Inside KTOO

Juneau/Fairbanks, Alaska — KUAC and KTOO are collaborating to bring Create and WORLD back to viewers around the state via local transmission and the Alaska Rural Communication System (ARCS). Beginning Jan. 1 at 12:01 a.m., viewers throughout Alaska will be able to enjoy significantly more programming that informs, educates, and inspires.

“During a very challenging period in public broadcasting’s history, it’s a thrill to collaborate with KTOO to make this happen for Alaskans throughout our state,” General Manager of KUAC Gretchen Gordon said. “It is only through the generosity and support of our community that we were able to make this happen.”

KTOO will broadcast KUAC 9.4 on KTOO 3.2, offering programming from First Nations Experience (FNX) and Create in alternating 6-hour blocks following this schedule:

5:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. — FNX
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. — CREATE
5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. — FNX
11:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. — CREATE

KUAC will continue to broadcast KTOO 3.3 on KUAC 9.9, offering KTOO’s 360TV which delivers Gavel Alaska during the legislative session and WORLD programming as well as Alaska-specific content.

“We’re excited to expand our collaborations across the state and ensure that more Alaskans have access to great public media programming. Counterprogramming Gavel Alaska with WORLD’s outstanding offers cements KTOO 360TV’s role as Alaska’s public affairs network,” General Manager of KTOO Justin Shoman said. “Meanwhile, Juneau audiences will continue to be served with PBS thanks to our partnership with Alaska Public Media and FNX and Create through this new partnership with KUAC.”

ARCS viewers will now receive PBS from Alaska Public Media, FNX and Create from KUAC, and Gavel Alaska and WORLD from KTOO 360TV.

“American Public Television is pleased to be a part of the KTOO/KUAC collaboration to bring more universal coverage of APT programming to urban and rural Alaskans,” Executive Vice President of APT Shawn Halford said. “We recognize that Alaska is different, the vast area and large rural population mean that smart collaborations like this help reach as many people as possible.”

Juneau, Alaska – October 20, 2025 – KTOO Public Media is pleased to announce the appointment of Lisa Phu as Managing Editor, effective November 10, 2025. Phu brings more than a decade of Alaska journalism experience and a proven track record of award-winning storytelling to the role.


“Lisa brings a wealth of experience to KTOO and a deep knowledge of our community as a Juneau resident,” said KTOO’s President and General Manager, Justin Shoman. “I am confident that her dedication to the mission of public media and her devotion to serving our community with trusted information will advance KTOO’s mission and values and build a stronger future for news in Juneau.”


Phu’s Alaska journalism career began 20 years ago as a reporter for the Wrangell Sentinel. Two years later, she transitioned to public media at KSTK in Wrangell, beginning a meaningful career in public broadcasting. She’s reported at KTOO, served as Deputy Editor at the Alaska Beacon, and has most recently been producing podcasts at Lemonada Media –demonstrating versatility across various media platforms, production, and editorial roles.


“I’m excited to return to KTOO as Managing Editor and to help lead a newsroom so deeply dedicated to serving Juneau. I’m eager to work with this talented team to continue delivering stories that inform, engage, and empower our community,” Phu said. 

Phu has received multiple awards for her reporting and audio productions. Notable among her work is “Before Me,” an exceptional five-part series that she developed, produced, and hosted, showcasing her ability to craft compelling long-form narrative audio.


As Managing Editor, Phu will play a key role in shaping KTOO’s editorial direction and strengthening its commitment to serving the Juneau community with trusted, high-quality journalism.


For more information, contact KTOO President and General Manager, Justin Shoman (justin.shoman@ktoo.org or 907.463.6405).


KTOO Public Media is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public media organization that owns and operates three radio stations (KTOO News, KRNN Music, KXLL Music) and one television station (KTOO 360TV) in Juneau, Alaska. KTOO’s mission is to provide trusted and independent news, connect communities to the arts and music, promote civic participation, and embrace diverse viewpoints and cultures.”

A statement from KTOO President and General Manager, Justin Shoman

Juneau, AK – September 18th: Two months ago today, at the President’s behest, Congress voted to rescind federal funding for public media.

