Louisville Public Media leaders overwhelmed by support while facing federal funding cuts

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Public media outlets are sounding the alarm as they prepare to lose billions of dollars in federal funding.

Flyers are plastered outside the Louisville Public Media building, asking for donations. LPM learned last week its likely going to lose $376,000 of federal funding.

Congress approved President Donald Trump's $9 billion cut to public broadcasting and foreign aid with $1.1 billion of those cuts coming from public media.

The White House says the public media system is politically biased and an unnecessary expense.

More than 1,500 local public TV and radio stations rely on that money.

"It basically puts more pressure on those other revenue streams in future years, and it also does force us to take another look at what's in our budget and see where we're able to trim, which is honestly a thing that media companies are doing across the board," LPM's Vice President of Revenue Ellen Oost said.

Supporters across Kentuckiana helped relieve some of that pressure. In 24 hours, LPM got $400,000 in donations, surpassing that federal funding hole.

"This is the kind of support we're going to need in the future, and I think sometimes it requires almost losing something to realize how valuable it is," Oost said.

Oost said they're celebrating filling that funding gap for now, but it's not over and now they're looking into the budget for years to come.

To donate, click here.

You can also support public media by adopting a station online.

The House passed the bill by a vote of 216-213. It's now on President Trump's desk where he's expected to sign it, making the cuts official.

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