Why a senator’s side deal to protect tribal stations might not be enough
Tribal stations appear to have been spared from the loss of their CPB Community Service Grants as of Oct. 1.
Before agreeing to support the rescission package that stripped $1.1 billion from CPB for the next two fiscal years, Sen. Mike Rounds, R–S.D., secured a commitment to provide $9.4 million for 35 Native American radio stations and one TV station through the Department of the Interior.
But those funds, which were previously appropriated to DOI for other purposes, might not be enough, according to Native Public Media President and CEO Loris Taylor.
Related Knowledge Center: State of the business model
The traditional journalism business model has long since collapsed, and news organizations have shrunk or disappeared entirely. While a number of promising experiments are under way, the public has not shown a willingness to buy what news organizations are selling.
Related Knowledge Center: Local media
The hollowing out of the local news ecosystem has been well documented; in some communities, efforts are underway to reverse the growing news desert.