Public Media for All

Oct 23, 2024

As I reflect on our recent Fall Member Drive, I'm excited to share two examples of what MPR members can do when we work together.

FALL DRIVE RESULTS: 5,019 donations

First, I’m honored to share that we exceeded the goal of 5,000 donations to the fall member drive. Thank you to each one of you who donated during the drive, in the days following, and to those who support MPR year-round. Your support is incredibly important – especially right now, as media organizations like ours face continued headwinds. Thank you for digging deep to support this service that so many rely on.

Second, during the drive, we rapidly put together a partnership with Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR) in Asheville, North Carolina, to support their disaster recovery and reporting efforts after Hurricane Helene. Despite harrowing conditions, BPR remains on-air, providing vital information to their local community and to station partners like MPR. From October 11-13, for every gift to MPR, MPR chipped in $10 to their recovery and reporting fund. This was a way to double down on the idea that public media is here for the public good – that communities are stronger with public media, and that we can fund our mission and amplify our generosity to better connect our shared world.

BLUE RIDGE PUBLIC RADIO PARTNERSHIP RESULTS:

$22,210 for recovery and reporting

In just 3 days, more than 2,000 MPR members donated to take advantage of the partnership with BPR. Here is a note from Tim Roesler, Interim General Manager of BPR, for you:

“Our board of directors and staff pass along our many thanks for partnering with us last Friday! We are grateful for Minnesotans' generosity and support! ... Please know that MPR’s support of this work is a lifeline … MPR’s support will be a force-multiplier right now.”

Reporter Laura Hackett navigates a creek bed in Shope Creek — BPR Buncombe County reporter Laura Hackett navigates a creek bed in Shope Creek, a community northeast of Asheville where road access remains a challenge.
Lilly Knoepp/BPR

Together we can do so much. Thank you for funding MPR and for demonstrating that public media is here for the public good – right here in Minnesota and beyond.

For more information on Blue Ridge Public Radio, including how to donate to BPR directly, visit their website.

Reporter Gerard Albert III takes photos of the devastation in Rosman — BPR Western North Carolina Communities reporter Gerard Albert III takes photos of the devastation in Rosman, a small community in Transylvania County.
Nick Hasselhoff/Transylvania Times

Passing the Mic 🎙 – Amplifying Member Voices

Here’s what MPR members said about the BPR partnership during the MPR Member Drive.

I get my news from MPR and I can't imagine trying to find an equal or better source. I just heard about your support for Blue Ridge Public Radio. My sister lives in Asheville and it has become a second home for me. Thank you for assisting them during your member drive. -Jennifer, Elk River
MPR is incredibly important to my experience as a Minnesotan, and whenever I travel, I always find the local public radio station. Thank you for supporting Blue Ridge! -Ashley, Winona
THANK YOU MPR! You help all of us make the world a better place, one piece of information and one positive interaction at a time. Thanks also for Paying It Forward to support Blue Ridge Public Radio today. -Carrie & Matt, Burnsville

Duchesne Drew
President, Minnesota Public Radio

About Duchesne Drew

Duchesne Drew is Senior Vice President of American Public Media Group and President of Minnesota Public Radio. In this role, he leads the teams that produce MPR News, The Current, APM Reports and Marketplace. Additionally, he oversees YourClassical MPR as a part of Minnesota Public Radio.

Full Bio