NPR CEO Mocks Huckabee's Call to Defund Channel – Says Government Contributions Are Insignificant
Posted by Jim Hoft on Thursday, October 21, 2010, 12:04 PM
Rodney Ho at the Atlanta-Journal Constitution was the first reporter to interview NPR CEO Vivian Schiller on Juan Williams’ firing.
She claims it was not the first time Juan Williams stepped over the line.
Q: So did Juan really get fired over just those Muslim comments? [He said he was uncomfortable with Muslims dressed in traditional garb on airplanes during a Fox News telecast yesterday.]
A: There have been several instances over the last couple of years where we have felt Juan has stepped over the line. He famously said last year something about Michelle Obama and Stokely Carmichael. [The quote on Fox News last year: Obama "has this Stokely-Carmichael-in-a-designer-dress thing going" and that she'll be an "albatross" for President Obama.]. This isn’t a case of one strike and you’re out.
Q: So this is obviously not an isolated incident.
A: There’s so much misinformation on the blogosphere, it’s nuts. This has been an on-going issue. When he does that, when anybody does that, it undermines their credibility as a journalist or in Juan’s case, a news analyst for NPR. Those two things cannot go together…
Q: Mike Huckabee is now saying NPR has discredited itself and should have federal funding revoked.
A: Yes, I heard that. This has become a political issue. My God, I’m shocked!
Q: Could NPR live without federal funding?
A: Let’s go on a sidebar. There’s a misperception about federal funding and public radio. There’s the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. They receive $90 million a year and a vast majority goes to member public radio stations. Those stations pull in more than $1 billion collectively a year. It’s significant and important but not even close to the lion’s share of revenues for public radio. NPR gets no allocation from CPB. Zero. We are a private 501(c)3. We’ve had journalists call up and ask what department of the government we report to. That’s laughable. Have you listened to our shows? We do apply for competitive grants from the likes of the Ford Foundation and the Knight Foundation. As a result, some money from CPB does come to us when we win grants. Depending on the year, it represents just one to three percent of our total budget.
Q: What is your annual budget?
A: $160 million a year from station fees and dues, corporate underwriting, philanthropic contributions from individuals and corporation and earned income and earnings from our endowment.
By the way… It was Think Progress and the Soros-funded Media Matters who raised a stink about Juan’s Stokely Carmichael comments, too.
If NPR CEO Vivian Schiller is so unappreciative of the government contributions to NPR then she shouldn’t miss the cash if Republicans move to defund the far left news outlet.
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Centra commented:
defund them NOW!!
Edouard commented:
Fine. If the taxpayer funding for NPR is so insignificant, we want all of it back. Permanently.
Granny commented:
Here is what Wiki has to say about NPR funding -
According to the 2005 financial statement, NPR makes just over half of its money from the fees and dues it charges member stations to receive programming. Public funding accounts for 16% of the average member station’s revenue, with 10% of this coming in the form of grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a federally funded organization.[14][15][16] Some more of that money originates from local and state governments and government-funded universities subsidizing member stations’ fees and dues to NPR.[17] Member stations that serve rural and “minority” communities receive significantly more funding from the CPB; in some cases up to 70%.[14] About 2% of NPR’s non-membership created funding comes from bidding on government grants and programs, chiefly the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; the remainder comes from member station dues, foundation grants, and corporate underwriting. Typically, NPR member stations raise funds through on-air pledge drives, corporate underwriting, and grants from state governments, universities, and the CPB itself.
Over the years, the portion of the total NPR budget that comes from government funding has decreased. During the 1970s and early 1980s, the majority of NPR funding came from the federal government. Steps were taken during the 1980s to completely wean NPR from government support, but the 1983 funding crisis forced the network to make immediate changes. More money to fund the NPR network was raised from listeners, charitable foundations and corporations, and less from the federal government.
