Public Media managers everywhere have been scrambling to figure out how they would stay afloat when the announcement was made Congress was going to rescind the $1.1 billion they formerly promised for public media. This would be devastating for rural radio and tv across the country. An estimated 115 stations would shut down, leading to fewer dollars for other forms of media causing them to shut down as well. In reality, that 115 number seems on the lower end.
Enter the Public Media Funding Heroes to come in and save the day! Tim Isgitt, the head of Public Media Company (a consulting firm) contacted Erik Lagner (CEO of Equity Initiative) and went over an idea. When rumors started circulating public media could lose their funding, Isgitt and Lagner hatched a plan to save as many stations as possible. Their thought was to come together with other philanthropic groups and put forth enough to keep radio and tv alive, who would otherwise perish with this news of the take-back.
Lagner and Isgitt then met with the CEOs of PBS and NPR to find out how to do this properly. The Knight foundation ended up committing $10 million to the Public Media Bridge Fund. They didn’t stop there. The Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundations, Schmidt Foundation, Pivotal Ventures, and the Rover Wood Johnson Foundation all joined in the cause with donations adding up to whopping $27 million collected so far! Their goal is to hit $50 million in donations towards the fund.
To reinstate how crucial this is….the Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced it will shut down later this year due to the elimination of funding. Some stations have gone as far as laying off staff knowing they wouldn’t have the funds to pay them.
Many of these stations reside in rural areas of the state. These areas rely on public radio for weather, updates on natural disasters and events that may need constant information to be given.
The foundation announced they will start accepting applications from stations, but will give funds to those most in need.
Don’t get too excited yet…Isgitt and Wadsworth have said $100 million would need to be raised over the next couple of years in order to prevent closures. They continue to say they will do their best to help, but more needs to be done.
2 thoughts on “When Congress Scrapped Public Funding for Media, a Few Heroes Stepped In”
“Heroes?” So, if you hate America, Republicans, traditional family and normal social values, white people, and are willing to fund the indoctrination propaganda that NPR/PBS espouses you are a “hero.”
Stephanie…You are an idiot but I am grateful that my taxes will not fund the liberal, socialist propaganda for the next two years.
Wow, Jerry.
Have you ever met anyone who listens to public radio or watches PBS? Better yet, have you ever met anyone who works for either? No, probably not. The only indoctrination I have seen is coming from the Republican party, encouraging you to blindly follow a president who appears to only be trying to make money for himself and his friends.
I have a VERY traditional family, with a pastor husband, we are white, and not doing anything to subvert or damage you and your narrow minded existence.
Do a deep dive into NPR, Jerry, you might learn something.