NPR and PBS are finding ways to navigate through the loss of federal funding that was cut earlier this month. NPR CEO Katherine Maher says the organization has a challenge ahead.
In a vote, the Senate passed $9 billion in federal spending cuts, including more than $1 billion in cuts to NPR and PBS.
The passed legislation would remove $1.1 billion in funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. That figure represents what the CPB was slated to receive over the next two budget years.
After the cuts were passed, more than $20 million in donations for NPR and PBS came in, with the outlets reportedly more than $70 million ahead of where they traditionally sit at this point of the calendar year.
Despite the increase in donations, NPR CEO Katherin Maher believes the road ahead will be a difficult one.
“We have a long way to go in terms of achieving sustainability,” Maher told Semafor. “It’s really important that the funds be understood as something that is a one-time response. It’s up to all of us to continue to build those relationships with people who have demonstrated that they’re committed to public media.”
She added that the network is take unprecedented steps to ensure that its affiliates remain viable.
“The reality is that, just like the impacts are pretty disparate, the stations that are best positioned to receive that kind of fund and engage in that kind of fundraising are not the ones that are most at risk,” Maher said.
Cuts to NPR and PBS come after a new Harris Poll survey shows that 66% of Americans believe that public radio should receive federal funding. The support isn’t limited to only one side of the political aisle. 77% of self-identified Democrats responded favorably to federal funding continuing to NPR. Meanwhile, 58% of Republicans responded similarly.
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Well, the 66% and 58% have an opportunity to put their donation in. PBS and NPR will be fine, they need to reshape, rethink and get out and get after it with good sales efforts, like the rest of us.