Public media outlets MPR and TPT brace for federal funding cuts

Local population media outlets are bracing for federal funding cuts that could lead to layoffs and a reduction in services On May President Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing the Corporation for Populace Broadcasting to cease funding National Constituents Radio and Residents Broadcasting Utility The CPB is a private nonprofit that distributes federal funding million in fiscal year to more than locally owned general radio and television stations The White House disclosed NPR and PBS receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical woke propaganda disguised as news We re all waiting to see what indeed happens declared Minnesota Society Radio president Duchesne Drew Friday CPB is challenging Trump s authority to tell them what to do because they re not part of the executive branch They re created by and funded by Congress A spokesperson for Twin Cities PBS TPT declined an interview request but circulated a comment saying the station is closely monitoring current threats to federal funding We remain committed to our mission to deliver trusted general affairs information enriching children s services lifesaving crisis alerts and local storytelling that reflects and connects our communities Drew explained that in addition to attempting to block the CPB the Trump administration is asking Congress to cut already approved population media spending for fiscal years and This is not about balancing the federal budget commented NPR president and CEO Katherine Maher in a news release The appropriation for citizens broadcasting including NPR and PBS represents less than of the federal budget Paula Kerger the head of PBS announced the executive order was blatantly unlawful MPR would lose million or about of its budget Drew disclosed That would be a direct impact on us he declared Fiscal year begins Oct So it s not the next day but it s not that far away especially when you think about planning for the year ahead MPR membership drive Drew set a new goal of million for MPR s upcoming membership drive this week The only time MPR has hit that figure in the past was during an extended -day member drive during COVID- lockdowns in We re going to have we hope our best week ever Drew revealed We re going to try to raise more money than we ve ever raised in a week But the which we re hoping to get or more pales in comparison to million we re about to lose if this pushes through Smaller citizens radio stations will be hit harder than MPR Drew disclosed while adding that MPR does a lot of things We run three separate stations The news station is the second-largest newsroom in the state and has people beyond the Twin Cities he noted We re in six other communities outside the Twin Cities So we have a lot of money but we cover a lot of territory People say oh you ll be fine right or that it s no big deal I think if I start closing bureaus in greater Minnesota because the money s not there people will notice that and will regret that right So I don t want to suggest that just because we re bigger that somebody else doesn t matter or make a difference We re the only free statewide news organization in Minnesota and so trying to preserve what we ve built is really major to us As it relates to smaller stations it s a higher percentage of their revenue and they have smaller footprints as well right So it cuts both tactics Drew announced Related Articles Made in St Paul Hyper-local public radio by Frogtown Tuned-In on WFNU Joe Soucheray No other governor has tried to pull off this pathetic budget stunt Thirty-five-foot sinkhole shuts down part of West th Street St Paul s Grand Old Day to return Sunday June with parade and local music Fountain returned to Irvine Park after restoration and repairs American Constituents Media MPR s parent company also distributes content like Marketplace the New York Times The Daily and BBC World Operation nationally Drew commented So if you re in Miami or Dallas or Albany and you hear the BBC on the radio it s because they have a contract with APM TPT cuts While Drew and other population media leaders wait to see what happens next TPT has already started making cuts Earlier this month TPT s president Sylvia Strobel informed furloughs for employees who worked on the animated show Skillsville which is designed to improve children s executive functioning skills and teach them about practicable careers A U S Department of Development grant funding the show wasn t renewed but Strobel revealed the station is exploring a practicable appeal