Podcasts can save public media (seriously)

"Public media outlets entered 2025 on a wave of unease between declining on-air audience, waning underwriting revenue, post-election news fatigue, and the looming uncertainty about federal funding. The latter sadly became a reality on July 18 when Congress voted to claw back $1.1 billion in public media funding, leaving NPR, PBS, and more than 400 member stations across the country to figure out what to do next."

"John Oliver won't always be able to auction off $1 million Bob Ross paintings in support of public media. Elvira likely doesn't have multiple Teslas to donate to NPR. And while audiences have stepped up to help bolster their local stations, public media can't rely on pledge drives and the "good old ways" of keeping budgets intact when they're competing for the same fundraising pool as a growing list of Substack writers, Patreon creators, and other independent and for-profit media."

"And without these funds, 15% of public media stations are at risk of closing in the next three years, particularly in news deserts, rural communities, and tribal areas. The clock is ticking. It's time for a radical reconstruction of public media: what it can do, why it matters, and how it can sustain itself for the benefit of its community. Stations need a sustainable source for growth, both in audience and revenue."

Public media entered 2025 facing declining on-air audiences, waning underwriting revenue, post-election news fatigue, and looming federal funding uncertainty. Congress clawed back $1.1 billion on July 18, leaving NPR, PBS, and over 400 member stations to address major shortfalls. Traditional fundraising methods and high-profile donations cannot replace stable revenue, placing 15% of stations at risk of closing within three years, especially in news deserts, rural communities, and tribal areas. A radical reconstruction is necessary to redefine public media's mission and sustainability. Stations need sustainable audience and revenue growth, with podcasts positioned as a primary pathway for recovery in 2026.

Read at Nieman Lab