Skip to main content

The weak pulse of public broadcasting in Seattle?

 



Good takeout on what mandated cuts for PBS and NPR would mean for Seattle Public Radio and Cascade PBS. Quick sample from article with link to full story below:

If these defunding efforts succeed, they will likely do real harm to local news. KNKX has warned that it would lead to “difficult decisions and sacrifices at the expense of access to local journalism.” KUOW has signaled that it would “immediately need to raise 1 million dollars” to offset the loss in federal funding.

https://www.postalley.org/2025/05/10/defund-public-media-the-news-landscape-in-washington-state-shows-why-thats-a-bad-idea/

Thanks to a reader for passing this info along.

Comments

  1. And thanks to you for sharing it with us. I knew The Seattle Times relied on some philanthropic funding, but I didn't realize that it was funding a full 20% of the newsroom. That is concerning, especially with the cuts that are being made to federal grants right now and the decline in people making charitable donations due to the economy. As for KUOW and KNKX, they have some difficult decisions to make. I hope that those in our region who can afford to donate chip in to help preserve the local news coverage we all need and deserve.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rebecca Stevenson has left KOMO

 "I am no longer at Komo 4." Thanks.  Longtime Weather Anchor Rebecca Stevenson confirms that she left the station just before Christmas.  Her last Facebook posts are 12/17.  She has the Seattle station Quintafecta, having worked at the old NWCN, KING, KIRO, KCPQ and KOMO.  Looks like her decision.  Wants a new chapter.   She was doing mainly weekend evenings for KOMO.  Perhaps Stella Sun will move there.   She has been sharing weekend mornings with Theron Zahn.    

Where is Frankie?

Many have missed KIRO 7's weekend PM weather anchor, Frankie Katafias, so I reached out to some of my sources to find an answer.    She is apparently taking a few months of leave, but not known specifically what the reason may be.  Although there is uncertainty, it could be a personal or family matter.   I am told she is expected back at some point in the new year.  She is a great asset to what has become a troubled station.  Meanwhile former KOIN Portland chief met holds down the fort.

Frankie Flees KIRO7

 UPDATE:  Frankie got married!!! Acting on tips from two of my loyal readers, I see that Weekend Weather Wizard Frankie Katafias is indeed missing from the KIRO 7 website.  Freelancer Scott Haveson filled in this past Sunday and we know that reporter Brandon Thompson has hit the weather wall in the past as a fill-in.   No word on if Frankie fled on her own or was told to.   She came to Seattle in 2022, so maybe it was a three-year deal that ended?