Urge Congress to Protect Public Media Funding Today!
Do you value and depend on public media for
- unparalleled local news, life-saving public emergency alerts?
- lifelong learning, cultural enrichment and music beyond the ordinary?
- community connection?
Contact your local congressional representatives today to express your support WDET and public media funding. Urge Congress: Save Public Media Funding
Federal funding for public media is under serious threat.
We anticipate that Congress will be reviewing a proposal to eliminate public media funding. The risk to all public media and specifically WDET service is great.
Federal funding to WDET provides almost $300,000 in direct dollars and additional shared services valued at over $200,000 for collaborative things like the satellite system WDET needs to bring you programming like Morning Edition and All Things Considered. It’s the same shared satellite system that allows WDET to share our Detroit stories with the nation.
We are also a part of the Emergency Alert System, which protects lives and the safety of our community.
In total, we would need over $515,000 to replace lost CPB funding — money we simply don’t have.
It’s easy to participate
Important WDET services at risk:
Emergency Broadcasting Services critical to connecting Detroit, the region and Michigan.
Local reporting highlighting community news, features and events that show the richness of Detroit and our region, including the 3-minute hyper-local daily podcast, Detroit Evening Report downloaded to over 100,000 annually and the Detroit-focused two-hour weekday arts and culture show, The Metro featuring more than 250 local organizations and individuals who serve Detroit.
Detroit Reading Information Service (DRIS) provides vision-impaired listeners with a free daily connection, and lifeline to the community. More than 45 volunteer readers support the broadcast of local, community and national newspapers, periodicals, magazines and books. Listeners hear The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, The New York Times puzzles, The Washington Post, The Jewish News, The Michigan Chronicle, EL CENTRAL among others. A ‘station-within-a-station’ DRIS is streamed online and available via a special receiver. DRIS provides more than 12,000 streaming hours each year.
WDET Internship Program inspires the future careers of over 40 students a year with paid, hands-on, real-world professional experience, and prepares the next generation of trusted media professionals.
Get involved
For more news and ways to engage visit Protect My Public Media
Support WDET, Detroit’s Public Radio Station – WDET 101.9 FM