LESSONS FROM WIU’S DEFUNDING OF TRI-STATES PUBLIC RADIO

Tri-States Public Radio coverage area

We continue to see reader interest in our reporting about the situation in Macomb, Illinois, where Western Illinois University (WIU) has announced they will eliminate almost half of the station’s funding as of March 1, 2019.

There isn’t much new news from Macomb. None of the people involved in the situation are making comments except for a memo from WIU’s President, Dr. Jack Thomas that we will discuss later in this story.

We’ve been monitoring TSPR’s streaming audio and it sounds like station management is taking prudent steps to deal with the crisis. WIUM hosts are telling listeners the facts of the situation. Many popular programs are being cancelled.  For instance, Classical music from WFMT has been cancelled.

Disagreements and budget cuts at university owned stations happen occasionally but the WIU situation is unique for several reasons:

• Typically when universities slash funding for their broadcasting licensees they do so as of the end of a fiscal year. Often licenses taper off funding for a year or two so that they don’t impair the service to the public and allow for planning. WIU does not say why funding will be stopped as of March 1, 2019.

• Communication from WIU’s leaders has been unusually cold and lacking in empathy about people who will be impacted by their decisions, particularly TSPR’s listeners and donors.  It feels like the Golden Rule doesn’t apply at WIU.

• WIU appears to be assuming that nothing major will change in TSPR’s programming and community service as of March 1 when the money tap is turned off. The administration’s stated position is that TSPR will continue broadcasting as usual by using money that is available to them from other sources. This assumption is naïve and is not based in reality.

Dr. Jack Thomas

WIU’s poor public image is also complicated by the fact that President Thomas is trying to flee the scene.  Local news reports say Thomas is interviewing for jobs elsewhere. This not a positive "optic." It looks like Thomas is exiting to avoid the consequences of problems he was partially responsible for creating.

On Tuesday (8/21) Dr. Thomas posted his thought in a memo on the WIU website [link] that said, in part:

"In recent news regarding Tri States Public Radio funding, there is inaccurate information circulating that the University is eliminating the station. This is not true. The station will no longer receive appropriated funding (approximately $453,000) from the institution after March 1, 2019. Station management was notified August 10 regarding the change to the station's funding."

"Effective March 1, the radio station will become a self-funded department within the University structure and will be responsible for generating its revenue needs, including personnel expenditures. After March 1, the station's financial obligations, including payroll, may be met through non-appropriated fund sources, as necessary."

Dr. Thomas is not addressing important parts of the story. When he says “…the station's financial obligations, including payroll, may be met through non-appropriated fund sources…” he apparent doesn’t realize that the “other sources” of funding, such as money from CPB, are mandated for specific purposes and are not to be used as general operating funds. He doesn't have a crystal ball to say whether there will be enough money from “other sources” to keep TSPR on the air after March 1.

ADVICE FROM OUTSIDE EXPERTS

Three current or former public radio station managers have volunteered their perspectives and advice. None of our “guest experts” want their names used because of fear of being caught in the middle of a touchy dispute the doesn’t involve them. One manager told us: “With this much chaos, there are likely lawyers waiting in the wings.”

• One of the experts advocates getting closer to the licensee, sort of like “we are all in this together”

“If I was in this situation I would have issued a statement acknowledging disappointment while at the same time acknowledging that WIU is facing difficult decisions because of the Illinois budget debacle. Then, offer to work together with WIU to find solutions.”

• A second guest expert recommends a much different approach:

“This is the time to make bold moves to protect the station by creating another potential licensee. Have the Friends group incorporate and tell WIU that in the future all funds raised by TSPR will go through this organization.  Take advantage of the fact that WIU will have less leverage over the station when they quit funding it.”

“As soon as the alternative organization is in place start a ‘Save Tri-States Public Radio’ campaign to fund the new alternative entity. This kind of campaign will get national support. It will also get local support because of WIU’s poor handling of this situation.”

“Consider forcing WIU’s hand by having the Friends organization file suit in federal court for an injunction to stop the WIU’s cuts based on the misuse of CPB funds.”

• Our third guest expert recommends a simpler approach:

“Play for time. It is obvious the current President of WIU won’t be there much longer. Things will likely change with a new administration. Work out a deal with NPR to delay payments for Morning Edition and ATC.”

We are half-serious and half-joking with the last option: Go after  some of WIU’s Leathernecks football money.

There have been no cuts (that we are aware of) in WIU’s support of the WIU Leathernicks football program.

The Leathernecks compete in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), the nations’ top Division I-AA league.  Fan interest in the Leathernecks is tepid at best. During the 2017 season, an average of 2,700 fans attended home games in the 17,000-seat Jack Hanson Stadium.

Observers say that WIU’s investment isn’t worth it because there is so little interest in the team. According to NCAA disclosure documents, in 2017 Leathernecks football cost WIU $3,258,851.

Money is wasted everywhere in the football budget. For instance the team has 10 assistant football coaches.   According to the NCAA documents, WIU spent at least $325,000 on these 10 assistants. WIU did not divulge the amount paid to the head coach.

WIU reported no income from radio and television broadcasts of the games. In the NCAA documents WIU says the football program benefits 105 participating students, roughly $31,000 per student.

Preseason polls say the Leathernecks are expected to finish seventh this season in the MVFC. The 2018 season kicks off on August 30 when the Leathernecks host Montana State at Jack Hanson Stadium. Montana State is favored by 20 points.