In the opinion of the leader of one local public radio organization, the actions of the Trump administration “could collapse our nation’s public media system.”
Steve Swenson, president/CEO of Nashville Public Radio, in an email to supporters, reacted in part to the executive order issued on Thursday that seeks to stop the Corporation for Public Broadcasting from providing funding to NPR and PBS.
He said the administration was also trying to stop local public radio stations from paying NPR for national programming like “All Things Considered” and “Morning Edition.”
His email, which included a fundraising appeal, shines light on how local public radio broadcasters are trying to cope.
“While our largest and most reliable source of revenue comes from member support, a loss of CPB funding represents a real threat to the future of Nashville Public Radio,” Swenson said.
“Five percent of our budget comes from a CPB grant, but additional system-wide CPB funding offsets the cost of important infrastructure that enables us to conduct work that is basic to the purpose of a legitimate media source. Its loss would affect core operational elements such as satellite connection — how we receive NPR programs you enjoy like ‘All Things Considered,’ ‘Morning Edition’ and ‘Fresh Air ‘on WPLN — and music licensing fees — leading to potential disruptions in programming on WNXP.”
Swenson also criticized Trump for what he described as a series of targeted efforts to diminish the purpose and value of public broadcasting.
“President Trump tried to fire three of CPB’s five board members on Monday, which prompted legal action to challenge his authority to take this action. Earlier this year, National Public Radio was asked to vacate its Pentagon offices, complicating its ability to report information to listeners across the country, including those in Middle Tennessee through us as an affiliate. These events amount to a comprehensive attack on public broadcasting and will have a substantial impact.”
He said that these actions “could collapse our nation’s public media system, shutting down stations already struggling in the current media environment.” He said that the loss of newsrooms over 20 years have left significant portions of the population, particularly in rural areas, in “news deserts” without reliable information about key issues.
“When the work of a legitimate press comes under attack, the need for unbiased media is greater than ever to protect transparency and truth,” Swenson wrote.
“We are committed to serving you with innovative programming and investigative reporting, ensuring you are informed and those with power are held to account, regardless of their party affiliation or personal beliefs.”
