Indiana PBS director says public media isn’t going anywhere despite federal funding cuts

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Trump Administration’s bill to cut over a billion dollars in federal funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting passed Congress and is now heading to the President’s desk, where it will likely be signed into law. 

Indiana PBS Director Mark Newman has been overseeing 17 dual licensing stations across the state, including WFYI in Indianapolis. While NPR and PBS’ funding from the federal government only makes up 2% and 13% respectively, local stations get 30% of their funds from the corporation. 

Newman said that the stations will utilize reserve funds as well as grants and sponsorships, but also readjust. 

“Our stations will also have to change the way they operate; they will have to condense themselves, make themselves smaller,” he said. 

One major concern Newman has about the cuts is how it will affect the stations not just providing the news to rural areas of Indiana to the state but public safety alerts, health alerts and education updates. 

“When you think about the in the context of weather alerts, Amber alerts, silver alerts and all of that public safety content is flowing through public broadcasting,” he said. 

For many years, Republicans looked to defund public media with Indiana Senator Jim Banks saying it has taken a biased turn for Democrats. 

A statement provided by Sen. Banks to FOX59/CBS4 says, “Hardworking Hoosiers shouldn’t be forced to foot the bill for left-wing media or social experiments overseas.” 

Another supporter of the cuts, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) said although he supports the role local media plays in Indiana communities, it needs to reflect state values. 

“When the NPR is not doing that around the world, then you’re not doing the right kind of things to support our efforts to support our rural communities,” he said. 

Newman said that both IPBS and NPR learned from past mistakes and put in more effort to accurately deliver information. 

“There has been work done since then to hire a new editorial team, a new senior editing team to ensure content is being reviewed for accuracy, ensuring it’s representative of the perspective that it’s being reported on,” he said. 

Congressman Andre Carson (IN-07) said in a written statement to FOX59/CBS4, “Public media saves lives, educates our kids, and keeps local journalism alive. House and Senate Republicans voted to drastically slash its funding. I oppose these reckless cuts. Our communities can’t afford to be left in the dark.” 

Right now, both NPR and PBS are suing the administration, saying their First Amendment rights have been violated.