State funding is a curious thing. It is by nature both benevolent and deceiving.Its benevolence is fairly obvious...in this case, the North Carolina General Assembly many years ago funded public radio at both State Universities and at a small handful of Community Colleges within the NC Community College System (including Isothermal Community College here in Spindale, which holds WNCW's FCC license). For quite a few years, we all enjoyed the benefits of State funding and the sense of security it provided to allow us to pursue our distinct paths toward fulfilling our missions and objectives.
What is deceiving about State funding is it is fickle.
A number of years ago, the NC General Assembly withdrew funding from public radio stations at State Universities (such as WUNC in Chapel Hill, WFAE in Charlotte). If you're at all familiar with public radio, you know that both stations survived and are considered flagships of the National Public Radio network (with WUNC remaining a university licensee and WFAE becoming a community licensee). Well, actually "survived" is an understatement. WUNC and WFAE are models of public radio stewardship and many public radio stations - including WNCW - can learn a great deal from both their success and ability to generate and maintain public support.
The "fickle finger of fate" has now pointed at the three remaining State-funded public radio stations at North Carolina's community colleges. WNCW at Isothermal, WSGE at Gaston College near Charlotte, and Public Radio East at Craven Community College in New Bern. As of this writing, the North Carolina Senate has voted to strip funding for all three stations from the State Appropriations Bill. The NC House appears to be leaning toward following the Senate's lead, particularly in light of recent news that State tax revenues were far below expectations (requiring the House to consider even deeper spending cuts).
Though I have been told by experienced Raleigh-watchers that much of the General Assembly's work takes place within the last 10 percent of its session and nothing is certain until the final gavel pounds and the ink of the Governor's signature is dry...well, I'm a former broadcast engineer and tend to think in terms of being prepared for worst-case scenarios. With each day that passes, and with each gloomy report of increasing budget deficit forecasts that come from of Raleigh, I'm leaning more and more toward the view that State funding for public radio at NC Community Colleges is looking as though its going to go the way of 8 track tapes, 45 RPMs and LPs.
I - and we - can wring our hands and gnash our teeth all we want. However, the bottom line is it's not going to get us anywhere. The State of North Carolina - like most states - is facing a budget crisis of historic proportions and hard choices have to be made. Elected State officials from Governor Beverly Perdue* and Lt. Governor Walter Dalton through members of the Senate and House of Representatives - including those with a deep, abiding respect and love for public radio - are faced with hard choices and are being forced to make some extraordinarily difficult decisions.
I do not envy them...nor would I want to be forced to make the judgement calls they're in the process of making right now.
Public radio is both a noble cause and a community service. I know a significant number of the decision-makers in Raleigh agree. In fact, Governor Perdue's budget proposal included full funding for NC's community college-based public radio stations (Thank you, Governor!). We know we are not without support in Raleigh. For that, we are quite grateful (though I'd like to see a lot more WNCW bumper stickers in the Capital City).
At the same time, thousands and thousands of public education and public safety positions, public welfare programs (for the truly needy among us) and critical state infrastructure funds are facing the budget-cutting ax. Public education...child welfare...public health programs...police, fire and other emergency services. The needs are overwhelming and the State of North Carolina's resources are suffering the same decreases we hear, see and read about each day on radio, TV and in our newspapers.
Yes, public radio is indeed a noble cause. We know that and - by your support of WNCW - you're agreeing with that premise. The folks in Raleigh know that, also. But, seriously...would you rather have the State of North Carolina provide teachers in our schools, doctors and nurses in our hospitals and clinics, adequate public safety officers in our communities...or public radio?
Yeah...that's right. A public radio General Manager just asked that loaded question. Hey, WNCW is not a "normal" public radio service and I'm not a "normal" public radio General Manager.
So...now what?
The funding challenge WNCW, its listeners, members and wide range of stakeholders face carries with it an opportunity - if not an outright, inescapable requirement - to pursue a new funding paradigm...one that accepts the reality of the State's fiscal situation and embraces a new way of looking at things and provides a new, long-term, stable funding mechanism .
Up to now, the State of North Carolina has been a direct partner in this amazing endeavor called WNCW. It will continue to be via the indirect, in-kind, administrative guidance and infrastructure support of our generous and greatly-appreciated license-holder, Isothermal Community College. WNCW's #1 supporter is Isothermal's President, Dr. Myra Johnson. I can say with great confidence (and appreciation) that WNCW is also blessed with the strong support of Isothermal's Board of Trustees.
