Public television station WUCF has decided to cancel its weekly “Newsnight” program after facing funding cuts at the state and federal level.
This year, central Florida PBS stations lost nearly $2.5 million in funding due to the loss of federal funding for public broadcasting and cuts to state-level support. “NewsNight” invited journalists from other news organizations to talk about education, politics, the environment, and other current events.
Host Steve Mort shared the news during the show’s final broadcast on October 31st.
“Our mission at WUCF is clear: We change lives. We are at a crossroads. WUCF’s recent loss of state and federal funding forces us to make difficult decisions about how best to advance that mission,” he said. “I would like to thank the many journalists who have joined us over the past six years, both professionally and personally, as we dig deep into the issues affecting our communities and highlight the important work of our reporters who keep the Central Florida region informed.”
A WUCF statement said the agency’s goal is to “refocus staff efforts on producing regular content and resources that support lifelong learning in Central Florida.”
“Through these changes, our mission remains the same. We are here for Central Florida, and we are not going anywhere,” the statement continues. “Your support means everything. If ever there was a time to support WUCF, it’s now.”
Rick Brunson, senior lecturer in journalism at UCF Nicholson School of Communication and Media, said canceling Newsnight is a loss to the community.
“What I really liked about NewsNight is that they cover specific stories in depth every week. They bring in reporters and journalists who cover those stories and issues as part of their day-to-day jobs,” he said. “We’re able to understand some complex issues by using the perspective of journalists who are on the ground covering certain things every day. I think this was a unique service for Central Florida viewers, and it’s a real shame that it will no longer be on the air.”
Central Florida Public Media, an NPR affiliate in the greater Orlando area, faced a funding shortfall of about $400,000 due to state and federal funding cuts. Branson said it was “heartening” to see community members come together afterward to support the station financially.
“While people are reacting to the loss of state and federal funding, I hope people will continue to react to preserve the jewels of public media in our community. Both WUCF and Central Florida Public Media offer programming not available in other media outlets in our community,” he said. “They dig deep. They spend more time on the story than is typically possible in other commercial mediums. They’re extremely valuable to the information ecosystem here.”
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