Public broadcasters are evaluating the changes they could need to make to staffing or programming after cuts to NPR and PBS.
“It’s a disheartening and disappointing time, but we draw support and we draw strength from our community,” said Robin Cooper, the president and CEO of WYES.
WYES is the local PBS station. They say they’re now facing a 13% cut to their budget, which is about $800,000 a year.
“There’s going to be impact on many different levels,” Cooper said. “Could it affect staffing? That’s certainly something that is still to be considered. Every budget line is going to have to be drilled down on.”
It comes as the White House says the public media system is politically biased and an unnecessary expense, but WYES argues that they help children who don’t have access to preschool learn.
“Whether it’s the favorite children shows that people depend on for their children, all of that could be on the table,” Cooper said.
“We’re hoping that we won’t have to cut anything major,” said Paul Maassen, the general manager of WWNO.
The NPR member station WWNO says a chunk of its budget is now going away too, as they’re losing about $220,000 per year, in a service the general manager says is especially important in weather emergencies like hurricanes.
“Radio is the backstop to the backstop, meaning when power goes out, and all those kind of things, radio becomes a delivery mechanism when cell service goes down,” Maassen said.
Both stations are underscoring the importance of donations, and say they are more valuable now than ever before.
READ MORE:Local public broadcasters impacted by federal spending cuts
