Update from the CEO

The following letter from WFYI President & CEO Greg Petrowich was shared with WFYI donors and stakeholders on Wednesday, March 4, 2025. It has been reproduced here in its entirety.

WFYI Friends,

If you’ve been following the news, then you know we are seeing a multi-pronged effort to undermine trust in PBS and NPR and reduce or eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private nonprofit organization funded by American taxpayers which provides universal access to fact-based news and educational programming among other things. Scrutiny of PBS and NPR has intensified through several key actions:

• The leaders of both PBS and NPR have been summoned to appear before a DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) House subcommittee to respond to accusations of "systemically biased content.”
• The Chairman of the FCC has ordered an investigation into PBS and NPR for potential violations of underwriting or program sponsorship rules.
• Bills have been introduced to freeze or revoke funding for public media.
• NPR was removed from its office space at the Pentagon.

This level of Government involvement in decisions regarding how media organizations conduct their activities is unprecedented and some would say is dangerously close to censorship.

Is this about efficiency?

As a taxpayer, it heartens me to know that public media provides incredible value for such a small investment. The $545 million currently appropriated by Congress for the CPB amounts to about one one-hundredth of one percent (0.0073%) of the federal budget. That works out to be about $1.60 per person per year.

That minimal investment ensures access to trustworthy news, educational resources and cultural programming for ALL Americans — regardless of income or geography.

We have fund drives. Why can't public media just pay its own way?
 
Most of our funding comes from our community, via donations from individuals and sponsorships from businesses. For WFYI, federal dollars make up just 11% of our annual revenue. For some stations, federal funding is a much larger portion of their financial model and cuts would have a significant impact on operations.

Are the critics, right? Is public media biased?
 
We have heard this accusation. Bias is in the eye of the beholder, so no two people are likely to perfectly align on what it is.
 
Public media seeks to present diverse perspectives and context beyond the headlines. Here at WFYI, we occasionally hear from listeners who think we're too liberal — AND those who think we are too conservative. We intend to be neither. For nearly 35 years, I have worked with public media journalists who take their responsibility of reporting the facts as their number-one mission. As the saying goes, we are committed to reporting the truth with neither fear nor favor.

What can I do to help?

It is my belief that the voices of Americans who value public media have the power to preserve it. I'm not asking you for a donation today. If you believe as I do that having a strong and independent press is critical for democracy, I am asking you to make your voice heard.

• Contact members of Congress. One easy way to do that: go to protectmypublicmedia.org. You'll find more information and a form to send an email urging lawmakers to protect public media funding. 
• Learn more about Protect My Public Media Day on March 6, 2025, a national day of advocacy to defend the funding that keeps public media strong and share why public media matters to communities. Find out more at protectmypublicmedia.org.

Most of all, please stay connected to WFYI content. Engage with us at events, advocate on our behalf within your own circles of influence and encourage others to support WFYI with contributions or testimonials…. Your voice goes a long way.

Should you have any questions or comments you’d like to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for assistance or to share your thoughts. Thank you again for all you do for WFYI.

Sincerely,

Greg Petrowich
President & CEO