Columbus NPR stations brace for federal funding cuts
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WOSU Public Media and WCBE (90.5-FM) in Columbus are among hundreds of local news stations across the U.S. hit by the recent gutting of federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Why it matters: The cuts will undoubtedly impact station programming and services after this fiscal year ends Oct. 1, though Columbus' local affiliates haven't identified specifics yet.
The big picture: NPR and PBS nationally are mostly funded by nongovernment sources, such as corporate sponsorships and donations, while smaller member stations are more reliant on CPB funding.
Zoom in: Ohio's public broadcasting networks received grants totaling over $12.3 million in FY 2023, according to CPB documents.
- The recent cuts will take away 13% (about $2 million) of WOSU's total budget and 10% of WCBE's (about $134,000), per the two stations.
- WCBE is particularly unique as it's one of a handful of public radio licenses owned by a school district, Columbus City Schools, and is used for educational opportunities.
Threat level: Public stations are often the only local news sources in rural communities amid a steady decline of newspapers.
- Once a broadcaster is shuttered, it's unlikely its spectrum license ever returns to a community news station, PBS CEO Paula Kerger explained in a recent interview with the Washington Post.
- "I can imagine they would be auctioned off for whatever purpose and you won't have a local television station again in a community."
The intrigue: Research has shown that compared with other Western democracies, like Denmark, Finland and the United Kingdom, the U.S. has a less informed citizenry, because its public media is less robust.
What's next: WOSU is studying how to potentially realign its resources, which includes 62 full-time employees, and will "keep doing the work that matters to Central Ohio," general manager Anthony Padgett told his staff in a recent interview.
- "I know as a system, public media is gonna keep doing what matters to our country. And that's something that I stand by and something that I'm very proud of."