Funding Cuts loom for Public Broadcasting
Public Broadcasting may face funding cuts of up to 45%, $220 million, next year. The House of Representatives will first take up the issue Wednesday, June 22nd. Both local public broadcasting stations, KWMU 90.7 and KETC Channel 9, face significant funding cuts due to the reduction in federal fund.
While both KETC and KWMU both rely upon members for a major portion of their operating budgets, the reduction in federal funds will pose a major challenge for the stations.
Both KETC and KWMU are appealing to their viewers and listeners to contact both Missouri Senators Bond and Talent as well as Missouri Representatives Carnahan, Clay, Akin, Hulshoff and Emerson. Illinois listeners and viewers are asked to contact Senators Durbin and Obama as well as Representatives Shimkus, Costello and Evans.
KETC has a contact list here, and KWMU has a contact list here.
I wrote Talent Sunday. You know he's sitting up and paying attention now!
hear me roar!
Joe Daus
Where, oh where, will I get my "Keeping Up Appearances" fix? And Tavis Smiley?
Please, give until it hurts - Bill Moyers needs a new Mercedes.
Posted by Fred Chico-Hamilton on Tue., Jun 21, 2005 at 11:00 PMThe last poster makes a good point (albeit, somewhat sarcarstically). A more relevant point, is that the demographics of both public radio and television audiences would be a dream come true for most broadcast stations. Surely this affluent listener base can find a way to fund this programming it's so fond of without federal subsidy.
Posted by Darren on Wed., Jun 22, 2005 at 10:57 AMCongressman Russ Carnahan is a strong supporter of public broadcasting and already has publicly stated he opposes cuts. See article, http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/neighborhoods/stories.nsf/news/story/63F8D02E5701A346862570260076262C?OpenDocument&highlight=2%2C%22russ%22+AND+%22carnahan%22
Posted by Kathy W on Wed., Jun 22, 2005 at 2:31 PMUm,
Maybe NPR has an affluent listener-base, but since when do you have to be wealthy to watch Sesame Street, Arthur, etc.?
If anything, I would think the median HH income for PBS Kids programming viewers would be below average; rich kids have cable or satellite, so they'd watch Nick, Disney, etc.
Posted by Joe Frank on Thu., Jun 23, 2005 at 3:23 PMThe CPB provides a variety of funding to public radio and television. The point is to provide access to programming that isn't geared towards commercial viability and that enriches the community. PBS is very active in early literacy and education and NPR is one of the most highly regarded news outlets because it is able to free itself of commercial constraints.
It provides funding to programs for all ages that promotes life long learning, some of the best balanced news casts in the country and educational programming that is second to none in content.
And unless you actually know that Bill Moyers drives a Mercedes, perhaps you could stick to the facts. Nevermind that Moyers isn't working for a PBS funded show anymore.
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