Emerging from a period of drastic budgetary reductions sanctioned by Congress, which have left major public media corporations including the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR) without federal financial support, Tennessee’s leaders of PBS and NPR are determined not to back down. They communicated unequivocally to the wider community that perseverance is part of their plan. Marking this stand was a significant gathering that took place in the heart of the Nashville’s PBS station on Aug. 7. A regular local program ‘Slice of Community’ witnessed an unusual episode that day, which was packed by community individuals and transformed into a rather unique forum.
The typical content of the talk show ‘Slice of Community’ revolves around discussions with local political figures, social activists, and community organizers. However, this particular gathering saw a change of script and ethos. The tables turned and the very entities that facilitate such critical conversations took center stage. The panel included Avery Hutchins, CEO of Cookeville’s PBS outlet WCTE, Becky Magura, CEO of the Nashville PBS outlet WNPT, and Mack Linebaugh, VP of audience and content at Nashville’s NPR station, WPLN. The central theme of the discussion was the impact of the recent funding cut and strategies to weather this storm.
‘There is power in numbers,’ Hutchins emphasized, reminding everyone of their importance. ‘We need to lean into the good and remember why we’re here.’ The pivotal role the public media plays in society was underlined, accentuating its status as a trusted source of information. Ensuring survival in this challenging time was paramount, the leaders declared.
Congress, in what is known as the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act,’ put into effect significant reductions in public media funding on July 18. This unprecedented move effectively left the non-profit Corporation for Public Broadcasting without financial backing for the first time since its inception in 1967. This might seem like a minor change as CPB funding previously made up only 0.01% of the federal budget, about $1.06 per citizen each year. However, the collateral damage is expansive and significant, extending out to local outlets such as Tennessee PBS and NPR station, as they no longer will receive grant monies.
These stations, providing invaluable services including news content, educational programming, and vitally important emergency alerts, hitherto relied on these grants for operational costs. The current fiscal year saw a collective CPB funding of $7,365,199 for all Tennessee’s public radio and television stations – a substantial sum that has now been effectively retracted. The initial shock of this loss has left these stations struggling, exploring alternative fundraising options.
‘It’s a big hit,’ confessed Hutchins, underlining the 40% dent in WCTE’s budget due to the rescinded funding – a station which holds the unique position of being the only television outlet in a 75-mile radius. The same challenging circumstances apply across the board: the Nashville station funding loss is around 20%, Cookeville about 40%, Lexington approximately 45%, Memphis and the Knoxville and Chattanooga stations between 30 to 45%. The real-world impact of these cuts is broad and deep, affecting more than 6 million individuals, primarily in rural areas and surrounding states, who depend on these services.
Hutchins continued, shedding light on the distinct and crucial position that outlets like WCTE hold in isolated regions – ‘We are the only television station in the upper Cumberland. And there are dark areas in that region. They don’t have cell service, they don’t have fiber, they’re not getting any other source of information other than WCTE. It’s easy to underestimate the importance of traditional media in this digital age where information is a fingertip away for many. Nonetheless, in such remote parts of Tennessee, often the primary source of critical updates such as weather forecasts, Amber Alerts, and news on possible tornados, is television.
It’s quite easy to take media access for granted until you flick the switch and all you get is a blank screen. How then does information reach you? Depicting a grim reality in the wake of the funding cuts, Magura stated that the loss was a ‘significant blow.’ ‘We’re all at risk because what we offer is not replicable,’ Magura emphasised, reminding the attendees of the distinct role public media plays in facilitating community-based information access.
She passionately argued the case for public media, drawing parallels with other public, accessible, universal institutions, such as schools, healthcare, and highways. ‘We’re the public’s media. If you believe in public schools, public health, public highways, then you would believe in public media. Because it means every person has access to free over-the-air, online, on-the-ground media that reflects and represents them.’
Magura also relayed stories of tremendous community support that the station had received over the recent tumultuous weeks. Similarly, Linebaugh expressed heartfelt gratitude for the intense backing that Nashville’s listeners and viewers had extended. News emerged last week that their station’s funding deficit, totaling $400,000, had been fully compensated by the constituents through a three-day fundraiser. This was recorded as the quickest, most fruitful fundraising initiative in the annals of the station’s history.
After a thorough interactive session involving multiple questions and answers drew to a conclusion, Magura reiterated her appreciation for individuals who had rallied behind their local stations. ‘We’re determined to not go away, we’re determined,’ she vehemently stated. ‘But we need them! We can’t do it without them. It will be critical for us to have their voices and support.’
The post Raising Voices, Not Funds: Tennessee’s Public Media Leaders Fight Back appeared first on Real News Now.
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