Less funding means more opportunity for UA students looking for internships and jobs at Arizona Public Media.

This summer, the UA announced that AZPM will lose $2 million in funding over the next five years, or $400,000 each fiscal year.
Jack Gibson, director and general manager of AZPM, believes the budget cuts will create better prospects for students.

“Internships have increased due to budget cuts,” Gibson said. “Since we are unable to hire as many faculty, that gives more opportunities for internships and our training program.”

Though losing funding often leads to difficulties, Gibson is positive about how AZPM has budgeted.

“The cuts have not been easy to endure, but we increased staff and production, and we will continue to try and maintain or increase production each year,” Gibson said.

Michael Chihak, the news director at AZPM, understands the university’s fiscal cut-down.

Chikak said that the UA is growing but has a finite revenue pool and administration has to look campuswide for funding. Chihak also understands that cuts are a part of the job.

Gibson is confident about getting through the first year of cuts, but cannot predict how the next four years will go.

“It will take time to learn the budget,” Gibson said. “We feel very confident about the first year … but we will continue to bring programming to our members.”

With the university cutting its funding, AZPM believes its members will step up and donate.

“We are counting on our members more than ever,” Gibson said. “The university has never funded our programming. Everything you see on National Public Radio and Public Broadcast Station has always been 100 percent member funded.”

AZPM received $5,288,921 in revenue from member subscriptions and other donations in 2013, according to AZPM’s fiscal year end report.

According to Gibson, AZPM members have been very supportive during the university’s campuswide budget cuts. He thinks that donations to the station will even increase.

“Our research shows a huge up-trend in member donations,” he said, “and I hope that continues to increase.”

—Follow Max Lancaster @MaxLancaster9