: WLRN staff said Rampell failed to address employee concerns about the station's future and how the West Palm Beach station acquisition could impact staff.
- Employees have said they fear the purchase would divert resources and attention from WLRN's core mission.
- Rampell argues the acquisition would expand journalism in South Florida and lead to additional jobs within the organization.
What's next: In their latest letter, staff called on the board to conduct an "immediate and independent review of executive leadership," implement a formal transitional leadership plan and prioritize the "repair of institutional partnerships."
- Rampell said he has no plans to step down.