The Juneau-based public media outlet, KTOO, which accepted more than $2.5 million in federal grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 2021, has joined National Public Radio in quitting Twitter.
On April 12, NPR tweeted a thread telling its national following that it was leaving Twitter after the platform labeled it as “US state-affiliated media.”
NPR, which has a reputation for broadcasting slanted, left-wing news and features, dropped its 52 Twitter feeds because of Twitter’s decision to prominently display the fact that NPR is partially underwritten by the federal government.
NPR has complained that the Twitter label undermines its reputation and draws into question the outlet’s independence in reporting the news. Twitter has since updated NPR’s tag to read, “Government-funded Media.”
In joining NPR’s decision to quit Twitter, Alaska’s KTOO posted a short tweet on April 13 stating, “We are no longer posting here.”
While Twitter has not labeled KTOO as “Government-funded media,” the outlet is one of more than two dozen public news outlets in Alaska that together accepted more than $16 million in federally-funded Corporation for Public Broadcasting grants in FY2021. The other 27 Alaska stations are listed here.
KTOO’s coverage includes a heavy dose of NPR-affiliated news content, which regularly skews left of center, promoting Democratic Party issues like abortion, LGBTQ politics, critical race theory and the general expansion of government run programs, services, advisories and policies.
In announcing its departure from Twitter, NPR asserted that Twitter’s decision to label it “government-funded media” is “inaccurate and misleading.” The nonprofit then conceded that it does, in fact, accept “less than 1 percent of its $300 million annual budget from the federally funded Corporation for Public Broadcasting.”
But this statement may be misleading as well.
According to NPR’s own financial statements, it is heavily supported by fees from local NPR member organizations, such as KTOO. These groups, in turn, rake in millions from the federal government in order to stay afloat.
NPR then charges these local affiliates to use its content, and also exacts a “core fee” based on how much revenue the member stations generate. The annual revenue from these local stations, however, is comprised of about 13% in grants from the federal Corporation of Public Broadcasting and other state and federal sources.
“Federal funding is essential to public radio’s service to the American public and its continuation is critical for both stations and program producers, including NPR,” the NPR website openly admits. “Public radio stations receive annual grants directly from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) that make up an important part of a diverse revenue mix…”
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The company then notes that these local stations programing fees “comprise a significant portion of NPR’s largest source of revenue. The loss of federal funding would undermine the stations’ ability to pay NPR for programming, thereby weakening the institution.”
It adds: “Elimination of federal funding would result in fewer programs, less journalism — especially local journalism — and eventually the loss of public radio stations…”
In challenging NPR’s outrage over being accurately labeled as “government funded media,” The Federalist posted an article questioning the claim that federal funding comprises a minuscule portion of NPR’s revenue.
“If the government funding provided to NPR is as small and insignificant as the outlet claims, then why accept it at all?” the article stated. “Moreover, if the outlet is so concerned about being accurately labeled as ‘government-funded media,’ then wouldn’t the easiest solution be to reject what supposedly small amount of funding it receives from federal bureaucrats?
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18 Comments
Does anyone think that todays Government would fund any media organization that had a contrary view or opinion of todays Government?
Remaining NPR money, not received from the government (whatever that secret amount is) , is almost all from liberal non-profit, foundations, whose wealthy heirs all have the ‘white guilt’ that comes with driving around in limousines.
Add a few cents from liberal listeners & NPR is totally liberal, totally pro government growth, totally all the time.
George: That is SO fascinating! I’d love to see evidence of NPR’s funding from liberal non-profit foundations. Got any?
And, while this is whataboutism, how about we compare the integrity of NPR and Fox News, specifically Tucker Carlson? Wanna?
Love to!
Tucker tells the truth, both sides.
The federal governmment and any “news” it spreads, which is what NPR does, is to undermine we the people.
Example: Trump has spoken for himself on the boxes and what a joke it is, he was a president, he had every right to all the materials, regardless of classification. Trump also stored these in a secure locatuon with locked doors and security cameras. Biden refuses to speak for himself on the boxes found at four different locations from his time as senator and vice president, he makes spokespeople answer on his behalf. Biden had no right to have any of these materials at any location, let alone unlocked facilities at a university and in an unlocked and unsecured garage at his various homes. Biden was not authosized to have posession of any of these materials, and his reckless behaviour with them shows his disregard for our country.
