CONGRESS HAS ELIMINATED FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PUBLIC MEDIA

Update from Ryan Howlett, CEO, Friends of SDPB

The loss of federal funding has been a hard hit for public media—and for SDPB. But if there’s one thing we know about South Dakotans, it’s that we don’t back down when the landscape shifts. Like the bison, we face the storm head-on. This challenge doesn’t intimidate us—it energizes us.

We’re having important conversations—within our team, across our communities, and with our national partners—about what SDPB and public media will look like next. There are still unanswered questions, but we’re leaning in with optimism, creativity, and the confidence that comes from knowing the strength of this state.

We are up to the challenge. With your support and our shared vision, we will build a stronger, more resilient SDPB. The future is not something to brace for—it’s something to shape. And together, we’re ready to charge forward.