Public Broadcasting Braces for Possible Cuts Under Scott Walker's Budget Plan

Hall, D. (2015, February 8). Public broadcasting braces for possible cuts under Scott Walker's budget plan. Retrieved February 18, 2015, from http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/public-broadcasting-braces-for-possible-cuts-under-scott-walker-s/article_38a8f9f3-7a0c-5522-9b97-3c09f229546d.html

Governor Scott Walker has proposed a budget cut in Wisconsin state funding, including a $150 million a year cut to public television and radio networks. "It’s unknown how much of that cut, if approved by the Republican-run Legislature, would trickle down to public broadcasting" but public radio stations are already preparing to ask for donations and grants. Nationally, restoring funding to public broadcasting is trending now that the national recession is no longer an issue. Governors in Florida and Indiana have appeased to the trend. But Assembly Speaker Robin Vos “doesn’t have a problem with the proposed cut because with so many media options these days, government should no longer subsidize one particular outlet." Public radio stations now have to think about what program to cut, which will most likely be from local radio. NPR and PBS programs are the core to their public broadcasting, so of course the public broadcasting networks would not cut those first. Public broadcasting needs to also keep in mind that "both public TV and radio have some large fixed costs that cannot be whittled down, including memberships in organizations that provide core programming for their stations." Although they are hopeful, public broadcasting networks are not extremely confident they will get enough funding in time to cover all of the costs of their programs. 

This is the first time I noticed public radio broadcasting and public television broadcasting thought of as one unit. I always thought of both public networks differently, but I guess now in the government's eye they are seen as one public broadcasting unit. It disappoints me that those supporting this budget plan don't want to put an emphasis on public broadcasting anymore because of other popular forms of media. They don't see the importance of supporting public broadcasting. This worries me because many other people think similarly and have the mindset that radio, especially public radio, is an "old" form of media and "boring." I do not want government officials to think that same way too. I would hope the government would support other forms of media that are not Twitter or other social media platforms. I would at least want government to support public radio broadcasting as everyone should have the right to media, even through public broadcasting. Radio is not a "lost" form of media, even though many people regard it that way.