A small public radio station in rural Western North Carolina is facing challenges as the Trump administration moves to cut federal funding. Despite this, the management of Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR) reassures the community that the station won’t close down.
Earlier this month, President Trump issued an executive order directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies to stop federal funding for NPR and PBS. BPR, which serves as the NPR affiliate in Western North Carolina, currently receives about $300,000 annually from this funding.
BPR’s CEO, Ele Ellis, stated that if the cuts go through, they will start to feel the impact when their new fiscal year begins on October 1. She emphasized that while they won’t shut down, raising an additional $300,000 each year will be a difficult feat.
The station, which has 22 staff members, faces low morale as employees realize they will need to secure funds they previously didn’t have to pursue. Ellis expressed that the team is grateful for their listeners and members and is working hard to engage the community for support.
BPR is essential to its 14-county service area, including some rural regions, where residents depend on the station for local news and crucial emergency information, especially during events like Hurricane Helene. Ellis notes that larger cities may not understand the ramifications of losing this funding, which affects the emergency systems essential for alerting communities to disasters.
According to Ellis, local radio provides crucial information, such as where individuals can access clean water and food during emergencies. She feels it is wrong to target these local resources when they are more vital than ever.
While some critics argue that NPR is biased, Ellis believes that their coverage is balanced and important for local communities, and she hopes critics will recognize the value of local stations like BPR.
Noting research that shows decreasing local journalism leads to increased corruption and lower civic engagement, Ellis has urged listeners to support BPR through charitable donations. She highlighted that local public radio costs taxpayers less than a dollar a year, and the funding is essential for services like alerting listeners to emergencies.
As the Trump administration continues to address government spending, Ellis remains hopeful that people will see the value in supporting local media, which plays a critical role in fostering informed communities.
