Republicans had been screaming for it for years; and finally, they got it – they have cut off all federal funding for PBS and NPR, stripping $1.1 billion from public TV and radio.
Jay Curtis, general manager at Monroe NPR station KEDM, says this is devastating to all NPR stations, especially his.
“For many big city stations, it may only be 9 or 10% of (their) budget,” says Curtis. “For a station like KEDM that covers a lot of rural areas, it’s 22% of our budget, about $145,000.”
Curtis says all public radio and TV stations play an important role in their respective local communities.
“Serving our communities with both emergency management options,” Curtis says, “but also the fabric of the community with the news and the music that we provide every single day.”
Sen. John Kennedy was among the Republicans who led the push to cut off federal funding to public broadcasting.
In several floor speeches, including one he gave Wednesday, Kennedy said the broadcasting landscape has changed dramatically since the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was founded more than 50 years ago.
“The American people have access to all forms of media — streaming, cable TV, network TV, TikTok, Twitter, newspapers,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy especially argued for cutting off federal funding for public broadcasting because of what he says is a liberal slant in PBS and NPR’s news coverage.
“NPR and PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting are entitled to publish and broadcast
what they publish,” Kennedy said, “but not on the taxpayers dime.”
As a result of Congress’ vote, all public radio and television stations are going to have to kick their fundraising efforts into overdrive to make up the money that Congress had appropriated and now has taken back.
“We were on the out this morning for a little bit more fundraising and had some great responses,” said Curtis, “because people realize that there is no more federal government funding for public radio, and it’s up to them to step up.”
Louisiana Public Broadcasting says it is losing $2.4 million in annual support — money that it says would have gone towards airing children’s programs, maintaining emergency communications infrastructure and creating and sharing stories and documentaries that define the state.
However, it says the setback, while serious, is not insurmountable.
“The loss of this funding will present a challenge, but Louisianans know how to face challenges,” said Clarence Copeland, LPB President and CEO. “Our mission is simple and strong: to serve the people of Louisiana. It is at the very heart of our mission. For nearly 50 years we have done that — through acclaimed weekly series like Louisiana: The State We’re In and Art Rocks!, to original limited series and documentaries such as Louisiana Spotlight, Why Louisiana Ain’t Mississippi… or Any Place Else! and The Precipice.
“LPB is a part of the cultural and civic fabric of this state,” Copeland added. “We remain committed to doing the right things for the right reasons, telling Louisiana stories, helping to educate our children, and connecting communities through trusted information. That doesn’t change today, or tomorrow.”
Comments