From Station Manager Rich Culbertson of KMUD and Redwood Community Radio
A message to everyone who values free speech, community safety, and a media landscape open to all voices — and especially to the supporters of KMUD Radio.
We’re delighted to share some truly uplifting news: Redwood Community Radio (KMUD) has been awarded a Public Media Bridge Fund grant totaling $158,150.
We’re honored to be one of only five public media organizations in California to receive this support — and very excited to see that another recipient is our friends at KEET, our beloved PBS station on the North Coast.
While this grant doesn’t solve the long-term funding challenges facing public media, it keeps the ship steady as we navigate the rapidly changing landscape ahead. As the name suggests, this “Bridge” fund isn’t meant to replace CPB (Corporation for Public Broadcasting) support, but rather to help bridge the immediate financial gap while stations like ours secure sustainable funding sources for the future.
Across the country, a strong majority of Americans recognize how essential community-run media is — especially in small, rural, and financially vulnerable areas. This grant is a clear acknowledgment of how vital KMUD’s service is to our region.
A portion of the award letter from the Public Media Company sums up the purpose succinctly:
“The Grant is to sustain critical local public media services during the transition period following the elimination of Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding, specifically to maintain essential services, community engagement, and broadcast operations that serve the public interest by utilizing the Grant funds for direct operational costs of the Grantee.”
Our hope is that this temporary support inspires new listeners to become first-time contributors, and encourages longtime supporters to re-engage with renewed energy. There’s simply no better tool for strengthening a community than accessible, independent media — keeping people informed, connected, safe, entertained, and heard.
We invite everyone to celebrate this good news by supporting KMUD and KEET in whatever way you can. Donations, volunteer time, spreading the word — it all matters. Together, we can answer any attempt to quiet community voices by speaking louder, standing stronger, and showing what this region stands for.
Our deepest thanks go to the Public Media Bridge Fund for recognizing the importance of our work. KMUD will continue to pursue additional grants and revenue sources, but none of these can ever replace our greatest resource: you.
Keep Public Media Alive!