by Peter Dominowski
November 10-12, 2024, New Orleans LA

I just returned from representing U:SA member stations at the PRIMA conference in New Orleans, the first major public media conference to be held post-election. Many stations were represented, and guests from CPB (Kathy Merritt, Senior Vice President, Radio, Journalism and CSG Services, and Kimberly Howell Inspector General) and NPR (Gemma Hooley, Senior Vice President Member Partnership, Marta McLellan Ross, Vice President, Government and External Affairs, and Edith Chapin, Senior Vice President, Editor-in-Chief and Acting Chief Content Officer).

A wide variety of subjects were discussed, but as you might expect, the potential implications of the recent Presidential election and future funding for public media was discussed both in the sessions and in the hallways.

A few takeaways to share with you:

  • FY 25 & 26 Funds for CPB are already appropriated.  Although there has not yet been any public discussion of this, a recission of some of these funds is always possible.
  • On November 3, CPB released CSG offers to all stations. 70% of your station’s CSG funds are included in that first payment…the remaining 30% of the CSG will likely be available in March. 
  • VERY IMPORTANT: Both CPB and U:SA strongly advise stations to get your station’s first CSG payment NOW…don’t wait. This will assure an infusion of funding regardless of what occurs in Washington.
  • My advice to stations is: hope for the best outcome, but begin to prepare for the worst possible outcomes. Should you need assistance in thinking about this, U:SA is here to help.