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Penn State approves sale of WPSU to WHYY

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Reposted by Current

Annelise @mxannelise.bsky.social · 1d

I was really afraid the powers that be were going to let WPSU go. Philly and environs will need to step up to raise that $17 million – while not starving ongoing activity

Good luck to them

Current @current.org · 1d

“WHYY has agreed on their own to go out and fundraise and raise money for that $17 million that is needed over the five-year period,” said Sara Thorndike, Penn State’s SVP for finance and business. current.org/2025/10/penn...

WPSU had faced a wind-down in operations after a Penn State board committee rejected a proposed deal last month.

Penn State approves sale of WPSU to WHYY

Current @current.org · 1d

“WHYY has agreed on their own to go out and fundraise and raise money for that $17 million that is needed over the five-year period,” said Sara Thorndike, Penn State’s SVP for finance and business. current.org/2025/10/penn...

WPSU had faced a wind-down in operations after a Penn State board committee rejected a proposed deal last month.

Opinion: Why NPR’s dispute with CPB really is about the First Amendment

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Current @current.org · 4d

"Here’s the bottom line: NPR is defending the First Amendment — for itself, and for every station that wants to make choices about what content it provides to listeners." current.org/2025/10/opin...

NPR’s filing against CPB is a critical step in the fight for stations' protections of freedom of speech and association.

APMG sells ‘Brains On!’ podcast to co-creators

Reposted by Current

Chris Dinn @chrisdinn.bsky.social · 5d

Incredible news for kids who love
podcasts. current.org/2025/10/apmg...

The first episode of "Brains On!" under new ownership will be released later this month.

How a new public TV sitcom is helping viewers talk about mental health

Current @current.org · 5d

The creator of "How Are We Today?" says he used the half-hour sitcom format to explore “mental health issues in an educational, fun and dynamic way” while appealing to modern audiences unfamiliar with other public TV shows. current.org/2025/10/how-...

The creator of How Are We Today? drew on his own struggles to address stigmas around discussing mental health conditions.

Playbook for growth: Treat radio like a vibrant platform and your audience will flourish

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Reposted by Current

Ernesto Aguilar @eaxlr.com · 6d

I was really happy to share these insights for all public and community media to benefit. KQED faced a major struggle to bounce back. Doing so took concerted efforts by many teams.

Current @current.org · 6d

"When public media treats radio as a living platform, when stations breathe creativity into airtime, audiences respond," writes @eaxlr.com. current.org/2025/10/play...

How a cross-disciplinary focus on airtime and audience needs propelled KQED Radio’s ratings surge.

Cost savings become ‘primary concern’ in station scheduling decisions

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Current @current.org · 6d

“Everyone assumed that our listeners would get up in arms if we messed with their “Morning Edition” or messed with Terry Gross, but that doesn’t seem to be the case yet,” says KMUN PD Jack Harris. “I’m mostly getting supportive feedback.” current.org/2025/10/cost...

The loss of CPB funding has prompted radio programmers to reassess the value of every show.

Playbook for growth: Treat radio like a vibrant platform and your audience will flourish

Current @current.org · 6d

"When public media treats radio as a living platform, when stations breathe creativity into airtime, audiences respond," writes @eaxlr.com. current.org/2025/10/play...

How a cross-disciplinary focus on airtime and audience needs propelled KQED Radio’s ratings surge.

APMG sells ‘Brains On!’ podcast to co-creators

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Current @current.org · 7d

The co-creators of "Brains On!" now own the feeds, social media, newsletter, books and rights to live shows for the full collection of podcasts. current.org/2025/10/apmg...

The first episode of "Brains On!" under new ownership will be released later this month.

New Mexico governor approves emergency funds for public media

Current @current.org · 8d

The fiscal year 2026 funding will make up for the loss of federal support through CPB due to the rescission in July. current.org/2025/10/new-...

The state will provide $6 million in additional funding to New Mexico stations to make up for the loss of federal funding.

WKU Public Media cuts one third of staff

Current @current.org · 12d

The station is “working through” a $1.2 million budget hole that was “previously filled through grants from CPB,” said Jordan Basham, interim executive director. current.org/2025/10/wku-...

The cuts were made across the organization and included positions in development, editorial, operations and production.

Future news audiences want public media that’s punchier, weirder and on platforms where they spend time

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Current @current.org · 13d

"Don’t be afraid to fail and let others fail. Let the intern break something." That and more takeaways from a Public Media Content Conference panel featuring @carolineballard.bsky.social and @micahloewinger.bsky.social current.org/2025/10/futu...

