Governor Rick Scott of Florida has suddenly cut all state funding to public radio and television stations in the state. You can read more here.
The veto means that each one of Florida’s 13 public radio stations, including WMFE in Orlando (90.7 FM) and WJCT in Jacksonville (89.9 FM), both of which can be heard in Flagler County, is losing $61,715.
You might remember that in 2009 WMFE moved its classical service off the main channel to an HD channel, but the news station was doing well and meeting its goals. The Governor called public broadcasting — both radio and TV — a “special interest.”
What do YOU think? I guess I wasn’t very neutral in the headline to this post.
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You know, I am not at all surprised. Nor do I think Florida will be alone here.
On the one hand, Public Television keeps its support announcements for programming neatly basketed at the beginning and end of each program. But, there is tons of it. What is a governator to think?
On the other hand, PubRadio, while it does not interrupt a piece of music, is simply shot through and through during each hour with spot support announcements. And, during pledge drives (I listen to the pledge drives at WNYC and WBGO), we are constantly told that WE are the largest support for the station. Again, what is El Hombre Maximo to think?
Throughout the WNYC fund drive, we are told that government support in minimal. Then, when that thing from the Congressional Republicans about funding cuts hit the news, Laura Walker does a spot in which she cries loud and long about the dire effects of the potential cuts.
Gimme a break!! CPB was marginalized long ago. The reality is, Public Broadcasting no longer means taxpayer supported broadcasting. It means if you want your station to be there, you had better pony up and do something about it.