TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Normally, Troy Public Radio (TPR) broadcasts through stereos and speakers to bring information all across Alabama, but last week it took to the airwaves for a different reason – funding. 

“We go on air for eight days and what we do is we remind people that we are listener supported, so that means the majority of the money that we get comes from our listeners to pay for programming,” said TPR Director Kyle Gassiott. 

TPR is a public station, which means it does not run any sponsored segments or advertisements. Its public status also means when the Trump Administration eliminated public television and public radio’s federal funding last year, TPR found itself without that support.  

“It was a blow for sure, because that is the way that public media had been funded for decades,” said TPR Podcast Producer Austin Toy. “There was a moment where we were like, ‘What are we going to do without this?’” 

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The answer TPR came up with – take to the community and begin its first fund drive. That fund drive would become a twice-annual event, and the community one that continues support the station to this day. 

“There was a big community response when we lost the funding and we worried about that maybe dissipating, but now that we’re two fund drives removed from that, that love and the care that people have for the station still really exists,” said TPR Student Producer Jameson Speece, a senior communications major from Hayneville, Alabama.  

TPR is making sure they give that love back, too. Donors aren’t just thanked for their donations – they’re also awarded with things like mugs, stickers and even New York Times game subscriptions. 

“The one we’ve been talking about the most is our ‘Power To the Public’ mug,” Toy said. “Everybody thinks about mugs when they think about public radio thank you gifts. 

“That’s the one that’s been causing the most stir.” 

With the week-long on-air fund drive complete and the on-air goal of $35,000 met, TPR is putting that money toward its ability to keep the on-air lights on, and the information public. 

TPR is still working toward a larger goal that includes funds derived from drives outside of on-air segments, though. Those who are interested in supporting TPR in meeting those goals or are simply looking to support them can click here.