WICN Gains Donors After Losing $100,000, Testing New Norm 1 Year On
Updated
Updated · Spectrum News 1 · Jul 21
WICN Gains Donors After Losing $100,000, Testing New Norm 1 Year On
1 articles · Updated · Spectrum News 1 · Jul 21
Summary
$100,000 in lost federal support has not stopped Worcester NPR station WICN from increasing listeners and donations over the past year, station leaders said.
An 18% budget hit followed the cancellation of about $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, leaving WICN uncertain at first before members, foundations and volunteers stepped up.
Melanie LeBoeuf said the bigger test is now sustaining that support and growing it, as the station leans more heavily on community and arts-and-culture partners.
Federal funding is difficult to restore once cut, LeBoeuf said, making WICN's community-backed model increasingly central to its long-term outlook.