NPR, PBS members see record donations after Congress cuts funding

[TheBigA]

The real issue is to sustain the local stations and, perhaps, to create a new version of NPR at the station level to provide certain portions of station programming.

There's no need to "create a new version of NPR." It still exists, as do a multitude of other program suppliers such as American Public Media. Stations such as WAMU and WBUR already create programming that hundreds of stations carry.

If stations would like to get into the national or regional programming business, all they need is money. The public broadcasting interconnection system would distribute the show for them. They just need to find a new way to pay for it.

If conservatives from Texas or other red states want to originate programming, the system is there for them to do it. But they'd make more money as a podcast or commercial radio program.

 

[davideduardo]

There's no need to "create a new version of NPR." It still exists, as do a multitude of other program suppliers such as American Public Media. Stations such as WAMU and WBUR already create programming that hundreds of stations carry.

If stations would like to get into the national or regional programming business, all they need is money. The public broadcasting interconnection system would distribute the show for them. They just need to find a new way to pay for it.

There is an issue of whether a “discredited” NPR is the proper management organization for those functions. It is worth considering that a new organization might give a fresh or at least refreshed perspective to potential donors..

 

[TheBigA]

There is an issue of whether a “discredited” NPR is the proper management organization for those functions. It is worth considering that a new organization might give a fresh or at least refreshed perspective to potential donors..

The only people who see NPR as "discredited" are themselves discredited after destroying a system that provided public service programming for 55 years.

But sure, it's a free country. If conservatives want to build their own public radio system, they're free to do so. But there's less money in it than doing a podcast. Ask Mr. Bongino. They would still have to operate as a non-profit, and that's not as lucrative as the for-profit world. Whatever the new organization is, it will need a revenue stream. But the infrastructure is there right now. CPB was merely a funding source, nothing more. The public radio system is an open, decentralized system that anyone can enter. They don't even have to own a station. Ira Glass produces the very successful national radio show This American Life basically by himself.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Weve seen some... 50 new memberships.. thats how do we do our fundraising. annual memberships, not monthly stuff but thats just a drop in the bucket

 

[umfan]

You're sure that includes every public station? The biggies will mostly be fone, but there are the smaller WDVXs (Knoxville) of this world, that play Americana and blues on weaker signals

No, not every station. Commercial stations are going silent as well, but it won't be the end of all current public radio stations as some who aren't consumers of industry news might think based on media coverage.

 

[umfan]

There is an issue of whether a “discredited” NPR is the proper management organization for those functions. It is worth considering that a new organization might give a fresh or at least refreshed perspective to potential donors.

A very astute observation. It's a very polarizing organization. CPB likely owes its demise more to NPR than anything else. Separating any centralized functions that aid and consolidate station operation would be best served from another source. Even if such an action didn't bring in new donors, if another funding mechanism for rural stations is established, such an action would perhaps be more favorably received if there was no connection to NPR.

 

[TheBigA]

It's a very polarizing organization. CPB likely owes its demise more to NPR than anything else.

Gee, and here I thought we had a free press in this country. Silly me.

Meanwhile I also thought the defunding was because the country is trillions in debt. Not because of the news.

Congress never asked anyone from CPB to testify or defend itself. So much for due process.

, such an action would perhaps be more favorably received if there was no connection to NPR.

None of these stations are required to carry NPR news. They could have dropped it years ago if they wanted to.

 

[umfan]

Gee, and here I thought we had a free press in this country.

Having a free press doesn't entitle an entity to government funding. Silly you, indeed.

Meanwhile I also thought the defunding was because the country is trillions in debt.

That is part of it as well.

None of these stations are required to carry NPR news. They could have dropped it years ago if they wanted to.

Kind of the point of my post. By not doing so, they made their subsidy hard to defend. Even harder when the nation is running a persistent deficit to fund something with so little public value.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Even harder when the nation is running a persistent deficit to fund something with so little public value.

Then why should the tax payers fund so many of president trumps golfing visits, costing millions each time?

 

[umfan]

Then why should the tax payers fund so many of president trumps golfing visits, costing millions each time?

Perhaps they shouldn't. I often wonder why President's feel compelled to take so much discretionary travel when they are already provided a mansion with loads of recreation. Especially when considering the cost of moving the protection detail, etc. Establishing a budget for this that would require rationale and some Congressional agreement if exceeded is something I'd consider supporting.

