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With Indiana’s state budget providing zero dollars to support 17 public radio and television stations for the next two years, a news team that provides content for the stations is being dismantled.
Indiana Public Broadcasting News, made up of eight reporters, is part of Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations Inc.—a nonprofit that historically distributes appropriations from the state budget to stations that are affiliates of PBS and NPR.
According to an email obtained by IBJ, Indianapolis Public Broadcasting Stations Inc. informed Indiana Public Broadcasting News reporters and editors Tuesday that their positions will be terminated at the end of December with possible exceptions for bargaining unit employees.
Although Mark Newman, executive director of Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations Inc., told IBJ he’s unable to comment on personnel matters, he said the news team is reducing its output after the Indiana Legislature removed $3.675 million earmarked to support public stations in the fiscal year that began July 1.
“The elimination of $3.675 million is something that our stations feel directly,” Newman said. “It prevents those stations from being able to pay dues [for Indiana Public Broadcasting News]. As a result, we find ourselves in a situation where we have to reinvent, streamline and come up with ways to still produce statewide news.”
Newman said public stations will rely more heavily on news shared by reporters who work for fellow stations.
The Indiana Public Broadcasting News staff includes Brandon Smith, a Statehouse reporter who hosts “Indiana Week in Review” on WFYI-TV Channel 20.
“Obviously not news I’m happy to share,” Smith posted on social media Tuesday afternoon. “Really proud of our team and all the work we’ve done. If you know of any job opportunities, send them my way!”
Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations Inc. also cited “the threat of potential federal funding cuts” in a statement issued Tuesday.
In June, members of the House of Representatives approved legislation to eliminate upcoming federal funding for NPR, PBS and other public media outlets. The Senate has yet to consider the proposal.
Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations Inc. was founded in 1979, and Indiana Public Broadcasting News debuted in 2015.
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This is a travesty.
This was predictable.
Shameful.
Peanuts! The small amount of funding can be made up easily. The claims of layoffs next year seems to be call for help, which should come if folks actually do care, $3.7M is not that much these days. Also Remember, the new cig tax should bring a new $Billion to the state coffers.
Ready to contribute Kevin or just observing from afar?
I contribute every year Steve, do you ?
I’m most amazed how quick wfyi announced this within one week of the bbb being passed, almost seems like they were waiting for, or needed an excuse.?
I’d rather divert this money to teachers or paving a road.
Ohh… but this money when to property tax breaks that’s going to cut income to cities and counties.
Remember, you get what you pay for.
Well…here’s the deal…Legislature isn’t doing much if that either.
The point is, that they find this expendable and simply want to cut.
It will show up in lots of ways David…and they aren’t going reallocate those “cut” $$ either even when they’re good investments of tax payer $ in services…think child services, kids in the system, and soon rural medical care.
Racing to the bottom in a state that is already frequently very close already.
guess what, buddy: this money won’t be going to either of those things.
A very balanced and thoughtful group. When this team – in Indiana(!) – has been declared as too extreme, you know the crazytown pendulum has swung way too far.
No one is claiming they are extreme. Something called the internet has rendered publicly supported news-gathering irrelevant.
Way overdue and glad to see the cut.
The political class–legislators, governor’s office, et al.,–are glued to watching/listening to Brandon Smith’s Indiana Week in Review program. They want to know how their State House antics play. They also revel in hearing their names mentioned. I think they’ll miss it. Governor Braun, I’m talking about you.
Very sad to see all of this go. The Star does so little local reporting that we rely on public radio and the IBJ. The Friday commentary by Brandon and crew was a great insight to the happenings in Indiana politics. This will be a loss.
Why do all of the legislators think they know what is best for the populace. Seems like all are now afraid of “free speech” which is the foundation of our original government. It is becoming very concerting they way both state and local government are beginning to control our information sources and thought.
Cutting majors at public universities and financial support of public radio/tv is consistent with GOP mentality and the belief that the less educated, diverse, and informed the public is the better off they are – especially those at the top. For their blind followers who argue these things are no longer necessary and a waste of time and money . . . you prove my point.
Embarrassing mutt activity
Why should ANY government fund “the news”???? libs so no conflict of interest here bc they know “public broadcasting” is nothing but a front for a leftist slant on the news…however, that’s not the point!!!! I wouldn’t care if they praised Trump 24/7..government shouldn’t fund what is supposed to be its own watchdog!!
It just really boggles my mind that people just continually believe this ridiculous false headline. The fact of the matter is that these people were covering local news stories. things like the fire that killed those four little girls, or the fact that they closed the school district without any public conversation. The fact that you just want to keep letting a small subset of corporations dictate to you what they think you need to know versus what has a vested public interest is beyond me.