Whatever our elected officials in Raleigh may decide in the coming weeks, the time has come for all of WNCW's stakeholders...staff, the College, listeners, members, potential members, communities, businesses, organizations, supporters at all levels...to take time to truly evaluate what WNCW means to us, what WNCW could mean to us, and make the commitment to reinvest in the radio station that stands apart from anything else on the regional airwaves...the station about which I hear again and again from listeners "I couldn't do without WNCW."
This is public radio. If we want WNCW to "live long and prosper," we must invest in it. We are - and always have been - the "public" in public radio. The State of North Carolina directly and generously supported WNCW for as long as it could . It should be applauded for doing so. It can no longer provide this support. There are greater needs.
Public radio is both a noble cause and a community service. I know a significant number of the decision-makers in Raleigh agree. In fact, Governor Perdue's budget proposal included full funding for NC's community college-based public radio stations (Thank you, Governor!). We know we are not without support in Raleigh. For that, we are quite grateful (though I'd like to see a lot more WNCW bumper stickers in the Capital City).
At the same time, thousands and thousands of public education and public safety positions, public welfare programs (for the truly needy among us) and critical state infrastructure funds are facing the budget-cutting ax. Public education...child welfare...public health programs...police, fire and other emergency services. The needs are overwhelming and the State of North Carolina's resources are suffering the same decreases we hear, see and read about each day on radio, TV and in our newspapers.
Yes, public radio is indeed a noble cause. We know that and - by your support of WNCW - you're agreeing with that premise. The folks in Raleigh know that, also. But, seriously...would you rather have the State of North Carolina provide teachers in our schools, doctors and nurses in our hospitals and clinics, adequate public safety officers in our communities...or public radio?
Yeah...that's right. A public radio General Manager just asked that loaded question. Hey, WNCW is not a "normal" public radio service and I'm not a "normal" public radio General Manager.
So...now what?
The funding challenge WNCW, its listeners, members and wide range of stakeholders face carries with it an opportunity - if not an outright, inescapable requirement - to pursue a new funding paradigm...one that accepts the reality of the State's fiscal situation and embraces a new way of looking at things and provides a new, long-term, stable funding mechanism .
Up to now, the State of North Carolina has been a direct partner in this amazing endeavor called WNCW. It will continue to be via the indirect, in-kind, administrative guidance and infrastructure support of our generous and greatly-appreciated license-holder, Isothermal Community College. WNCW's #1 supporter is Isothermal's President, Dr. Myra Johnson. I can say with great confidence (and appreciation) that WNCW is also blessed with the strong support of Isothermal's Board of Trustees.
Whatever our elected officials in Raleigh may decide in the coming weeks, the time has come for all of WNCW's stakeholders...staff, the College, listeners, members, potential members, communities, businesses, organizations, supporters at all levels...to take time to truly evaluate what WNCW means to us, what WNCW could mean to us, and make the commitment to reinvest in the radio station that stands apart from anything else on the regional airwaves...the station about which I hear again and again from listeners "I couldn't do without WNCW."
This is public radio. If we want WNCW to "live long and prosper," we must invest in it. We are - and always have been - the "public" in public radio. The State of North Carolina directly and generously supported WNCW for as long as it could . It should be applauded for doing so. It can no longer provide this support. There are greater needs.
Now, it is our turn - our responsibility - to step up to the plate and do what needs to be done.
WNCW needs your support, now more than ever. How can you support WNCW?
MEMBERSHIP - If you are a member and want to express your support with an additional gift, or if you want to become a NEW member of WNCW, please click HERE or call (800) 245-8870. It's estimated that only 1 in 10 listeners to public radio are members. If more listeners became supporting members of WNCW, that would put a HUGE dent in our attempts to replace state funding. Listener support will always be the lifeblood of WNCW.
BUSINESS SUPPORT - If you are a business owner and want to discover the benefits of supporting WNCW as a Business Underwriter, please contact Mike Hiers (WNCW Underwriting Account Manager) at mikehiers@wncw.org or at (828) 447-2307.
MAJOR & PLANNED GIVING - If you're interested in supporting WNCW in a more substantial manner - as a Major Donor or Legacy Supporter - please contact Kate Barkschat (WNCW Development Director) at kateb@wncw.org or at (828) 286-3636 Ext. 326.
