Dear New York Public Radio,

We are a group of concerned radio listeners and professionals who love, admire, and support New York Public Radio’s work creating quality programming every day including Radiolab, On The Media, Death Sex & Money, Freakonomics Radio, Studio 360, and The Brian Lehrer Show.

NYPR’s 2015 Diversity Statement states that “as a public radio station, it is particularly important that we reflect the diversity of the communities we serve in New York and beyond.” That document outlines plans to recruit a more diverse staff, but we urge you to reexamine the very first steps of a career at NYPR.

NYPR internships have been crucial to many radio careers. Internships are opportunities to learn basic skills, connect with experienced professionals, and develop the relationships that lead to future work. However, committing to an NYPR internship comes at a cost: interns trade 2-5 days a week for a $12 daily stipend. While $12/day makes internships difficult for everyone, it renders this potential first step nearly impossible for people who can’t afford to spend so much time earning so little in New York City. The low pay of NYPR internships excludes  the very people NYPR wants to join the industry—smart, driven individuals who “reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.”

We ask you to start paying your interns a living wage as soon as possible. To further this objective, we request you share a comprehensive plan and timeline to achieve this goal. This is a crucial step to make public radio the inclusive and sophisticated medium we all believe it can be. We will continue to advocate for this change until we see meaningful progress from New York Public Radio’s Board of Trustees.

Sincerely,

Concerned colleagues, listeners, and supporters