Tennessee Public Broadcasters Stand Firm Despite Federal Cuts

A significant shift in the funding for public media broadcasters – such as the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR) – occurred after comprehensive historic Congressional budget reductions. Despite this, representatives from Tennessee’s public broadcasting stations are standing their ground and promising to maintain their services. Less than a month since these substantial cutbacks occurred, Tennessee’s PBS and NPR administrators addressed their local constituents with a clear message: they are resolved to persevere.

On August 7, Nashville’s PBS premises saw a local audience gather for a unique live taping of the regional talk show ‘Slice of Community.’ Typically, the program hosts discourse on community activities featuring local leaders and political figures. However, this particular episode focused on the television and radio broadcasters themselves.

During this unusual installment of the show, several notable figures took part in the discussion. Avery Hutchins, head of WCTE in Cookeville, Becky Magura from Nashville’s WNPT, and Mack Linebaugh, the content and audience lead at WPLN, Nashville’s NPR station, took the stage. The loss of federal funding and its implications on their stations formed the crux of the conversation.

‘Power comes from unity,’ Hutchinson succinctly put it. ‘Many hold us in high trust. That’s worth remembering. We must concentrate on our strengths and remember our purpose.’ The Federal cuts, dubbed the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’, surprisingly eliminated funding for the not-for-profit Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Created in 1967, this is the first time CPB finds itself without federal support.

CPB’s share of federal budget was minuscule, at 0.01%, equivalent to about one dollar per citizen annually. Yet, its importance to local broadcasting services like Tennessee’s PBS and NPR stations cannot be overstated. They relied upon this funding for variety of offerings, from news delivery to educational programs and even crucial emergency alert systems.

Originally, public radio and TV stations across Tennessee were slated to receive about $7.4m from CPB for the current financial year. Without this funding, stations find themselves urgently looking for additional ways to finance their operations. Hutchins, whose station is the sole television broadcaster within a 75-mile radius, called the cuts severe, as they amounted to 40% of her station’s budget.

Data provided by PBS reveals diverse dependence on CPB among different stations. While Nashville’s station relied on CPB for 20% of its funding, Cookeville’s station leaned on it for 40%, Lexington 45%, Memphis 21%. Chattanooga and Knoxville straddled between 30% and 45%. Collectively, these stations provide essential services to over six million individuals, covering several neighboring states and largely rural territories.

Foreseeing the grim circumstances following the cuts, she pointed out the vital role her station plays in the sparsely populated upper Cumberland region, which has poor cell service and limited other sources of information. For isolated communities in these rural areas, Hutchins’ station WCTE is their go-to source for everything from weather reports to Amber Alerts and other emergencies.

Magura, another participant in the discussion, labelled the funding withdrawal as a ‘significant setback.’ She emphasized the unique value these stations add to public life, which is not easily replaceable. ‘We represent the public’s media. If you believe in public services – schools, health, highways, then you would believe in public media. It means everyone has free access to over-the-air, online, and on-the-ground media that mirrors and represents them,’ she explained.

She also shared the uplifting news of the extraordinary support they had received over the past weeks. Linebaugh, from Nashville’s NPR station, echoed her sentiments, expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support they received from the local audience.

During a fundraising event the previous week, their radio station announced that they had already recuperated the $400,000 in funding shortfall, thanks to their largest and fastest fundraising event in the station’s history.

Following the session on ‘Slice of Community,’ Magura, speaking from the heart of the public broadcasting world, expressed her appreciation for the consistent backing their station has received. ‘I hope people will understand that we’re unyielding in our commitment to keep broadcasting—that we’re determined,’ she said.

However, she was clear about the need for ongoing support from the community. ‘We need them! We can’t do it without them. Their continued voice and support will be crucial for us going forward.’