Carnegie Corporation of New York Announces $1.6 Million Support for New York City Public Broadcasting and Programming

Awards Follow $10 Million Pledge to Support Post-Septemer 11Th Needs

AWARDS FOLLOW $10 MILLION PLEDGE TO SUPPORT POST-SEPTEMBER 11TH NEEDS

Grants Support Hard-Hit Public Broadcasting Outlets Which Serve Metropolitan Region and the Nation

The Board of Trustees of Carnegie Corporation of New York voted to fulfill its pledge to support institutions and organizations especially hard-hit after the attack of September 11th on New York and the nation with a series of five grants to public broadcasters who won respect and applause from the public for their community and journalistic outreach since September 2001. 

Two public broadcasting outlets, WNYC Radio and Channel 13 WNET, were both directly affected by the attacks on New York City when they lost their broadcasting antennas, which were atop the World Trade Center. For much of the metropolitan community, both are critical information outlets. Both are public/educational systems dedicated to informing and serving the community and are key sources of news and information. For weeks, the ability of both institutions to reach their audiences was impaired because of the loss of the antennas. Both also had to increase their journalistic output to inform the community about the attack, the rescue efforts and the rebuilding of New York City. The Corporation will award grants of $500,000 to WNYC Radio and to Channel 13 WNET to support their rebuilding and their journalistic and educational commitments to the community.

"When events disrupt the way of life as a city knows it, information is the lifeline of a community," said Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York. "Information that is credible, timely, substantive and responsible becomes critically important to decisions makers and the general public. Although public broadcasting in New York was directly affected by the attack and had to rebuild its capabilities, it never lost a step in its commitment to the public. We believe these grants will ensure that the sound journalism New Yorkers have come to depend on will endure."

Because both institutions and the New York metropolitan community depend on the journalistic abilities of national news organizations and because the ongoing United States War on Terrorism has demanded increased and unanticipated international reporting, the Corporation will also make grants to National Public Radio, Boston's WBUR Radio's special coverage efforts and public television's the NewsHour. All three institutions increased their international and domestic reporting efforts in the wake of the attacks at the risk of their financial health. All three have been recognized for the depth of their coverage of events, the thoughtfulness of their analysis and the importance of the informational services they provide to the public. In recognition of their work and to further their abilities to cover, interpret and report on international events and their national implications, the Corporation is awarding $600,000 in grants. Both National Public Radio and the NewsHour will receive grants of $250,000 and WBUR Radio will receive a grant of $100,000. 

"All three organizations immediately responded to the increased demands of Americans to understand more deeply what led to the attack, the implications of the threat, the role of America in the world, and the diplomatic and political implications of the war on terrorism," said Susan King, vice president, public affairs at Carnegie Corporation. "The national journalistic response was impressive, analytical and instinctive, but it was soon clear that the post-September 11th news demands would test journalistic resources. We believe this support will permit the kind of journalism these times demand, and will serve the metropolitan New York community and the nation."

Carnegie Corporation of New York was created by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote "the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding." As a grantmaking foundation, the Corporation seeks to carry out Carnegie's vision of philanthropy, which he said should aim "to do real and permanent good in the world." The Corporation's capital fund, originally donated at a value of about $135 million, had a market value of $1.7 billion on September 30, 2001. The Corporation awards grants totaling approximately $75 million a year in the areas of education, international peace and security, international development and strengthening U.S. democracy.