Tri-States Public Radio (TSPR) is not closing despite widespread rumors fueled by the impending expiration of federal public broadcasting funding on September 30.
“We serve our community. We’re not closing our doors,” said Heather Norman, TSPR’s general manager, during a Zoom Q&A session last week. “Public radio is still public without the federal money.”
TSPR broadcasts to Macomb, Galesburg, Burlington, Keokuk, and Warsaw through three transmitters and one repeater.
The station faces a $200,000 annual shortfall—17 to 20 percent of its budget—after a $1.1 billion federal funding cut in July. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes most federal funds to public media, will cease operations at the end of September. It previously received $565 million annually, allocating 70 percent to public radio and television stations.
Norman said TSPR has endured bigger financial challenges before. When Western Illinois University withdrew most of its support in 2017, the station cut staff from 14 to six full-time employees. Since then, it added one halftime announcer. “We are as small as we can be without making drastic changes,” she said.
National Public Radio plans to set aside $8 million to assist stations affected by the cuts. Illinois currently provides $1.6 million annually to public media. Norman said Illinois stations are exploring collaboration to maximize resources.
Community response has been strong. Congress received 3.7 million contacts opposing the cuts, including 33,000 from Illinois, 20,000 from Missouri, and 9,000 from Iowa. “People want to know exactly what’s going to happen, but I don’t know,” Norman said. “Much depends on the marketplace.”
NPR membership and program costs will be key factors. Norman identified “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me” and “Fresh Air” as the most expensive shows on TSPR’s schedule. The station plans to survey listeners about programming preferences.
Norman aims to finalize a new program schedule by October 1. She is also discussing program sharing with stations in Iowa and Illinois to reduce costs.
On her desk, Norman keeps a fortune cookie message she received this summer: “Your greatest opportunity has arisen from adversity.”