 

[TheBigA]

Having a free press doesn't entitle an entity to government funding. Silly you, indeed.

No one said it did. But getting government funding doesn't obligate the press to become a PR service for the government.

By not doing so, they made their subsidy hard to defend.

Remember that 20 republican run states own NPR and PBS stations. Only one governor ever objected to anything they ever aired.

Those states now have an unexpected funding gap to fill. Oh well.

Let me know when I can expect my rebate from the government for the money they just clawed back.

 

[umfan]

No one said it did.

Your remark equated the two, so you did kind of say it.

own NPR and PBS stations

You mean affiliates? Neither of those entities can own stations. If you care to list the states, I'm very confident I can find more than one Governor who was critical of NPR.

have an unexpected funding gap to fill.

Or just have the stations go silent. That might be the more attractive option.

 

[gr8oldies]

Then why should the tax payers fund so many of president trumps golfing visits, costing millions each time?

Not to mention his private ICE army, which is bigger than the militaries of most countries to disappear "illegals", (soon homeless people and very likely, political opponents), I was told at the beginning of the administration we were all going to have to sacrifice for the National Debt and get used to a government that provided no services except police and military. Now all this.

 

[TheBigA]

You mean affiliates? Neither of those entities can own stations. If you care to list the states, I'm very confident I can find more than one Governor who was critical of NPR.

States and cities own radio & TV stations. No laws prevent that. Start with Georgia Public Broadcasting. What has the governor said that was critical of the programming? Atlanta's Board of Education owns WABE. Louisiana, South Carolina, Oklahoma. Lots of them. They all lost funding.

You seem to think being critical of the government is against the law. It isn't. Regardless of where the funding comes from.

Or just have the stations go silent. That might be the more attractive option.

Really? To whom? The taxpayers? If a governor simply shut down something that was worth millions don't you think someone might object?

 

[K.M. Richards]

CPB likely owes its demise more to NPR than anything else.

Despite your later "no one said ..." denials, that sentence creates the impression that CPB=NPR, even though we know it doesn't.

What would stop the mass public from presuming that a replacement for CPB would also not "be NPR"? Because until you resolve that misperception -- especially with President Blowhard spewing nonsense based on his belief that it is -- no such replacement is ever going to be viable.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Your remark equated the two, so you did kind of say it.

You mean affiliates? Neither of those entities can own stations. If you care to list the states, I'm very confident I can find more than one Governor who was critical of NPR.

Or just have the stations go silent. That might be the more attractive option.

Missisippi, south carolina and Georgia.. the states themselves own the NPR member stations

 

[davideduardo]

Then why should the tax payers fund so many of president trumps golfing visits, costing millions each time?

And, if you read the reports, the meetings held there are provided with "free facilities" and even lodging for guests. So they actually cost less than presidential excursions in the past. I think "the media" has to pay in either case to provide press coverage, so there is no change there... just a lot nicer locations.

 

[davideduardo]

Not to mention his private ICE army, which is bigger than the militaries of most countries to disappear "illegals",

"Illegals" are immigrants who came without papers and permissions. Ask all the members of my extended family who followed all the steps, starting with a consular office interview and ending with passing the citizenship exam, what they think "illegals" are!

When I lived in Ecuador, I went on a student visa. As soon as I decided to build a station, I filled in an application for a residency visa and had to show I would not be an expense for the government. I had to re-prove that every year, and had to document it every time I traveled and returned to the country. That is what nearly every other nation has done in the past.

(soon homeless people and very likely, political opponents),

That is an assumption.

I was told at the beginning of the administration we were all going to have to sacrifice for the National Debt and get used to a government that provided no services except police and military. Now all this.

This has no relation to radio.

 

[TheBigA]

And, if you read the reports, the meetings held there are provided with "free facilities" and even lodging for guests. So they actually cost less than presidential excursions in the past. I think "the media" has to pay in either case to provide press coverage, so there is no change there... just a lot nicer locations.

Who pays for the secret service? They arrive a week ahead of the president and secure hundreds of rooms around his. They pay for those rooms, even if it's at a Trump resort. There are no "free facilities." Then of course there's transportation on Air Force One. Taxpayers pay for that. And yes, the media also insists on paying their way. They don't get a free ride anywhere. If you have documentation about free facilities, post it here.

 

[umfan]

Missisippi, south carolina and Georgia.. the states themselves own the NPR member stations

Neither CPB nor NPR own stations.