Indiana legislature eliminates public media funding in biennial budget
Jasont82 / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Indiana State House in Indianapolis.
State lawmakers zeroed out funding for Indiana’s 17 public media stations in a two-year budget approved early Friday.
The cut amounts to $3.675 million per year, according to a statement from Mark Newman, executive director of Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations. The complete elimination of state funding to public media came without “advance warning or explanation,” he said.
“While we understand the gravity of the state’s $2.4 billion budget shortfall projection, the complete zeroing out of funding — without dialogue or compromise — was both unexpected and unconscionable,” he said in the statement. “The ramifications will be felt across Indiana.”
While it is possible Republican Governor Mike Braun could use a line item veto to save the funding, Newman told Current in an email, Newman doesn’t expect that to happen. The legislative session has concluded.
The elimination of state funding in Indiana lands as public media stations nationally digest reports of a Trump administration proposal to rescind $1.1 billion in forward-funded CPB appropriations.
In Indiana, state funding to public media stations has been stable, Newman said in the email. IPBS, which distributes state funding to eight public TV stations and nine public radio stations, learned of the cuts on Wednesday.
“We have a friendly and respectful relationship with the Indiana General Assembly and Governor’s office,” Newman said. “We’ve enjoyed a longstanding partnership.”
The financial impact on Indiana stations will vary, Newman said. For a small rural radio station it may amount to 30% to 40% of its budget.
At WFYI in Indianapolis, state funding accounts for $590,000, or 5% of the station’s budget, according to a news release. The organization operates both television and radio stations in central Indiana.
“The lack of state funding will undoubtedly affect our operations and our ability to provide essential services to our community,” said CEO Greg Petrowich in the release. “We are deeply concerned about the impact this will have on our viewers and listeners across the state.”
“Our commitment to our mission remains, to deliver trusted journalism, inspiring stories and lifelong learning,” Petrowich added.
WBOI, an NPR station in Fort Wayne, receives about $60,000 annually in state support, GM Travis Pope said in a news release. The funds cover about 5% of the station’s budget.
“Not having these funds will damage our ability to make the news and music that is important to Hoosiers available in all the ways that are important to Hoosiers. It is that simple,” Pope said.
WNIN in Evansville would lose about $446,000 per year, according to a story reported by its newsroom.
“We’re not going to shut our doors but it is an extremely difficult amount of money for us to find,” CEO Tim Black said in the story. WNIN operates both radio and television stations in southwestern Indiana.
Indiana legislators can go straight to Hell for cutting funds for public broadcasting.
I sincerely hope they never “serve the public” ever again for their stupidity and lack of respect for their constituents.
Shame on them.