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Committee advances $500,000 recurring request for KANW to join Mountain West News Bureau despite questions on funding source and editorial safeguards
Summary
KANW sought $500,000 recurring for reporters and equipment to join the Mountain West News Bureau; senators questioned why Albuquerque Public Schools wouldn't cover costs, how public funds would be used for journalistic content and whether capital items belonged in operating budgets. The committee advanced the bill.
Senate Bill 4 93 would appropriate $500,000 in recurring funds from the GROW fund to KANW (the Albuquerque public radio station operated by Albuquerque Public Schools) to become a full partner with the Mountain West News Bureau and hire reporters to cover rural and regional news for distribution to regional and national outlets.
Michael Brasher, general manager of KANW, told the committee the funding would support equipment purchases and reporters to originate stories from remote, underserved communities and to provide content to partner stations and national networks. He said the station currently operates with a small staff and that to contribute reporters to the Mountain West News Bureau it needs recurring operational funds beyond grants and donations.
Committee members pressed why the Albuquerque Public Schools (the station’s licensee) would not fund the operation, whether the request should be a capital outlay or an operating request, and how editorial independence and balance would be maintained if public funds are used. Brasher said the station receives federal community service grants and donations but that the recurring cost of reporters and interconnection equipment exceeds what the station can raise. He said editorial balance is maintained through newsroom editing and public feedback; Senator Ramos sought more detail on management tools to ensure balance.
Senators also asked what portion of the request is equipment vs. personnel; Brasher estimated roughly 60–70% for equipment (remote origination and interconnection gear) and the remainder for staff. Several members said aspects of the equipment needs may be appropriate to fund through capital outlay rather than recurring general funds; the sponsor said capital requests are planned in parallel.
The committee first considered a do‑not‑pass motion, which failed, and then voted to give the bill a do‑pass recommendation. Members said they want clearer capital/operational splits and assurances about editorial safeguards as the item moves forward.
