Opinion: ‘You Just Have to Accept that Public Radio Really Isn’t Interested in Saving Itself’
Eric Nuzum argues that public radio has failed to prioritize its own survival, remaining stuck in a broadcast‑centric model despite a decade of digital investment. He notes that over 90% of stations’ audience and revenue still come from traditional radio, and that audience data showing steady interest is ignored. The piece highlights the CPB funding battles and a lack of data‑driven strategy as barriers to change. Nuzum calls for a renewed focus on audience metrics to unlock sustainable, multi‑platform growth.
NPR Lands ‘Remarkable’ $113M in Gifts From Two Donors
NPR announced two major gifts totaling $113 million, the largest ever from a living donor. Philanthropist Connie Ballmer contributed $80 million to accelerate digital innovation, while an anonymous benefactor added $33 million to bolster network sustainability. The funds will support new digital tools, shared...
‘Reveal’ Finds New Footing with Faster, Timely Reporting
Three years after a financial crisis threatened its existence, the investigative radio show Reveal survived thanks to a 2024 merger with Mother Jones, which bolstered reporting resources and enabled a new weekly podcast. The show has shifted to faster, “rapid‑turn”...
New York Community Radio Stations Plan Merger
Radio Catskill, operating WJFF 90.5 FM, announced a merger with fellow Catskills community station WIOX. Under a memorandum of understanding, Radio Catskill will acquire substantially all of WIOX’s assets, including its FM license, and integrate the stations under a single...
Mark Brewer Resigns as WOUB GM
Mark Brewer, who has been with WOUB Public Media for over 26 years and served as general manager since 2016, resigned following an internal investigation that placed him on paid administrative leave in October. The investigation, involving station employees as...
David Brancaccio to Move Into Correspondent Role at ‘Marketplace’
David Brancaccio will step down as host of Marketplace Morning Report next week, moving into a special correspondent role focused on the long‑term effects of economic decisions. The transition follows his 13‑year tenure as the program’s morning anchor and a...
Arkansas TV Creates Fund for Donations Supporting PBS Dues
Arkansas public television announced a dedicated PBS Dues Fund to cover roughly $2.1 million in annual PBS licensing fees after the state’s disaffiliation plan was paused. The fund, managed by the Arkansas TV Foundation, lets donors earmark contributions specifically for PBS...
Colorado Public Broadcasters Explore Merger
Rocky Mountain Public Media and Community Radio for Northern Colorado, the operator of KUNC, have signed a nonbinding agreement to explore a merger. The proposal would combine finance, fundraising and human‑resources functions while keeping both stations locally owned and pledging...
PBS, ITVS Partner on YouTube Channel for Long-Form Documentaries
PBS and ITVS have launched PBS Documentaries, a rebranded YouTube channel that expands the former PBS Voices hub to include full‑length documentary films. The channel inherits more than 316,000 subscribers and 52 million views, and will roll out over 100 new...
KERA Breaks Ground on Headquarters, Prepares to Launch Local News Show
Public broadcaster KERA broke ground on a new 56,000‑square‑foot headquarters in uptown Dallas, replacing its 75,000‑square‑foot facility and featuring a community‑focused floor with a 300‑seat studio and podcast lab. The project is funded by a $97 million capital campaign, including a...
APMG Partners with Tech Company to Streamline Distribution of ‘Marketplace’ Digital Content
American Public Media Group (APMG) has teamed with Distributed Media Lab (DML) to launch a widget‑based distribution system for Marketplace’s digital stories. The new "collection" widget lets public‑media stations embed curated sets of Marketplace articles directly on their websites, eliminating...
WFUV GM Chuck Singleton to Retire
Chuck Singleton, general manager of New York’s WFUV, announced his retirement effective June, with Fordham University planning to appoint a successor by July 1. Singleton has steered the station for more than 15 years, overseeing its shift to NPR membership, securing...
PBS Proposes FY27 Budget that Would Continue Dues Relief for Stations
The PBS board has proposed a FY 2027 budget of $323.6 million, aiming to break even while lowering station dues. Dues are set at $197.7 million, a $29.2 million reduction that continues $25 million in dues relief and accounts for stations that left the network....
CapRadio, KVIE Settle Radio Tower Dispute
CapRadio and Sacramento public TV station KVIE announced a settlement ending a contentious dispute over the ownership of a shared radio tower. The conflict began when the Capital Public Radio Endowment transferred the tower deed to KVIE in 2024, prompting...
Opinion: Public Media Must Invest in Its Technical Future
Public media stations face a looming shortage of skilled engineers as seasoned staff retire and new talent pipelines lag behind. The article argues that hiring retired military communications specialists and establishing formal engineering apprenticeships can close the gap. It also...