[edit] Underwriting spots vs. commercials
In contrast with commercial radio, NPR does not carry traditional commercials, but has advertising in the form of brief statements from major donors, such as Allstate, Merck, and Archer Daniels Midland. These statements are called “underwriting spots”, not commercials, and, unlike commercials, are governed by FCC restrictions; they cannot advocate a product or contain any “call to action”. In 2005, corporate sponsorship made up 23% of the NPR budget.[18] NPR is not as dependent on revenue from underwriting spots as commercial stations are on revenue from advertising.[citation needed]
[edit] Joan Kroc Grant
On November 6, 2003, NPR was given over US$225 million from the estate of the late Joan B. Kroc, the widow of Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s Corporation. This was a record—the largest monetary gift ever to a cultural institution.[19][20] For context, the 2003 annual budget of NPR was US$101 million. In 2004 that number increased by over 50% to US$153 million due to the Kroc gift. US$34 million of the money was deposited in its endowment.[21] The endowment fund before the gift totaled $35 million.[19] NPR will use the interest from the bequest to expand its news staff and reduce some member stations’ fees.[citation needed] The 2005 budget was about US$120 million.
[edit] George Soros grant
In October 2010, NPR accepted a $1.8 million grant from George Soros, given through his Open Society Foundation.[22]
Paul A'Barge commented:
Take a look:
“http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&biw=1240&bih=725&q=NPR+CEO+Vivian+Schiller&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=”
This is the mutt who thrives on your tax dollars.
Aren’t you happy now?
toby928 commented:
Says Government Contributions Are Insignificant
So, no great loss then. Thanks.
Militant Conservative commented:
National=Federal=Government.
Thus
NPR=Government Radio
Government Radio=Propaganda
powder is dry, defund right after the swearing in and the ethics trials.
tarpon commented:
Well if then … So if they don’t need the money we sure do.
olm commented:
Good, then defund and the wackos can do whatever they want. No more public money, period.
NPR=NSR and change the name too.
newton commented:
“Says Government Contributions Are Insignificant”
So why are you not privatizing it and paying for it YOURSELVES? You have the money, after all!
Not to mention, doesn’t Daddy Soros give you plenty of money for it? NPR can accept blood money for all I care!
If Soros pays, I don’t want to. NPR can accept blood money
WE SHALL PAY NO TAX MONEY FOR YOUR GARBAGE! NOT ONE CENT FOR TRIBUTE, NPR!
Jingo commented:
The CEO says they won’t miss the federal money. Perfect.
This interview should be Exhibit A in the bill to defund NPR.
Ed commented:
“Insignifiant” That’s good..then you won’t miss it when they defund you…..
Spike commented:
Is Rodney really a Ho?
Rock commented:
Hey if the money is so insignificant, defund now, I’m Sure George Soros will be more than happy to carry the financial load for National Progressive Radio. Should end some of the confusion as to the groups true roots and agenda.
Paddy commented:
Defunding NPR/NPB is not enough. Kill them. Fire all of their employees, sell off the assets, and let the market place replace them, if replacement is useful and can be cost effective.
While the next Congress is at it, the rest of the government sponsored enterprises, such as Fannie, Freddie, Amtrak, and the Postal Service should be privatized. Ending the cost and subsidy drain, and revenue from sales and new tax payers will be substantial.
This proposal is win/win for sure.
jojo commented:
Heh-
Charles Jaco has room for Juan and Rick Sanchez under his fake palm tree!
Taqiyyotomist commented:
Paul #4
I wonder how many Saabs she owns.
How many island paradises, seaside resorts, and mountain villas does she frequent (or own)?
BABYLON.
That is the only word you need to know about today’s progressives.
Taqiyyotomist commented:
Rock #14
Damn good comment.
If it’s so insignificant, why all the panic?
Reaganite Republican commented:
If it’s insignificant he wont miss it, eh
De fund NPR Feb 2011- cut them off and let them choke in the marketplace like Air America.
And NPR was right when they saw the TEA Party as a mortal threat… we are. Congress will be hounded relentlessly until we’re no longer paying for this little Psy-Op ministry…
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