For more than 60 years, Prairie Public has been here — through blizzards, elections, harvests, and hard times. We're not stopping now.
We are determined to keep broadcasting. We are determined to keep showing up for you. And with your support, we will.
The loss of federal funding represented over 18% of Prairie Public's annual budget — about $2.1 million per year
Without federal funding, Prairie Public now depends on you — our members, our neighbors, our community — more than at any point in our history. Member support has always been our foundation. Now it has to be our lifeline.
Can you help us fill the gap?
Prairie Public is essential to our region. Here's why.
Prairie Public is a vital resource for North Dakotans and Minnesotans.
As a free, over-the-air service, Prairie Public reaches audiences that other media cannot, particularly in rural communities with limited access to reliable news and information.
Our podcast Prairie Beat and the North Dakota NewsRoom keep listeners and readers informed about the stories that matter most.
Prairie Public preserves local history and culture.
Through thoughtful storytelling, Prairie Public produces original documentaries and programming that celebrate the people, places, and events shaping our region. And series like Prairie Mosaic, Prairie Musicians, and Prairie Pulse shine a spotlight on the artists, communities, and conversations that make this region distinct.
Prairie Public helps prepare children for success in school.
Prairie Public is North Dakota's source for PBS KIDS, whose early educational content is rigorously researched, tested, and proven to help children learn.
Prairie Public also provides local free educational tools for educators, including our Prairie Public Learning Express mobile trailer, which has brought hands-on learning materials to schools, libraries, and homeschool groups across our broadcast region.
Federal Funding For Public Media
A Brief History of Events
In 1964, Prairie Public (then KFME) signed on as the first educational television station in North Dakota. A few years later, the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 was signed by President Johnson, creating the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
After 58 years of federal support, Congress voted to rescind $1.1 billion in previously approved CPB funding at the request of the Trump administration, which had also signed an executive order directing CPB to stop distributing funds to NPR and PBS.
CPB's board voted to dissolve the organization entirely in January 2026. In March, a federal judge ruled parts of the executive order unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds, but noted the ruling had limited practical effect since CPB no longer exists.
What This Means for Prairie Public
The loss affects more than our bottom line. Without federal support, our ability to pay dues to NPR and PBS — which fund the national programming our audiences rely on — is under pressure. We remain committed to the journalism and programming that have defined us for over six decades. But sustaining it now falls to our community.
How To Help
Listener and viewer support allows us to provide wholesome programs for children, worldwide travel adventures, first-rate theater performances, thought-provoking documentaries, exhilarating drama, and local news and productions that reflect the people of the prairie region, plus quality PBS and NPR programming. It's everything you expect from your region-wide public media network.
Member support has always been the heart of Prairie Public. Today, it's also our future. Here's how you can help protect public media in our region.
Become a Member
Monthly giving is the most powerful thing you can do for Prairie Public right now. If Prairie Public has ever kept you company during your daily commute, helped your child learn to read, or kept you informed during a storm — this is your moment.
Increase Your Support
Already a member? From the bottom of our hearts: Thank you.
If you're able to increase your monthly amount — even by $5 — it makes a real difference. Every dollar helps us close the gap left by the loss of federal funding.
Speak Up to Support Public Media
Your voice makes a difference. If you believe Prairie Public should continue to receive state and federal support you can:
- Encourage your ND representatives to provide state support.
- Urge Congress to restore vital federal funding to public media.
- Connect with Protect My Public Media to learn about their efforts to restore public media's federal funding.
Words from Prairie Public Supporters
