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New Mexico governor approves emergency funds for public media

Current @current.org · 1d

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

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Current @current.org · 5d

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

Current @current.org · 6d

"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 · 6d

“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

Current @current.org · 6d

“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 · 7d

"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 · 7d

“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 · 8d

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 · 8d

“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 · 8d

“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 · 11d

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 · 11d

“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

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Current @current.org · 11d

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 · 11d

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 · 11d

“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 · 12d

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.

PBS North Carolina lays off 32 employees

Current @current.org · 12d

The layoffs were in content and production, marketing and creative, engineering, education, development and finance. current.org/2025/09/pbs-...

Five employees also accepted buyouts, and 16 open jobs will not be filled.

Licensee of WSRE ends PBS affiliation, moves to decertify foundation

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Current @current.org · 12d

WSRE Foundation Vice Chair Amy Day told Current that the foundation is exploring its legal rights. current.org/2025/09/lice...

Trustees at Pensacola State College in Florida voted to end WSRE’s PBS affiliation after fiscal year 2026.

PBS Kids gets into gameplay video with ‘Odd Squad Gaming Unit’

Current @current.org · 13d

The new ”Odd Squad Gaming Unit“ videos provide “a way for kids to speak to kids,” said Abby Jenkins, senior director of content for PBS Kids . ”There was something familiar about it, but something new at the same time.” current.org/2025/09/pbs-...

The new series of YouTube shorts for 5- to 8-year-olds aims to “make things that kids will want to tell their best friends about,” says EP J.J. Johnson.

‘Ye Gods’ show invites celebrities to discuss the rules that guide their lives

Current @current.org · 13d

The new show "Ye Gods with Scott Carter" “fits squarely with ... a priority for us here locally and in the country, which is helping people get through these crossroads in their life from any number of approaches,” says WGCU GM Corey Lewis. current.org/2025/09/ye-g...

Veteran TV producer Scott Carter brings his lifelong fascination with theological questions to public radio.

WNET will not renew operating agreement with state government for NJ PBS

Reposted by Current

Micah Loewinger @micahloewinger.bsky.social · 13d

My employer New York Public Radio just announced that it is offering @onthemedia.bsky.social, @radiolab.bsky.social, and other programs to at-risk public radio stations for free! More info: current.org/2025/09/wnyc...

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Current @current.org · 14d

WNET has been unable to reach an agreement with the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority in the wake of “very significant” state and federal funding cuts, NJ PBS said. current.org/2025/09/wnet...

“WNET ... looks forward to collaborating with New Jersey–based institutions interested in operating a public television network,” NJ PBS said.

KBIA, Kansas Public Radio turn football rivalry into fundraising contest

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Current @current.org · 14d

“We’re all just trying to think of creative ways to fundraise and interact with new donors and new listeners,” said Joanna Fewins, @kansaspublicradio.bsky.social director of development. “So we were right on board from the very beginning.” current.org/2025/09/kbia...

The stations used their licensees' long-running "Border War" to connect with community members who may not be familiar with public radio.

How classical stations are pushing boundaries to deepen community connections

Reposted by Current

Myelita Melton @myelita.bsky.social · 14d

WDAV, Classical Public Radio, is highlighted in our trade magazine "Current" for providing unique opportunities to build community around classical music.

As Assoc Content Director, I'm proud of our efforts taking classical where you don't normally hear it. WDAV.org
current.org/2025/09/how-...

KMFA in Austin and Louisville Public Media host “indie classical” performances, while North Carolina’s WDAV hosts concerts at a brewery.

Cascade PBS cuts 12% of staff

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Current @current.org · 14d

“These are painful cuts to make,” CEO Rob Dunlop said in a news release. “It has an impact both on our community and on the staff who’ve served this region with passion." current.org/2025/09/casc...

The Seattle-based station said it will focus on local productions and end its long-form written journalism.