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News and opinion about public and nonprofit media in the U.S. https://current.org Sign up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bkLkbf
“We wanted to do something that was a little quieter than the punch-you-in-your-face celebrations of America250,” says StoryCorps Founder and President Dave Isay. current.org/2026/07/stor...
StoryCorps, NPR pair strangers to build time capsule for America’s 250th
The partners describe Connect250 as a “large-scale experiment in human connection.”
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“It’s the rainy-day fund,” said Alabama Public Television CFO Melissa Austin. “We didn’t use the rainy-day fund nine months ago when we unfortunately had to lay off 11 people because of the defunding.” (Via @alabamareflector.com) current.org/2026/07/alab...
Alabama Public Television board votes to pay for public survey using emergency fund
The method of funding drew criticism from members of the authority and APT staff.
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The public notice said the university anticipates that the transfer will occur before the end of the year but that it could be completed next year. current.org/2026/07/wash...
Washington State University plans to sell broadcast license for KWSU-TV
The university announced last year that it was cutting jobs at Northwest Public Broadcasting and shutting down the TV station.
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A limited liability corporation operated by Rocky Mountain Public Media will acquire the six full-power FM licenses of Community Radio for Northern Colorado. current.org/2026/07/rock...
Rocky Mountain Public Media to purchase Colorado stations
RMPM will acquire six full-power FM licenses owned by Community Radio for Northern Colorado.
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“This is our best source of televised OBJECTIVE news — I’m sorry that you deem it harmful because it tells the often disastrous truth that is the Trump administration,” one viewer wrote about “PBS News Hour.” (Via @arkansasadvocate.com) current.org/2026/07/emai...
Emails show viewer backlash over PBS program’s removal from Arkansas TV
Many viewers said they will not keep donating to the network or restore donations they already canceled.
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Peter Dominowski, executive director of the University Station Alliance, called the law “a clear victory for the First Amendment and Freedom of the Press for university-licensed stations in the state of Illinois.” current.org/2026/07/new-...
New Illinois law creates firewall between public media, state university licensees
The law is “first-of-its-kind legislation to safeguard the editorial independence of public media.”
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“The launch of the Black Public Radio Network represents a transformative moment for public media and for the communities our stations serve,” said Ernest Walker, GM of KTSU in Houston. current.org/2026/06/blac...
Black Public Radio Network launches to grow revenue, increase sustainability
Among the network's goals is building national underwriting and sponsorship opportunities.
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The commercial July 4 broadcasts “are wonderful shows,” said Carly Fiorina, national honorary chair of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission. “But you don’t learn what we’re celebrating, why we’re celebrating, the story behind all of it.” current.org/2026/06/two-...
Two marquee PBS specials will celebrate America at 250
"A Capitol Fourth" and "America Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together" feature star-studded lineups and, of course, fireworks.
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The lawsuit claims that Shepherd was fired as a “result of [his] complaints regarding FCC violations.” current.org/2026/06/form...
Former news director sues KPBS for alleged retaliation over potential FCC violation
Terence Shepherd claims he was terminated for raising concerns about profanity on a sign in a station news report.
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“If people lose hope, bad things happen, especially with young men,” says David McCourt, producer of the PBS documentary “Amerigo: The Search for the American Dream.” “That’s not the situation America should be in.” current.org/2026/06/is-t...
Is the American dream a farce? A new documentary from David McCourt aims to find out
Airing on PBS stations next month, "Amerigo: The Search For The American Dream"> attempts to take the temperature of the nation.
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“I want to make everyone feel included, not just the local artists or not just artists that we love, that get their songs played, but the people that listen in,” said Nudia Hernandez, music director of @vocalo-chicago.bsky.social. current.org/2026/06/chic...
Chicago Public Media seeks to revamp Vocalo after nearly ending broadcasts
A three-year grant from the MacArthur Foundation is giving the music station a new opportunity to connect with Chicago audiences.
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The program will adapt the podcast for public radio and “will make trustworthy, practical guidance more accessible to listeners seeking clear, independent advice in their daily lives,” an American Public Media press release said. current.org/2026/06/new-...
New York Times to bring Wirecutter podcast to public radio
The program debuts July 9.
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"We're trying to give people tools that they can use to start to plan not just financial literacy, but also their careers,” says Lee Hawkins, host of the new @marketplace.org podcast "Must Be the Money." current.org/2026/06/new-...
New ‘Marketplace’ podcast aims to bring financial advice to younger, diverse audience
The new video podcast "Must Be the Money" is leaning hard into authenticity and algorithms, and for good reason.
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Creating the Austin City Limits Trust became “absolutely a key strategy once the rescission or elimination of federal funds was a reality,” said @austinpbs.bsky.social CDO Lori Bolding. current.org/2026/06/aust...
Austin PBS seeks $6M to help secure future of ‘Austin City Limits’
To bolster its new Austin City Limits Trust, the station is pulling out all the stops and may even take the show on the road.
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The additional money is going before lawmakers less than two weeks after the public television network’s commission reversed course on its decision to cut ties with PBS. (Via @arkansasadvocate.com) current.org/2026/06/arka...
