Last week, Congress approved $1.1 billion in funding cuts for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. That money funds the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio. As a result, Nebraska Public Media is losing up to 16% of its annual budget. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson sat down with General Manager and CEO, Stacey Decker Monday after Decker addressed Nebraska Public Media staff about these cuts.
Stacey Decker: First, I wanted to make sure all the staff knew how much I appreciated the hard work and the product that we create here at Nebraska Public Media, and how much I heard from people across the state, including representation of this state, that they have a great deal of respect for Nebraska Public Media and what we do. And I wanted to reassure the staff that we're going to go into a phase now where we plan for the future. You know, we've been a very fiscally responsible organization, so it doesn't mean automatic layoffs here at the organization, but we'll go into a process now where we will spend a lot of time with staff and people outside of this organization to determine what the future of Nebraska Public Media looks like.
Dale Johnson: Let the listener know how the adjustment will be made as a result of losing that much money.
Decker: Public media has been a forward-funded organization since about 1975 and they put that in place to be somewhat of a protection so that we could be journalists, so we could cover government, and so that forward funding allowed for us to not only be honest and truthful in our reporting, but plan for multiple-year productions, which take a long time these days. Removing that, which was, I'll just add, already appropriated money — Congress had already approved that $4 million a year, $8 million in total – was to come to Nebraska Public Media and other public media organizations across the country, and we budgeted for that. And so removing that has some impact that we're going to have to now, we're going to have to work through. I'll also add that this organization has always been a fiscally responsible organization, so the impact is, while devastating, obviously one we have a bit of time to respond to, but we're definitely going to have a lot of work ahead of us for the coming years to figure out what we look like in the future.
Johnson: Every member of Nebraska's congressional delegation voted for the cuts, yet in the same breath, they acknowledge the value of public media in Nebraska. You reached out to all five representatives, spoke to as many as you possibly could – your thoughts about what they told you face to face compared to the way they voted.
Decker: I'm happy to say – I couldn't agree more, Dale – that they were supportive of Nebraska Public Media, and I received numerous compliments. Mike Flood said this is one of the best public media companies in the country. They were honest with me about the potential for this to pass and willing to work to understand how it would impact Nebraska Public Media to the best of their ability, obviously. It was disappointing that we didn't have any that voted in our favor, but I do think, overall, it was an honest conversation, and I think they respect our organization.
Johnson: You have cost-cutting skills. You displayed that as the assistant general manager, and when you were here earlier. Your Corporation for Public Broadcasting skills dealt with cost-savings strategies, that sort of thing. So your thoughts about what your strategy is going to be going forward with these budget cuts.
Decker: I look at this as a devastating blow to what we know and the tradition of public media as a service to the country. But I also look at the opportunity that comes from change, and media is definitely a changing environment, there's no question about it. And the people here at this organization prove to me every day that they've got the skills to navigate changing waters. I couldn't be more optimistic with the support that we generate from the community of Nebraska, and continued to receive from the community of Nebraska, and I thank them for that, that we have a bright future. We've been here for 70 years, and we're going to be here for 70 more.
Johnson: What differences might listeners notice?
Decker: That's difficult because the content you see today (is) due in part to deals that were struck two years ago, so it's going to be a little delayed. That's the hard part, right? You will likely not see a change to Nebraska Public Media for six months, maybe eight months, so the delayed reaction is a little hard to help people understand. But yes, there will be a difference. There will definitely be a difference in what you see and hear on our air, if we don't receive federal funding. There is still a chance that we could be included in the annual appropriation and still receive the federal money that we had been promised and had been appropriated to public media.
Johnson: I say listeners, selfishly, we have viewers too. We’re thinking of them too.
Decker: And a growing audience on digital. We have a growing audience on digital and I'll tell you, Dale, that that is definitely going to be part of our conversation. Our transition to digital platforms, because the audience is moving there, is important, and it's going to be an important component to the transition and change that you see in this organization. I'm confident in that only because the data shows we have to.
Johnson: I made a note at the meeting, it's a healthy statement from you. “Challenging” – shift your mindset to think of it as an opportunity.
Decker: Have to. With resources like we have, yourself included in that, in my opinion – we have a bright future ahead of us.