Proposed Cuts to Public Radio Threaten Local Station
By: Luana Munoz
Updated: January 18, 2011
House leaders have recently introduced a bill to cut federal dollars from National Public Radio and all federal funding to Corporate Public Broadcasting. Now a radio station out of Northwest Missouri State University has joined a national campaign urging the public to contact their legislatures.
At NWMSU, juniors Martell Love and Zachary Farwell work the noon show for KXCV and KRNW.
“I appreciate the fact that we get to hone our craft and do hands on work here,” said Love.
“The experience for working for NPR it's a huge station, a corporation that is all over the United States. The opportunity to work at an affiliate is a great experience,” said Farwell.
The university radio stations, however, could see a major cut in their budget.
A proposed bill by Congressman Doug Lamborn restricts federal house dollars from going to just NPR.
He also proposed a bill that eliminates all funds for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting.
“Which is about $422 million a year. That is divided up amongst 1,300 public radio and television stations,” said NWMSU Director of Broadcasting Rodney Harris.
Harris says that would mean a $162,000 cut from the universities radio budget.
They have now joined 170 million Americans, a campaign that urges listeners to contact their legislators to protect federal funding.
“Cutting that federal funding would be disastrous,” sad Harris.
Like most media outlets across the country, the local station has already taken a major financial loss.
26% in the past two years was cut from their million dollar annual budget.
“It would put a lot of our public programming at risk, our local and national news at risk.
Programming that Harris says offers non-partisan news reporting.
It also provides cultural music and educational programming not heard on commercial radio stations while giving students like Farwell and Love the opportunity of a lifetime.
If the bill passes, staff positions could be cut, but not the program entirely.
At NWMSU, juniors Martell Love and Zachary Farwell work the noon show for KXCV and KRNW.
“I appreciate the fact that we get to hone our craft and do hands on work here,” said Love.
“The experience for working for NPR it's a huge station, a corporation that is all over the United States. The opportunity to work at an affiliate is a great experience,” said Farwell.
The university radio stations, however, could see a major cut in their budget.
A proposed bill by Congressman Doug Lamborn restricts federal house dollars from going to just NPR.
He also proposed a bill that eliminates all funds for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting.
“Which is about $422 million a year. That is divided up amongst 1,300 public radio and television stations,” said NWMSU Director of Broadcasting Rodney Harris.
Harris says that would mean a $162,000 cut from the universities radio budget.
They have now joined 170 million Americans, a campaign that urges listeners to contact their legislators to protect federal funding.
“Cutting that federal funding would be disastrous,” sad Harris.
Like most media outlets across the country, the local station has already taken a major financial loss.
26% in the past two years was cut from their million dollar annual budget.
“It would put a lot of our public programming at risk, our local and national news at risk.
Programming that Harris says offers non-partisan news reporting.
It also provides cultural music and educational programming not heard on commercial radio stations while giving students like Farwell and Love the opportunity of a lifetime.
If the bill passes, staff positions could be cut, but not the program entirely.
