With Possible Loss Of Funding, MPR Aims to Raise $1 Million in Five Days.

In response to President Trump’s executive order to eliminate federal funding for NPR and PBS, alleging a liberal bias in news reporting, Minnesota Public Radio has doubled down in its efforts to raise donations during its annual spring member drive beginning today, with a goal of raising at least $1 million, according to an email sent to its members.

The regional radio network, which offers its 46 stations three services — MPR News, adult alternative “89.3 The Current” KCMP, and Your Classical MPR — says its member drives account for nearly 20% of overall membership revenue, with funds going to the general operating fund, according to Minneapolis’ KARE-TV 11.

Minnesota Public Radio President Duchesne Drew told the station that the cut in federal funding could lead to an estimated $7 million loss annually, which would significantly impact MPR’s ability to produce quality content and could result in layoffs.

In a post to social media, KCMP said, “Public media audiences know how vital this federal funding is to support the news, music, and cultural programs you love. We offer these public services free and without paywalls because we stand by a fundamental belief that a vigorous and independent press is essential to ensure the functioning of a free society, and that public media provides unparalleled value to our society.”

MPR’s fundraising efforts are part of a nationwide effort from stations impacted by Trump’s efforts to defund public media to fight back against the proposed measures, which NPR called “an affront to the First Amendment,” while the Corporation for Public Broadcasting said the White House had “no legal authority” over the company.