(Updated at 10:15 a.m.) Arlington Independent Media has laid off all staff members while electing new leaders amid a county audit of the group’s finances.
AIM’s board, now under the leadership of President Rhonda Snipe and Treasurer Amanda MacKaye, will be “taking over operations of the organization for the time being,” the organization announced Monday following a closed special meeting.
“This decision was not made lightly, and we understand the impact it will have on both our team members and the community we serve,” AIM CEO Whytni Kernodle said of the layoffs, in an email sent just before the meeting. “We want to express our deepest gratitude for the dedication, passion, and hard work that each member of our team has contributed to AIM over the last two and a half years.”
Kernodle is among those who have received layoff notices, Snipe said, adding that the board is “working with auditors to fully understand the financial health of the organization.”
All operational staff have been laid off as of March 18, 2024 COB. This decision was not a reflection of their performance or dedication, but rather a necessary measure to address our financial challenges.
— AIM (@arlington_media) March 19, 2024
This development comes just days after more than a dozen AIM members and former board members signed an open letter on Thursday alleging financial mismanagement and calling for a special meeting.
Former board president Chris Judson announced his resignation that same day, citing “differing visions for AIM,” one of which “is not achievable in the current financial environment, especially considering the recently proposed County budget.”
AIM, which has produced public access TV since 1982 and radio since 2015, plans to host another special meeting April 17 in the Black Box Theater at 3700 Four Mile Run Drive.
“This will be a season of belt-tightening for AIM, and we fervently believe it will be a temporary one,” the organization said. “The Board believes that AIM has the potential to achieve an ambitious new vision of what public access, community-produced media can be in the 21st century, but we have to take some necessary steps to get there. We need to rebuild trust, conduct a financial audit, and return to radio and TV production.”
Arlington County initiated its audit of AIM’s budget earlier this month. This cut off money flowing into the organization from cable subscription-generated revenue that the county, schools and organizations like AIM can tap into for capital expenses.
Kernodle said in a letter last week that the freeze “has created a crisis within our organization.”
“Without these funds,” she said, “we are unable to meet our financial obligations, including paying our dedicated staff and freelance engineers and other teammates who are instrumental in keeping our organization running smoothly.”
Prior to yesterday’s announcements, Station Manager Alvin Jones told ARLnow that the audit had created uncertainty and made it more difficult for AIM to fundraise.
“The plans, desires and hopes of our bright future [are] now in limbo,” he said last week. “This limbo causes the newly founded contacts and relationships to allocate their funds to other organizations.”
The AIM members who called for last night’s meeting argued that the group has likely been improperly spending the cable money — also known as Public, Educational and Government funds — on non-capital costs. Citing the 2023 annual report, they say AIM reported spending $622,937 on employee compensation and $104,662 on office operations yet only netted $453,048 in funds that can go to operating costs such as salaries.
AIM, which was in the process of moving from its longtime Clarendon location to Courthouse, furloughed some staff members from December to mid-January and again starting this month, a staffer told ARLnow last week.
Arlington County Board Vice-Chair Takis Karantonis said at a Saturday meeting that the county increased support for AIM by 30% in Fiscal Year 2024, “yet the organization has managed to run aground financially three times in this year alone.” He stands by the ongoing audit.
“We wouldn’t do all this is we weren’t really committed and supportive of the mission of AIM,” Karantonis said. “We do it because we are.”
The letter sent announcing the AIM layoffs is below.
Dear Arlington Independent Media Members and Supporters,
It is with heavy hearts that we must inform you of a significant change within Arlington Independent Media. After careful consideration and evaluation of our current financial situation, we regret to inform you that all staff members will be laid off today Monday, the 18th of March, effective close of business.
This decision was not made lightly, and we understand the impact it will have on both our team members and the community we serve. We want to express our deepest gratitude for the dedication, passion, and hard work that each member of our team has contributed to AIM over the last two and a half years.
While this news may come as a shock, please know that it was made in the best interest of sustaining AIM’s mission and ensuring the future viability of community media in Arlington, whatever shape it takes.
We appreciate your understanding and continued support during this challenging time. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the remaining members of AIM’s board of directors at [email protected].
Thank you for your understanding.
Best,
Whytni H. Kernodle, Esq.
CEO, Arlington Independent Media
The following letter was sent following Monday night’s closed meeting, announcing a special meeting next month.
Dear AIM Community,
On March 14th, the Board of Directors received an Open Letter from members of the AIM community, expressing the members’ concerns with AIM’s current financial health and well-being, and calling for a Special Meeting of Members. At the Board’s emergency special meeting on March 18th, which was closed due to discussion of personnel matters, the Board voted unanimously to hold a Special Meeting of Members on April 17th at 7pm. This meeting will take place in the Black Box Theater at 3700 Four Mile Run Drive.
During our closed session this evening, we also elected new officers. We are pleased to announce that the President of AIM’s Board is now Rhonda Snipe, and our new Treasurer is Amanda MacKaye. Please join me in thanking them for their service in these extraordinary times!
We want to assure you that amidst all the current turmoil, the Board is standing firm for AIM, and that as a body we are taking over operations of the organization for the time being. We are committed to the survival and flourishing of Arlington Independent Media and its longstanding legacy of community media production. This will take grace and grit, but we will get through this.
This will be a season of belt-tightening for AIM, and we fervently believe it will be a temporary one. The Board believes that AIM has the potential to achieve an ambitious new vision of what public access, community-produced media can be in the 21st century, but we have to take some necessary steps to get there. We need to rebuild trust, conduct a financial audit, and return to radio and TV production. We will conduct ourselves with kindness, and we will do things by the book. There are dedicated volunteers ready to carry us through this, and we look forward to this community coming out stronger on the other end.
Lastly, we want to reiterate our commitment to the future of AIM. We have the opportunity to work together to shape the road ahead. We’ll do what we can with what we know we have, and we’ll forge a path forward to ensure AIM is insulated from the kind of financial shocks we’ve endured, even years prior to the pandemic. And someday soon, we’ll raise our voices together in a cheer for everything this community has accomplished.
Together.On behalf of the entire AIM Board of Directors,
Claire Seaton
Secretary of the Board