Nebraska Public Media CEO discusses possibility of funding cuts under Trump presidency
By Dale Johnson, Morning Edition Host / Reporter
Dec. 19, 2024, 9:30 a.m. ·

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One of the first “big picture” challenges facing Nebraska Public Media’s new general manager and CEO is a possibility the Trump administration will defund public media. In a recent conversation with Stacey Decker, Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson asked how seriously corporate executives are taking Trump’s threats.
Stacey Decker: We're absolutely taking it serious. We have to, but it's also a time for us to reflect and really to identify with the communities that we serve, what exactly it is we do, from journalism to education to public safety, there are so many things that we do. Oftentimes, people are just unaware. I've been in the public media system now for about 28 years. I've been very fortunate to have worked at a number of different public media organizations, from Boston at WGBH, which is a big organization, to South Dakota, where I grew up. Which, I have a ton of respect for what they do. A small population, small budget, but they really do a lot of really good things for the community. And here in Nebraska, which we’re very unique in a relationship with the state and university where we're very unique in our funding structure. It gives us an opportunity to really look at what we do, communicate with the folks in the state about what we do and then look to them to help support what we do through these times where there are those questions could be raised.
Dale Johnson: Trump has said a lot of things. This is written down. It's on paragraph 10 of Musk's and Ramaswamy manifesto that's out there right now, and they're looking at targeting cuts to corporate Public Broadcasting. That's a pretty clear bull's eye.
Decker: It's a bit early, I think for us to really know how successful they'll be. I think this will all unfold over time, in the next few months, coming year, and we'll be watching it very closely. What I've been told in the communities across the state already in the two months that I've been here is how much people really respect and appreciate what we do for the state of Nebraska. And again, I mentioned it earlier, but we are pretty unique. I've worked at a lot of different places, and I'm proud to say Nebraska has really diversified itself in the delivery and the services we provide to the state of Nebraska.
Johnson: I can hear it in your voice, and I can see it on your face. You light up. You change when the subject of public media comes up from, where does that come?
Decker: I spent about seven years in the Coast Guard. That's where I started my time in community service. Oddly enough, that's what led me to broadcasting. My first job out of the Coast Guard was with South Dakota Public Broadcasting, and that was a job where you had to wear a lot of hats in a small organization. I am passionate about public media. I'm so proud to be back here in Nebraska. I was here 12 years ago as the chief technology officer. I couldn't be more proud to be given the opportunity to come back and now lead the organization. We have a ton of really good people, a lot of great support from the community. We've got some really good things coming in the next few years. I see nothing but opportunity for this organization.
Johnson: Can you name some? This is your chance, Stacey.
Decker: We're going to expand in the digital space. You and I briefly talked before the interview about the changing landscape of media, and it's an “and” problem we have right now. It’s not necessarily a problem, but it's an “and” situation. You know, this is a very diverse state from a from a geographic standpoint, we have the metropolitan areas of Lincoln and Omaha. We've got the western part of the state, which is very rural. We're 33rd in the country for broadband penetration. That's not the best, obviously, but that makes our broadcast infrastructure vital to people out in those communities in the sand hills of Nebraska, and you know, I've spoken with many of them already. I plan to be in communities across the state. This is not Omaha or Lincoln Public Broadcasting, it's Nebraska Public Broadcasting, and I plan to be in some of the communities across the state to hear the needs of those communities, but we have the opportunity to continue to serve the broadcast infrastructure and the broadcast needs, and I think we'll be doing that for a long, long time, but also build a whole new audience with podcasting and the delivery of content through applications. Media is changing drastically, and has changed drastically since COVID, and had been on a path to that for quite some time before. It sped up over COVID, for sure. So we've got to add a few things. We also have to become very data aware. Data is something I'm very passionate about. You know, I spent a good portion of my time in public media, in technology, so I have a great respect and appreciation for technology, and think that technology is the key, actually, to us expanding our audience, remaining relevant, and providing new opportunities and service to the state. And we're going to look at that. We've got great technologists in this organization. I've got relationships with people in and outside this organization that that will help us find a path to future success through new investment in in some of these platforms.
Johnson: It's good to have you back in the building.
Decker: Thank you, Dale.
Johnson: We'll draw on that excitement.
Decker: I'm excited.
Johnson: I can feel it in this room. Stacey Decker joining me. He is the new general manager, CEO for Nebraska Public Media. This is Dale Johnson. Thanks for listening to Nebraska Public Media News.