NPR Slices Staff

NPR is cutting staff by 10 percent via voluntary buyouts, which will become mandatory in the event that enough people don’t sign up.

The buyout is designed to "eliminate the deficit and lower ongoing expenses," according to a management memo.

NPR anticipates a $3M deficit during the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. It has a total workforce of 840 people. NPR’s last round of cuts was in 2008 when eight percent of workers were pared from the payroll.

The public radio network also picked board member and attorney Paul Haaga to succeed Gary Knell, who is leaving for the top position at the National Geographic Society.

Gibbs Takes Over Time Inc.

Time Inc. has named Nancy Gibbs managing editor to become the first woman leader of the newsweekly. She takes for Rick Stengel, who is moving to the State Dept. for the chief propaganda post.

Gibbs, who joined Time 28 years ago as a fact-checker, was his deputy. She has written more cover stories at Time than any other writer.

The magazine’s combined print/online circulation is 3.3M. It is expected to generate about $500M in 2012 revenue.

Time Warner Ups Ex-Analyst Shapiro

Time Warner has promoted Doug Shapiro to the senior VP/international & corporate strategy position.

The former senior VP-IR succeeds Michael Din, who is moving to be Co-CEO of TW’s central European broadcasting operation.

Shapiro joined TW in 2007 after an eight-year stint as cable/satellite analyst at Banc of America Securites.

He now reports to Olaf Olafsson, TW’s executive VP international & corporate strategy.

In the IR department, VP Michael Kopelman is upped to Shapiro’s former position.

Kiplinger Celebrates 90th Birthday

The Kiplinger Letter is celebrating its 90th year of continuous publishing of news and trends in the economic and political world. It claims that’s a world record.

KL says it correctly called the 1929 stock market crash, dot.com bust and the Great Recession.

The election of Harry Truman in 1948 was the newsletter’s sole miscall in presidential contests since 1924.

Of KL’s forecast savvy, editor-in-chief Knight Kiplinger said it’s based on "solid reporting with the savviest sources we can find."

The cost of an annual sub has risen from $10 per-year in 1923 to $117 today. Paid weekly circulation is 116K.

Knight is the third generation of the Kiplinger family to edit KL.

Elzer to Exit Columbia TriStar

Steve Elzer, senior VP-media relations at Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group is departing the Sony Entertainment studio unit in December after a dozen years.

The departure follows the Sept. 9 arrival at Sony of Sard Verbinnen crisis management pro Charles Sipkins.

In an email, Elzer said he is eager to work with Sipkins through a transition period.

The Wrap, celebrity website, called Elzer "one of the most well-respected and honorable publicists in Hollywood."

It expects Elzer "to be in high demand given his knowledge of the industry and strong relationships with the entertainment media."

BBC Pr Pro Helm Governance Panel

Julian Payne, acting head of communications for the BBC, will lead a review of the ties between Beeb executives and the BBC Trust.

The panel was formed following hearings raising questions about severance payments paid to former key staffers.

Its aim is to "provide better and clearer oversight" over the way money is spent and to ensure the network’s primary focus in on what audiences want and need to know.

Conde Leaves Univision for NBCU's Telemundo

Univision Networks president Cesar Conde has taken the executive VP slot at NBCUniversal’s Telemundo Spanish-language unit in charge of business development, international, strategy and special projects.

He reports to NBCU CEO Steve Burke.

Conde joined Univision in 2003 and was responsible for network expansion including the launch of the English-language Fusion cable network.