The NPR Funding Lie

Recently, NPR in an anti free speech move, fired Juan Williams for admitting the truth about being nervous while flying with devout Muslims. NPR is an extremely liberal organization that receives funding from taxpayers. With the country $13 trillion in debt, why should taxpayers be funding liberal NPR or a conservative media outlet for that matter. Many years ago, people had few choices for news and information and providing diversity may have been desirable. The facts on the ground have dramatically changed over the last 20 years. Most people have dozens of radio stations, hundreds of cable channels and millions of websites on the Internet to get their information from. Why should overburdened taxpayers be forced to support any media outlet of any type of political leaning? NPR apologists claim the amount of public funding NPR receives is a minuscule 1%~3%. (emphasis mine)

NORAH O'DONNELL: It's about 1-3% that NPR receives in some taxpayer money. Most of NPR is funded through their local stations, through corporations, through the people who like NPR, private donations. They apply for grants and then, to the Corporation For Public Broadcasting, and some of that is federal money [try virtually all], so 1-3% is what they say.

If that is true, why do Democrats fight so hard to keep NPR funding? The reason is simple. It is a lie. A significant portion of NPR funding comes from taxpayers. (emphasis mine- red taxpayer, pink mixed taxpayer/private)

According to information available from the NPR website, local radio station money comes from the following sources:

32.1% Individual contributions

21.1% Business contributions

13.6% University funds

10.1% Corporation for Public Broadcasting funds

9.6% Foundation money

5.6% Federal, state, and local government funds

7.6% Other

It is easy to see NPR receives at least 20% of their funding from taxpayers. Also, since individual and business donations are tax deductible, taxpayers are indirectly footing part of that bill.