At a session at August's PMCC Content Conference, panelists discussed how to reach new audiences through authenticity and experimentation.

Prairie Public lays off employees, cuts open positions

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Current @current.org · 13d

“The loss of federal and state funding has resulted in approximately a 25% reduction in our revenue,” said Prairie Public CEO John Harris. current.org/2025/10/prai...

The state network in North Dakota is dealing with the loss of both state and federal funding.

GBH launches $225M fundraising campaign in the wake of federal funding cuts

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Current @current.org · 13d

“Congress told us to ‘go fund ourselves,’ and that’s exactly what we are going to do,” said @wgbh.org CEO Susan Goldberg. current.org/2025/10/gbh-...

The station is looking to raise the funds over the next three years.

Clinging to distribution is costing NPR a chance to focus on its strengths

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Current @current.org · 14d

"Change requires new approaches. Public media needs a different set of technical tools now and going forward." current.org/2025/09/clin...

By seeking a restraining order, NPR has doubled down on the status quo, caused significant expenditure of resources and put key relationships at risk.

New documentary pays tribute to late, great KUT/KUTX personality John Aielli

Current @current.org · 14d

“John was just so purely himself and gave so vulnerably and transparently, which I think was the spark that drew people in,” says David Hartstein, who co-produced and directed "Faders Up: The John Aielli Experience." current.org/2025/09/new-...

"Faders Up: The John Aielli Experience" hits digital services this month.

CPB pushes back on NPR request for restraining order

Reposted by Current

Ernesto Aguilar @eaxlr.com · 15d

Also pointedly, CPB says this is a grant-making decision, "never a statutory mandate," and that the new org better met CPB’s requirements, including for governance and sustainability.

Current @current.org · 15d

“CPB will be forced by NPR to use valuable resources that otherwise would benefit the public media system to defend this matter,” said CPB General Counsel Evan Slavitt. current.org/2025/09/cpb-...

NPR’s legal action over the future of public radio content distribution was “unfounded, inappropriate and premature,” said CPB’s general counsel.

CPB pushes back on NPR request for restraining order

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Current @current.org · 15d

“CPB will be forced by NPR to use valuable resources that otherwise would benefit the public media system to defend this matter,” said CPB General Counsel Evan Slavitt. current.org/2025/09/cpb-...

NPR’s legal action over the future of public radio content distribution was “unfounded, inappropriate and premature,” said CPB’s general counsel.

NPR seeks restraining order against CPB distribution grant

Current @current.org · 18d

NPR argues that by providing funding to another entity for distribution services, CPB is carrying out an executive order issued by President Trump. current.org/2025/09/npr-...

NPR is seeking to prevent CPB from distributing funds for satellite interconnection to any entity other than NPR.

WNET will cut staff, costs following loss of federal funding

Current @current.org · 18d

“The scope of necessary reductions is being somewhat mitigated by the strong support of members and donors,” CEO Neal Shapiro wrote in a memo to staff. current.org/2025/09/wnet...

CEO Neal Shapiro said in a memo that the organization is “carefully reducing some programs and services to create meaningful savings.”

New nonprofit receives funding for public radio distribution

Current @current.org · 18d

The founding partner organizations are American Public Media Group, the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, New York Public Radio, PRX and the Station Resource Group. current.org/2025/09/new-...

CPB granted the nonprofit $57.9 million over five years.

State lawmaker to receive $206K salary as Arkansas PBS director

Current @current.org · 18d

Rep. Carlton Wing is serving his fifth term in the House and is a former sports broadcaster for Little Rock’s KARK. (Via @arkansasadvocate.com) current.org/2025/09/stat...

Commission Vice Chairman Woody Freeman said he recommended the amount because of Rep. Carlton Wing’s “extensive media background.”

WFAE to leave community space due to funding cuts

Current @current.org · 18d

“The revenue losses we are experiencing require that we reevaluate our priorities, including having a permanent uptown location, to ensure that WFAE’s ability to serve the Charlotte region remains strong,” CEO Ju-Don Marshall said in a press release. current.org/2025/09/wfae...

The station moved some of its operations to the uptown building less than three years ago.

WTTW cuts staffers, scales back ‘Chicago Stories,’ employees say

Current @current.org · 18d

One employee described staffing on WTTW's "Chicago Tonight" as “a shell of its former self” and said “morale is obviously at an all time low.” current.org/2025/09/wttw...

The station reduced staffing on its news program "Chicago Tonight" and cut episodes of "Chicago Stories," according to station employees.