Journalism in America is under threat. Paywalls are rising and local newsrooms are shuttering. All too often, misinformation is filling the void. With federal funding for public media eliminated, this threat has tipped into a crisis, especially in Alaska. And this is not just an assault on the free-press, it’s an assault on public safety especially in rural areas of Alaska.

Amidst the uncertainty, there has been something gratifying: hearing from the community and donors who continue to share how much they value KTOO’s service.

The Financial Picture 

The funding that the Trump administration directed Congress to wipe out had already been approved for use by stations across the country, KTOO included.

Federal funding accounted for $1.2 million of KTOO’S annual revenue—more than a third of our entire budget and the loss of this funding creates immediate cash flow challenges at the station.

The most resource-intensive services KTOO provides are news, public affairs and Gavel Alaska legislative coverage. Notably, NPR programming—often cited in the President’s talking points for defunding—represents a small fraction of our overall budget.  KTOO bears no expense for PBS thanks to a strategic partnership with Alaska Public Media. Further partnerships with KUAC in Fairbanks, KYUK in Bethel, and the Alaska Rural Communication System ensure that Gavel Alaska is accessible through broadcast TV in the most remote corners of Alaska.

We’ve built an incredibly efficient system in Alaska leaving very few areas to cut.

KTOO’s Immediate Response

KTOO has implemented several immediate measures to weather this crisis. We have instituted a hiring freeze that resulted in the elimination of two open positions, roughly 10% of all staff.

Temporary staff furloughs have been implemented and we’re evaluating our program schedule to see where we can find savings without compromising local service.

But our response isn’t purely defensive. KTOO is leaning heavily into our fundraising efforts, prioritizing major gifts, foundation support, and we launched our on-air fundraising campaign this week — a full month ahead of schedule. We’re doing everything in our power to recover as much funding as possible prior to October 1st, when we would otherwise receive federal dollars.

Our primary goal is to retain the highest level of public and community service possible. Following cuts in state funding, we’re a smaller organization than we once were. At this moment, we are vigorously focused on delivering local news and programs to our community without compromise. The news department has expanded  its capacity in the past year and it is imperative that we support local news at a time when fact-based information is under threat.

Meanwhile, KXLL and KRNN, both with growing audiences, provide joy and much needed relief from an active and often challenging news cycle.

While no layoffs are currently planned, this is a precarious situation.

This is also a critical moment for our democracy. Local information, storytelling, and fact-based news are the foundation of cultural understanding and underpin a belief system that prioritizes people over politics to advance a democratic republic.

What’s next? 

Significant challenges will extend well into the future. The emotional response to federal funding rescission will inevitably fade, making sustained support more difficult to maintain.

We will move forward despite these challenges and KTOO’s priorities will remain constant as the organization charts a new course. KTOO will continue our commitment to:

• Universal access to local news that is free from paywalls.
• Building community relationships that meaningfully serve the full diversity of our Juneau and Southeast Alaska.
• Strengthening partnerships with media organizations across the state to create greater efficiencies.
• Continually evolving to meet audience and community needs.

None of this is possible without bridging the immediate gap. And our incredible community has stepped up in a big way, contributing nearly two-thirds of the $1.2 Million of the funding that was stripped away by Congress. We are extremely grateful to everyone who has donated already.

Transformation takes time and resources 

Once “bridge funding” is fully secured for KTOO and other stations in the Alaska Public Broadcasting network, we’ll dive deeper into conversations about a broader transformation of public broadcasting as we currently know it.

We’ve also worked with our media partners across the state in establishing the Voices Across Alaska Fund at the Alaska Community Foundation. The fund aspires to raise $15 million to support public broadcasting across the state. In four short weeks, it has already raised $3.5 million. Alaskan stations have been unified in their advocacy efforts prior to the loss of federal funding and meetings to convene public media leaders across the state began immediately after the rescission vote.

Meanwhile, community support is needed today to avoid staff reductions that would compromise our community service and erode the vital team needed to transform an organization and an industry.

