Don't Forget the Facts About NPR Funding

Juan William's abrupt firing from National Public Radio and hiring by Fox News seems to have kicked up an old debate over whether public radio should still receive federal funding. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has funded public radio since its creation through an act of Congress over forty years ago. In the past week, Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich have all said that this policy should be re-examined. NPR actually receives a lot less money than people might think it does (a fact drummed into listeners' heads every time a membership drive comes along). The NPR website is quite clear about the organization's sources of funding, and the past few years' financial reports are available for download there. Money from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and federal, state and local governments accounts for less than 16% of total funding for public radio stations