WNYC Launches Fundraising Drive with “You Can’t Defund The Truth” Tagline, Honors Stephen Colbert and More
New York’s leading public radio station, WNYC, has initiated a critically important fundraising campaign in response to recent federal funding cuts impacting public media nationwide. This effort comes after the Trump governance successfully rescinded substantial financial support for public broadcasting, leaving organizations like WNYC to seek alternative revenue streams.
A cornerstone of the campaign is the annual Stand with Public Media gala,scheduled for November 18th in New York City. This year’s event will recognise prominent figures for their contributions to culture, media, and philanthropy. Honorees include Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show on CBS, and his wife, Evelyn McGee Colbert, a producer and advocate for the arts, who will receive the Cultural Advocacy Award. Additionally, David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, will be presented with the Media Innovation Award, and Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation, will receive the Philanthropy Leadership Award.
Alongside the gala, WNYC is unveiling a new tagline: “You Can’t Defund The Truth.” This message will be prominently featured during the pledge drive, beginning Wednesday, and will also be available on merchandise, specifically tote bags offered to generous donors.
The gala promises a star-studded evening, hosted by actor Richard Kind, with performances from ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen, The Politician), Annaleigh Ashford (Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Happy Face), Noah Galvin (Theatre Camp, The Real O’Neals), and classical pianist and composer conrad Tao. Following the main event, a separately ticketed after-party will feature a DJ set by Questlove.
The fundraising initiative arrives at a particularly poignant time for Colbert, whose CBS show was recently canceled citing financial concerns – a decision that occurred shortly before the FCC approved a takeover by Skydance, raising questions within the industry. More broadly, public media outlets across the United States are grappling with the impact of the recently approved $1.1 billion in federal funding cuts.
The WNYC gala and broader fundraising campaign aim to mitigate these financial losses, as NPR and PBS stations nationwide explore strategies to address the funding gap and ensure the continued delivery of vital public broadcasting services.