NewsHour Productions traces its lineage to the MacNeil/Lehrer team and the 1973 Watergate coverage that evolved into today’s “PBS NewsHour.” When NewsHour became part of WETA — an established PBS station and longtime partner — the merger brought new administrative and financial realities.
As funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting diminished, efficiency became non-negotiable. Every expense, workflow, and partnership required deeper introspection to stretch limited grant dollars further, especially when it came to managing contingent workforce operations across multi-state productions.
Before the WETA consolidation, NewsHour had worked with another payroll and contracting company that managed independent production staff. The arrangement functioned adequately, but it lacked transparency and responsiveness.
When WETA required NewsHour to align under a single Employer of Record (EOR), the directive prompted an internal challenge. Could the new partner perform with the same or greater efficiency under tighter financial and compliance scrutiny?
Tom Fritschi, NewsHour’s director of production operations, and his team needed proof. They sought a partner capable of handling contractor payroll, workers’ compensation, and employment compliance without burdening internal finance, legal, or production teams. With dozens of staff required per project and more than 100 per political convention cycle, any inefficiency would ripple across departments, threatening timelines and budgets.
Streamlining the human side of production
WETA’s leadership recommended consolidating with Maslow Media Group, which was already serving as its contractor and payroll provider. Initially, the move was met with skepticism. NewsHour’s leadership requested data to validate potential cost savings, but when the previous vendor failed to deliver it, the contrast was immediate. Maslow’s transparency and responsiveness distinguished them from the start.
By the time the transition was complete, Maslow had taken on full EOR responsibilities for NewsHour’s contingent workforce. This Employer of Record partnership simplified onboarding, payroll, and contractor administration for all domestic operations, including the “PBS NewsHour” and “Washington Week.” Maslow assumed responsibility for payroll accuracy, W-2 distribution, workers’ compensation, and unemployment insurance, while NewsHour retained operational oversight of production scheduling and deliverables.
When major events like the presidential conventions required rapid, large-scale staffing, NewsHour provided the talent lists, and Maslow handled everything else. Their system ensured that new hires — ranging from seasoned technical professionals to local production runners — were onboarded, paid, and insured without administrative delays. Across multiple states, tax jurisdictions, and exposure levels, the workflow stayed consistent and compliant.
The relationship also extended into talent support. When NewsHour needed help sourcing crews in unfamiliar cities, Maslow’s network supplied qualified candidates who met the project’s technical and editorial standards. That backstop gave the production team operational flexibility without sacrificing control or quality.
“This is a people business, and Maslow’s done a great job of just managing people and communicating with people,” Fritschi says.
Proof through performance
The partnership proved itself through outcomes, not promises. Across the 2016 and 2024 political convention cycles, NewsHour successfully staffed more than 100 roles in each host city. Every contractor was managed, paid, and documented through Maslow’s systems. Payroll errors declined, and the administrative load on internal teams dropped significantly.
Legal, finance, and production controllers recaptured hours once spent managing W-2 corrections, fielding payroll inquiries, and coordinating with multiple tax authorities. The partnership also gave NewsHour flexibility to bridge staffing gaps when positions were under review, postponed, or restructured — a critical advantage in a lean, public media environment.
During COVID-19, the same infrastructure supported distributed operations. Contractors were engaged in multiple states for digital and web projects without requiring new entity formations or regional payroll setups. The EOR structure offered continuity when physical production was disrupted and helped NewsHour sustain output amid financial and logistical uncertainty.
A partnership defined by responsiveness
After more than a decade of collaboration, one constant stands out: Maslow’s customer service. When NewsHour’s staff or contractors have payroll or compliance questions, they can reach an actual person who resolves the issue — often before it reaches Fritschi’s desk. This hands-on support has become a defining feature of the Employer of Record partnership.
Maslow’s ability to manage people as well as process has helped NewsHour maintain momentum across changing technologies, markets, and funding environments. The relationship functions less like a transaction and more like an extension of the internal team.
“Our organization and Maslow are trying to not only work with one other but also make sure that there’s common goals,” Fritschi notes. “There are common objectives. It’s a good relationship in that way.”
As NewsHour seeks to reduce costs without compromising production quality, Maslow seeks to deliver reliable, compliant staffing solutions while maintaining service standards. That alignment has endured across election cycles, technology transitions, and economic shifts, proving that trust, consistency, and transparency remain the foundation of sustainable partnership in public media.