The Mexican Radio Institute (IMER) is going through a strong crisis due to budget restrictions: it will close stations, stop transmitting 2,900 hours of content from July 1st and more than 200 employees will be fired.
Journalist Ricardo Raphael announced his departure to the replicas program as a wake-up call to address the shortcomings of public radio.
The communicator reported on their social networks that the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) has not accompanied them as it should, “after a series of promises have left us without umbrellas, so I withdraw from Replicas”, he wrote.
Read: Cultural sector is unhappy about government cuts and lack of a work plan
The communicator also disclosed that IMER will close four stations and have a 35% reduction in its staff, in the face of the federal government’s budget cut.
I officially communicate my resignation to @imerhoy as a wake-up call for those who must make the right decisions. The PLA has not accompanied us as it should be and after a series of promises we have been left without an umbrella, so I withdraw from Replicas: @ricardomraphael
— Replicas (@Replicas_IMER) June 26, 2019
The institute has unique spaces in the country such as Opus 94, of classical music; Jazz Digital and Reactor, dedicated to young people who like rock and alternative culture.
Last night, reactor station 105.7 FM reported that from July 1, its live shows will disappear and will only broadcast continuous music.
The radio station explained that budget restrictions directly affect broadcasters, who are hired as professional service providers. “If we don’t have speakers, there will only be music and the programs lay off their spaces until we have news.”
Read: Eliminating Fonca Scholarships Is a Pursuit of Talent, Says Juan Villoro Warns Of Cuts
To our listeners and the general public:
Due to the budget restriction that is going through the @imerhoy, the station will only broadcast continuous music from July 1.
We appreciate your messages of encouragement and support.
#IMER_SOS
— Reactor 105.7 FM (@Reactor105) June 26, 2019
The Horizonte 107.9 station disclosed that programs will no longer be broadcast by freelance drivers. Other stations that will close for lack of budget are: Radio Mexico International, Music of the World, Interference HD, Digital Jazz.
Due to the budget restriction that the @imerhoy, from July 1, programs will no longer be broadcast by our freelance company (email protected), including specialized spaces and early morning jazz. We are very sorry for the situation and appreciate your support. #IMER_SOS
— Horizon 107.9 FM (@HorizonteJazz) June 26, 2019
Specialized music programs such as “Reggaevolución”, which had been on the air for 22 years, used social networks to inform the end of their broadcasts.
Lucas Hernández Bico, manager of Opus 94, a classical music space, noted that budget cuts seriously affect the operation of the program. “The music programmer (Miguel Sánchez Rojas), the operators Ximena Armendáriz and Alex Llanos, the continuist Adriana Iniestra, and the announcer Sergio Bustos will stop working with us.
Other Opus programs made at the production direction are also canceled: Memoirs and Presences of Eduardo Lizalde,
In addition, the programs of Javier Platas Jaramillo (The Other Version), Fernando Alvarez del Castillo (Who is Who the History of Music), Eunice Padilla (Bajo Continuo) and Jorge Córdoba Valencia (Horizons of Our Music) will be released.
In addition, the programs of Javier Platas Jaramillo (The Other Version), Fernando Alvarez del Castillo (Who is Who the History of Music), Eunice Padilla (Bajo Continuo) and Jorge Córdoba Valencia (Horizons of Our Music) will be released.
— Lucas Hernández Bico (@LucasHdezBico) June 26, 2019
According to Hernández Bico, they decided to go unpaid Ana Patricia Carbajal (Enchanted Music) and Erick Zermeño (Viva la Opera).
Producers, writers, broadcasters and other service providers will work until this Friday, the day their contracts are concluded.
Workers and collaborators promoted the #IMER_SOS label to report on the crisis in the public broadcaster headed by Aleida Calleja.
Read: Inland Cancels Youth Books Published by Austerity Measures
AMLO promises to review layoffs
At his morning conference, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador argued that he would review the layoffs at IMER, but made it clear that austerity also needs to be promoted in the public media.
He said he was unaware that live programmes will be no longer broadcast, that various broadcasts would disappear and staff cuts will disappear.
“On layoffs the instruction is that all the adjustment is made above, if abuses and injustices have been committed, the damage caused will be repaired, but there was always talk that it was the senior public officials because there was a golden bureaucracy in the government” Expressed.
What we do in Animal Político requires professional journalists, teamwork, dialogue with readers and something very important: independence. You can help us keep going. Be part of the team.
Subscribe to Animal Politician, receive benefits and support independent journalism.#YoSoyAnimal
