Sesame Workshop Cuts Jobs amid Recession

Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization that produces Sesame Street, is slashing 20 percent of its workforce due to the recession, reports the Associated Press.

The organization announced today that it eliminated 67 out of 355 positions. Sesame Workshop said, "After careful review, we have concluded that we will have to operate with fewer resources in order to achieve our strategic priorities," according to Bloomberg.

Touted by producers as the most widely viewed children's television show, Sesame Street and its beloved characters such as Big Bird, Elmo and Oscar the Grouch have been on the air since 1969.

According to its Web site, Sesame Workshop earns revenue from product licensing and syndication deals overseas, and receives funding from government agencies, foundations, and major corporations like Astra-Zeneca and McDonald's.