Getting the word out to Native American and Black communities about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines is the priority behind public media’s latest funding campaign.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has awarded more than $300,000 to Native Public Media and to KTSU(FM), a public radio station licensed to historically black college and universities, to coordinate a COVID-19 public outreach campaign.
That campaign, which will reach a total of 51 public radio stations serving Native and Black communities, will be broken down between 36 tribal stations and 15 stations licensed to HBCUs. The goal is to provide fact-based information to populations that have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
[Read: Community Broadcaster: How Stations Fight the Virus]
Figures show that Black and Native people have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus in a widespread manner that spans the country, regardless of location or age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the coronavirus has been far deadlier for Black, Native and Latino Americans than for other groups in the U.S.
Native communities depend on Native American-oriented stations for news and health information and as a local forum for discussion about critical issues, said Loris Taylor, Native Public Media president and CEO. “As in any community, a solid network of partnerships is critical to address Native American and Alaska Native emergency needs. We are grateful to CPB for funding these information campaigns, which address resilience gaps during this time of national emergency.”
NPM, which provides leadership, resources and strategic services to public radio stations across Indian Country, will be in charge of organizing, coordinating and providing financial support to tribal stations to produce and broadcast public service campaigns and other relevant content, such as social media infographics. A series of multimedia materials were produced by NPM and KTSU, the public radio station based at Texas Southern University. KTSU will also be responsible for providing funds to other HBCU stations to help them produce additional content and engagement materials.
“Public media stations, locally operated and highly trusted, are well-positioned to provide critical information to communities hard hit by the pandemic,” said Pat Harrison, CPB president and CEO. “By providing accurate and reliable information about COVID-19 vaccines, as well as the continuing need to wear masks and maintain social distance, these stations will reduce the spread of disinformation and advance the public health of the communities they serve.”
CPB is a founding partner of the COVID Collaborative, a national assembly of leaders from different sectors developing a unified platform for addressing the coronavirus pandemic.
The following stations are to receive public media funding and support as part of the public media campaign.
Tribal stations:
- Alaska: KNBA, Anchorage; KBRW, Barrow; KYUK, Bethel; KCUK, Chevak; KZPA, Ft. Yukon; KIYU, Galena; KOTZ, Kotzebue; KSDP, Sand Point; KUHB, St. Paul; KNSA, Unalaskleet; KRFF, Fairbanks
- Arizona: KNNB, Whiteriver; KUYI, Kykotsmovi; KGHR, Tuba City; KOHN, Sells
- California: KIDE, Hoopa
- Colorado: KSUT, Ignacio
- Idaho: KIYE, Lapwai
- Minnesota: KKWE, Callaway; KBFT, Nett Lake; KOJB, Cass Lake
- Montana: KGVA, Harlem
- New Mexico: KCIE, Dulce; KABR, Alamo; KTDB, Pine Hill; KSHI, Zuni
- North Dakota: KEYA, Belcourt; KMHA, New Town; KABU, St. Michael
- Oregon: KWSO, Warm Springs; KCUW, Pendleton
- South Dakota: KILI, Porcupine; KLND, McLaughlin; KDKO, Lake Andes; KOYA, Rosebud
- Wisconsin: WOJB, Hayward
HBCU stations:
- Alabama: WJAB, Alabama A&M University, Normal; WVAS, Alabama State University, Montgomery
- Georgia: WCLK, Clark University, Atlanta
- Mississippi: WJSU, Jackson State University, Jackson; WURC, Rust College, Holly Springs; WPRL, Alcorn State University, Lorman
- Missouri: KJLU, Lincoln University, Jefferson City
- North Carolina: WNCU, North Carolina Central University, Durham; WRVS, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City; WSNC, Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem
- Ohio: WCSU, Wilberforce
- Texas: KTSU, Texas Southern University, Houston; KPVU, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View
- South Carolina: WSSB, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg
- Virginia: WNSB, Norfolk State University, Norfolk
