Whether you’re a Ken Burns documentary fan, a daily listener to “Morning Edition” on NPR, or like to keep track of Indiana politics with “Indiana Week in Review” that is broadcast throughout Indiana on public radio and TV stations, our Hoosier broadcasting landscape is more diverse and stronger because of the 17 public radio and TV stations that are on the air throughout Indiana – in Merrillville, South Bend, Elkhart, Fort Wayne, West Lafayette, Muncie, Indianapolis, Bloomington, Vincennes, and Evansville. These stations are also your fellow IBA members.
But the future is up the air for public stations, which get a large portion of their operating funds from public dollars. Listener and sponsor support still funds most of public broadcasting’s budgets, but government funding has been part of the equation since the 1960’s. In an eleventh hour move, the Indiana Legislature recently eliminated more than $4 million in state funding for public media. It was unprecedented and done at nearly the stroke of midnight during the General Assembly’s recent session.
Regrettably, the federal government is poised to make another body blow to public broadcasting, with the White House asking Congress to zero-out public funding entirely.
Now is the time – if you’re concerned about the health and vitality and survival of public broadcasting – to contact Indiana Senator Todd Young to encourage him stop the de-funding effort. Find out how at: www.ProtectMyPublicMedia.org. I’ve done that, myself. And then I renewed my membership with my local Hoosier public broadcaster.
Whether you agree or disagree with the political motivations behind these moves, it’s difficult to argue with the substantial benefits of public radio and television.
I was only second grader in Crawfordsville when WFYI-TV signed on-the-air in Indianapolis, the result of a comprehensive campaign supported by commercial TV stations in Indianapolis and carried out by Ardath Burkhart’s army of volunteers. IBA honored her efforts just last year, by adding Mrs. Burkhart to the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame. Without Ardath, there would likely not be public TV or radio in our capital city. Similar stories exist for public stations throughout Indiana. Communities rallied to bring those stations on the air.
Back in 1970, it was my Mom who sat me down in front of the black-and-white TV that had its antenna pointed to the WFYI transmitter some 45 miles away in Indianapolis. WFYI was signing on the air, and she wanted me to pay attention to a new educational show that helped me learn to read – a Children’s Television Workshop program called “Sesame Street.” Later, I would serve almost two decades on WFYI’s Board of Directors.
Yes, I’m politically conservative. Yes, I understand those who consider nationally-produced public programming to have a left-leaning bent. But I also know the incredible value of listening to “Morning Edition” and I can’t wait to see Ken Burns’ take on the American Revolution when it premieres – only on public TV – in November, as we ramp up for our nation’s 250th birthday.
If you believe, as I do, that we are stronger with a mix of voices and opinions and thoughts, then I urge you to reach out to Senator Young and also to make a pledge now to help our public stations at the time they need it most.
Dave Arland, Executive Director
