c/news · by silence7@slrpnk.net · 1y

The Race to Rescue PBS and NPR Stations

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/business/the-race-to-rescue-pbs-and-npr-stations.html?unlocked_article_code=1.fU8.j_PQ.-EE1Oahj_7j-

The Knight Foundation and other top organizations are aiming to provide $50 million to stabilize the stations most at risk from the recent federal government funding cuts.

154 points · 8 comments · view on lemmy.world

8 Comments

DilbertDooley@lemmy.world · 28 pts · 1y (5 replies)

Wilton Knight, a wealthy philanthropist and industrialist, created the Knight Foundation as a charitable organization. Within it, he secretly established the Foundation for Law and Government (FLAG) to fight crime in ways traditional law enforcement couldn’t. It is a secretive, privately funded, quasi-vigilante group—more philanthropic than governmental—that put Michael and KITT on the road. FLAG’s purpose was to act “outside the system” against criminals who operated above the law.

“To champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, and the powerless.”

Knight Rider, a shadowy flight into the dangerous world of a man who does not exist. Michael Knight, a young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.

VeryVito@lemmy.ml · 16 pts · 1y (2 replies)

Dammit. Because this thread is about journalistic endeavors, I read that as Knight Ridder (US newspaper empire sold to McClatchy Co. in the early 2000s), and was impressed by this origin story… right up until Michael and Kitt appeared. I’m an idiot. An idiot who sorely misses print journalism, but still, an idiot.

troybot@midwest.social · 5 pts · 1y (1 reply)

Your instincts were correct. The actual Knight Foundation was established by John S and James L Knight, co-founders of Knight Ridder Newspaper

VeryVito@lemmy.ml · 4 pts · 1y

Yep, that’s why it took me so long to recognize the “Wilton” story:

dhork@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y

I now have that theme song stuck in my head

devolution@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y

That was such a good show.

UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 1y (1 reply)

Full blown privatization. Might as well rebrand these stations as "The Learning Channel".

Can't wait until PBS is hosting Love Island and NPR is home to Liberal Joe Rogan.

anon6789@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1y

That wasn't my takeaway from the article. This sounded like it would be pooled and divided up to keep as many of the small regional stations operating as possible, and they acknowledge that they won't all make it but they want to save what they can so these pockets of the country are specifically not left to only be served by mainstream for-profit media.

The money is not aimed at PBS and NPR, better-funded national organizations that will survive without government support. Instead, the Knight Foundation and others are focused on the scores of public radio and TV stations that have historically received more than 30 percent of their support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a taxpayer-backed company that announced it would shut down because of the funding cuts. Many of those stations are in rural areas, like remote regions of Alaska and Kansas, where residents don’t have access to alternate sources of news and information.

If anyone is truly interested in seeing NPR/PBS being saved in it's current scope and hasn't yet read the article, I thought it was very worth the read. It's NYT, but a gift link so you can read it all without any hassle.