Sidebar: PBS fights thoughts of federal cuts with online campaign

As public television and radio station’s employees feared the worst when talks continued in Congress calling for federal funding cuts, PBS and CPB united to create the online campaign “170 million Americans for public broadcasting.”

The initiative works to unite the 170 million viewers who use the 368 public television stations, 934 public radio stations and hundreds of online services connected to public broadcasting.

“Public broadcasting content is now available through broadcast, cable, satellite, satellite radio, the Internet, and wireless devices,” according to the 170 million Americans for public broadcasting website. “Public broadcasting is committed to a multi-platform presence, to be available anywhere at any time to the public it serves.

Public broadcasting rallies around this central mission to fight for federal funding

PBS reaches a wide range of demographics through television and worked further its reach online by creating an Internet-based campaign that connects viewers and commissions them to contact their local representatives in Congress pleading for the federal funds regularly designated for public broadcasting.

This campaign was essential in continuing federal funding in the recent budget debates in Congress, Bayman said. Viewers support through the web and television mediums helped public broadcasting fight for funding, she said.

“I believe in PBS so much,” KSPS volunteer and viewer Loyce Lewis said. “I believe it is the best thing on TV. PBS is quality stuff.”

No matter political affiliation, KSPS hopes its viewers will continually contribute to the cause, Starkey said.

“We are not political,” Starkey said. “We just present the stage and invite you to be a part of it.”

With the 2011 budget secure, public television and radio stations will continue to guide viewers to the 170 million Americans for public broadcasting campaign as the site has proven to be a formidable source against the recent government onslaught, Starkey said.

With the emergence of online networking, voters have a powerful voice and can affect the future of public broadcasting, Bayman said.

“The trend is going to be more online,” Bayman said. “And we want to be where there has been incremental growth.”

With the success of the online campaign, KSPS will continue to fund raise and combat the fund raising issue knowing its efforts goes to help its 30,000 viewers throughout Washington, Idaho, Montana and Canada.

“We want to be here for you with the programs you want to watch,” Starkey said.

However, the staff at KSPS knows the success of the campaign will not insure exemption from future federal funding cuts.

“The scare is nowhere near gone away,” Bayman said. “The 2012 budget is where the real fight will be. We won this battle, but the real war isn’t over.”

Dawn Bayman:

Email: dawnb@ksps.org

Phone: (509) 994-6700

Patty Starkey:

Email: starkey@ksps.org

Richard Strauch:

Email: rstrauch@whitworth.edu

Phone: (509) 777-4587

Tara Lambert:

Email: tlambert@whitworth.edu

Phone: (509) 777-4435

Loyce Lewis:

KSPS volunteer