Lucinda, does any of your tax dollars go to support FOX? I didn’t think so, but your argument is so disconnected from reality I wouldn’t be the least bit surprise if you thought it did. NPR and PBS have been left leaning as long as I can remember. Year ago I finally noticed how left biased those two organization that I started writing my legislatures to stop funding them. Lisa Murkowski is fully in favor of funding them, NPR promotes her. Dan Sullivan also supports NPR. To say the least they are both off my radar for gaining my support, and I’m sure there are plenty others that visit AlaskanWatchman that would agree with my assessment, not your’s.
There are 246 non-profit contributors listed by NPR. Here are just 26 of those 246.
The Annenberg Fondation …. Anne & Micheal Brody … Carnegie Corp … Doris Duke Foundation …. Phyllis & Daniel Epstein …. Ford Foundation …. Harriett & Richard Gold …. Mary Harriman Foundation …. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation …. The Kindela Fund … L’Oreal USA … The Seth MacFarland Foundation …. National Endowment for the Arts …. The Overbrook Foundation …. The Rockefeller Foundation …. Alfred B Sloan Foundation ….. Alice Underwood …. Suzanne K Vogt ….. Wyncole Foundation …. Jeoseph R Zimmel.
Please google any of them or the other 220 I haven’t listed.
Almost exclusively liberal , many run by the heirs of American businessmen, who feel guilty because they were born SO rich
I don’t know about FOX News, as I don’t watch much TV, but! they are a private co. that gets money from advertisers & they have to compete in the marketplace, unlike gov – non-profit funded NPR. That’s an Apple to oranges comparison.
Think about this, if NPR is a MULTI billion dollar industry and the government gives them for argument say 5 million dollars that would be pocket change to them. Do you see my point? So to NPR the $5 million is small but to say you or I it’s a butt load of money. Now Groper Joe said he wanted to stop funding Public Broard cast because it’s not needed anymore and no body listened to it. Again liberals eith no clue and they don’t think about people like Alaska has in Bush communities. All liberals know are big cities and everything handed to them. Liberals really need to get a clue or listen to conservatives. Oh I’m not either of the losser parties. I’m an independent with a brain. I can think for myself. I don’t need a party to tell me what’s good or bad.
Neil: At the end of 2022, NPR had net assets of $510,911,316. That’s LESS than “MULTI billion”s. Get it?
As for your independent brain, cool that you don’t need a party to tell you what’s good and bad. But, as a christian, you DON’T think for yourself – you obey the sheepdog and the sheppard.
How much of that $5,000,000, since it’s pocket change to NPR is funneled right back to the Democrat party?
Showing their true colors.
We have abysmal contact with our legislators. It is truly criminal the little access to attend or listen in and what there is, is complicated for many people. Tonight the house committee has a teleconference for public input regarding HB 105. Good grief. Your only option is a special call in then wait indefinitely. You cannot see anyone. So at least KTOO did visual coverage of some committee hearings. Our legislative session needs to be moved to the central population. Go ahead and keep Juneau as the capital but make the sessions accessible!
Elizabeth, by keeping the capitol in Juneau, we are only funding the “elites” with luxuries they need while being inaccessible to the general population- we pay for it, they use it. Have you ever seen the auctions for Juneau? There is really nice stuff that comes up for auction when remodels are done. Of course, the average Joe won’t fly to Juneau to pick up a nice piece of equipment, art or furnishings. Juneau city can become a ghost town for all I care. But, I know…I know, our focus really should be on surviving the “elite’s” take-down of humanity at this time.
Suzanne Downing’s husband is a former employee of Alaska Public Media and currently serves as the Executive Director of Florida Public Broadcasting. He and his wife live in Florida where they own a home.
2nd husband, who pulls in a comfy 6 figure salary to boot.
Hey Molly. You’re a good spokesperson for fake news!
Molly wasn’t referencing CNN, or MSLSD.
“Elon Musk baaaad” bleat the sheep from in front of their screens.
National Propaganda Radio. Straight up fascism.