‘Everything is at risk’: PBS Fort Wayne reacts to Executive Order ending its federal funding

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — PBS Fort Wayne is ‘preparing for the worst and hoping for the best’ after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, ceasing federal funding from flowing to NPR and PBS.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, or CPB, will stop funding both media stations. According to the executive order, the CPB fails to abide by the principles of impartiality by funding the stations with taxpayer dollars.

“Which viewpoints NPR and PBS promote does not matter,” the order states. “What does matter is that neither entity presents a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens.”

Bruce Haines, PBS Fort Wayne President and CEO, said without the support of federal funds, there will be a 30% gap, or $990,000, in the station’s annual budget of $3.5 million. Coupled with budget cuts from the recently passed state budget, PBS Fort Wayne is looking at 40% of its funds vanishing.

“This chunk is irreplaceable, you can’t just raise money from more viewers, this is a $1.60 per person per year, it is .01% of the federal budget … that is why I say, without any exaggeration, everything is at risk.”

Haines said the executive order jeopardizes the existence of the station’s five channels and who receives them. With a reduced service, PBS Fort Wayne’s audience of 800,000 people may diminish and would not get the same coverage of national and local weather, arts, health and kid’s programming.

“It’s a part of America’s nature to have customized stations from state to state across the country, individualized service to their communities, we’re not going to give that up.”

Amid funding challenges, PBS Fort Wayne is still looking to add another channel, in partnership with Allen County Public Library. Haines said the station’s sixth channel would be a way for viewers to receive the library’s Audio Reading Service. Expected to launch this month, Haines said it’s one of many locally-tailored programs created to serve those in Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio.

Seven other PBS stations in Indiana face similar challenges with the loss of funding.

“It’s too early and we’re too optimistic. I think we’re too persistent in believing positively that this will reconcile itself. Viewers have contacted Congress. [The Executive Order] will surely move to the courtroom before it will be moved to master control, so we will see how that goes.”