DoomsdaysCW#NorthCarolina Central’s public radio station #WNCU to face federal funding losses
By Ronni Butts Updated July 28, 2025
"N.C. #CentralUniversity’s radio station, WNCU, 90.7 FM, has lost its Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027. On July 18, Congress passed a rescission bill that eliminated over $1 billion in CPB funding already allocated for PBS and NPR affiliate stations, including WNCU. WNCU gets about 15% of its revenue from CPB grants, according to station general manager Lackisha Freeman.
Freeman, who has worked at WNCU in various roles since 2006, said losing that money will be a challenge, but not one that they can’t overcome. 'This moment is urgent. But we’ve faced challenges before — and overcome them together,' she told The News & Observer in an email.
The station’s audit from fiscal years 2022 and 2023 shows CPB funds provided over $100,000 of WNCU’s more than $1 million annual budget. Stephen Fusi, chief brand officer for #NCCU, said officials don’t know yet whether the university will step in to cover the lost funding. “The scale and specifics of the potential impact have not yet been fully communicated,” Fusi told The N&O in a statement. “As more details become available, NCCU will carefully assess the implications and develop an appropriate strategy to address any funding challenges while striving to preserve the station’s valuable service.” Freeman said the station is developing new fundraising strategies and plans to do additional on-air fundraising and reach out to its corporate donors for extra support. Freeman said WNCU has been 'sprinkling in messaging' in its scheduled fundraisers about the need for support amid threats to public broadcasting.
" 'We’ve seen our listeners rally behind us without even soliciting. As of yet, from the news that came down this past Friday, we saw donations . . . coming in,' she said. But, she added, 'Things are going to be very tight for us.' Though WNCU is mostly a music station specializing in #jazz, it does air news coverage through its collaboration with #NPR. The station features programs like #Democracy Now!, #SNAPJudgment and The Measure of Everyday Life. WNCU is one of two NPR affiliates in Durham. #WUNC, 91.5 FM, which offers extensive coverage in politics, arts and culture, raised $1.3 million in a special fund drive last week. But CPB funding may not be all NCCU’s station loses.
"Earlier this month, the Trump administration received confirmation from the Supreme Court that it can begin cutting more than a thousand jobs in the #DepartmentOfEducation, moving it closer to President #DonaldTrump’s goal of eliminating the department altogether. This could put the #TitleIIIGrants that also help fund the radio station at risk. Losing those grants would be 'detrimental,' leading to a loss of about 50% of WNCU’s revenue, Freeman said. The station would have to scale back operations, she said. 'We’re going to push until we can’t do it anymore,' she said."
Source: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article311478189.html#storylink=cpy
#CBPFundingCuts #CPB #EducationCuts #CollegeRadio #KeepingUsInTheDark #TrumpSucks
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