Arkansas public television set to receive $500K in additional one-time funding
Arkansas’ public TV network would receive additional state funds offered by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders under a proposal that received initial legislative approval.
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KUT GM Debbie Hiott said no one had communicated any disciplinary concerns to her before Monday as a result of the festival’s handling. (Via @texastribune.org) current.org/2026/06/kut-...
KUT GM fired by university after challenging statements about festival security
KUT’s Debbie Hiott believes University of Texas officials terminated her because she publicly pushed back against administration claims that the station’s security plans for an inaugural festival were...
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“The goal was not simply to build the cheapest bid you could. The goal was to build one that’s going to be sustainable,” said Keith Strudler, dean of Montclair State University’s College of Communication and Media. (Via @newjerseymonitor.com) current.org/2026/06/gove...
Governor’s plan to save NJ PBS moves toward finish line
Critics say a state university’s management raises questions of editorial independence.
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“The lessons of ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ are as timeless and relevant today as they were when the show first premiered, and we wanted to look for ways that we could make them easier to find for today’s kids and families.” current.org/2026/06/mist...
‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ seeks new audiences with YouTube expansion
Fred Rogers Productions expects that the new YouTube content will increase overall shareability and help more kids and parents find the show.
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“Public media is going through a transformation of what it looks like ..., and New Jersey struggles to have a Jersey-specific focus from north to central to south to the shore and every single piece,” said New Jersey state Sen. Andrew Zwicker. (Via @newjerseymonitor.com) current.org/2026/06/lawm...
Lawmakers eye funding stream for NJ PBS, local news
New Jersey lawmakers are poised to tap unused film tax credits to shore up the state’s local and public media.
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"Walking tours are an untapped, highly impactful medium for local journalism." current.org/2026/06/take...
Take your reporting for a walk: Why public media should pilot walking tours
Tours offer the opportunity to build trust, boost audience engagement, generate revenue and communicate local news and information.
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The successful fundraising effort to keep PBS on Arkansas TV “truly was an example of the voice of the people being heard,” PBS said in a statement. current.org/2026/06/arka...
Arkansas TV will keep PBS affiliation after foundation raises funds to cover dues
The Arkansas TV Foundation secured about $5 million since March, when the commission paused its plan to end ties with PBS.
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Depending on the outcome of discussions with Moore’s office, a veto override “could be on the table,” said Maryland State Del. Linda Foley. current.org/2026/06/mary...
Maryland governor vetoes advertising set-aside legislation that could benefit pubcasters
The bill’s advocates are seeking a path forward because “failure is not an option,” said the executive director of the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association.
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The five-year contract must be submitted to the legislature for review within 15 days. current.org/2026/06/nj-p...
NJ PBS to be managed by Montclair State University
The university is slated to take over operations of New Jersey’s public TV network July 1.
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Over the last three months, the Arkansas TV Foundation secured more than $2.1 million needed for PBS dues for the fiscal year beginning July 1, according to a news release. (Via @arkansasadvocate.com) current.org/2026/06/arka...
Arkansas TV Foundation reaches PBS dues goal
The announcement comes a day before a state commission is expected to vote on whether to move forward with plans to cut ties with PBS.
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“The gutting of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is an existential threat to an art form that is largely federally funded, unlike most art forms,” said Sonya Childress, founding co-director of Color Congress. current.org/2026/06/repo...
Report highlights risks to documentary films after rescission of pubmedia funding
The loss of federal funds for public media "is hugely challenging for these documentary storytellers,” said report co-author Caty Borum.
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“We’ll be looking at all options, especially as we work through this process and figure out what’s the best avenue,” said OETA Executive Director Shawn Black. current.org/2026/05/oeta...
OETA looks to next governor, legislative session in bid to avoid shutdown
The station hopes a shift in political support could reverse the effects of a veto by current Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt.
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@kcur.org News Director @maddycfox.bsky.social said the World Cup lets the station demonstrate its brand of sports coverage, which is somewhere between “the kind of traditional public media — ‘We don’t cover it very much’ — and daily sports section … way of doing things.” current.org/2026/05/kcur...
KCUR employs all-out approach for World Cup coverage
The station has launched a newsletter, created special podcast episodes and enlisted its entire newsroom to report on the event.
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“Needless to say, it’s a very sad day for Illinois public media,” said Heather Norman, president of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council. current.org/2026/05/weiu...
WEIU-TV ends over-the-air broadcasting
The Illinois TV station lost nearly 80% of its revenue with the rescission of federal funding for public broadcasting.
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Like his previous podcasts, which explored the impact of America’s political past on the present, @jbenbradford.bsky.social wants his new @npr.org show to “use the past to help us think [about] where we are going in the future.” current.org/2026/05/a-ne...
A new NPR podcast dares to ask ‘Are We Doomed?’
Creator Ben Bradford says the show can interrogate the “growing feeling across society that things are falling apart and are less good than they used to be.”
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Indiana Public Media lost $1.4 million in annual funding from CPB with the rescission of federal funding for public media last year. current.org/2026/05/indi...
Indiana Public Media cuts staff
The reduction affected the station's marketing, engineering and television production departments.
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