KTOO is determined to persevere, and will continually work to create an even more efficient model of public media in the months ahead. We’ll continue advocating for support of local news and life-saving information at the state and national levels; an imperative for rural stations in the network. In the meantime, success requires community support not just this year, but next year and in all the years that follow.

It’s municipal election season. That means the KTOO newsroom is busy building out its annual Municipal Candidate Guide. We pose six questions to each candidate and publish their answers in an easy to read – and compare – format. We hope you’ll look it over as you mull your votes in September and October.

KTOO’s local election coverage is part of our commitment to an informed and engaged electorate in our community. We’ll also cover this year’s local ballot measures and anything else election-related that arises.

And as the KTOO newsroom takes on its municipal election coverage, we want to hear from you. What questions do you have for candidates as they compete for your votes this election? On which issues would you like to hear their policy ideas? Submit your thoughts to us through the form at the bottom of ktoo.org/elections or below.

To hear from the candidates themselves, mark your calendar for Friday, Sept. 19. KTOO is teaming up with the League of Women Voters of Juneau to host and broadcast a live candidate forum. You can catch it live on 104.3 FM.

Bringing you the trusted information you need to vote with confidence is at the core of what we do at KTOO Public Media. Tune in!

A statement from KTOO President and General Manager, Justin Shoman

Juneau, Alaska – July 18th: The White House’s rescission request was approved by Congress late last night. KTOO would like to thank our community for their continuous outreach to our lawmakers in Washington. Tens of thousands of Alaskans contacted their congressional representatives in Washington. And while we made our voices heard, not everyone chose to listen. 

Federal funding is essential for local public television and radio stations’ ability to provide all Americans in communities across the country with vital services like public safety, education and community connections, everywhere, every day, free of charge. 

This destructive rescission of CPB funding – the substantial majority of which goes to local stations per statutory formula – will result in sweeping cuts to local services, news, direct access to state government on Gavel Alaska, and local music programs. 

The projected federal grant for KTOO in fiscal year 2026 was nearly $1.2 million, representing 34% of our operating revenue for a business year that began 18 days ago. 

We now have incredibly challenging decisions to make in the weeks ahead. We will navigate these waters with a focus on maintaining key services and appropriately scaling them to ensure financial sustainability. All decisions will be made with an eye toward rebuilding our capacity for community service in the future.

Journalism in America is under threat. Paywalls are rising and local newsrooms are shuttering. All too often, misinformation is filling the void. With federal funding for public media eliminated, this threat has tipped into a crisis, especially in Alaska. 

And this is not just an assault on the free-press, it’s an assault on public safety especially in rural areas of Alaska. 

We will fight to restore federal funding. In the meantime, donating to KTOO Public Media is more important than it has ever been. Every dollar helps us to offset this massive attack on our ability to serve the community.

This is a critical moment for our democracy. Local information, storytelling, and fact-based news are the foundation of cultural understanding and underpin a belief system that prioritizes people over politics to advance a democratic republic. 

A Joint Release from KTOO Public Media and 11 Alaska Stations

June 6, 2025 – On Monday, June 3rd the White House sent a rescissions package to Congress requesting a claw back of FY26 and FY27 Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding that Congress had approved previously. A vote in the House could take place early next week, likely Tuesday or Wednesday.

Federal funding is essential for local public television and radio stations’ ability to provide all Americans in communities across the country with essential services in public safety, education and community connections, everywhere, every day, free – especially in Alaska because of extreme geography and rural populations.

Some facts about public media:
●      The vast majority of federal funding goes to local public media stations, which are some of the last local media, particularly in rural, remote and underserved communities throughout the country.

●      The Government Accountability Office has concluded that the federal investment is essential to ensuring public television’s universal service, particularly in rural America.

●      For the 22nd year in a row, public television was ranked the most trusted institution, with 76% of Americans agreeing that public television provides an excellent value to communities.

●      88% of parents agree that PBS Kids is a trusted and safe source for children to watch television, and play digital games and mobile apps.

●      Public media has earned the broad support of the American people, across the political spectrum, including 65% of people who voted for President Donald Trump who think public television is either adequately funded or under-funded, according to a recent YouGov survey.

●      In March 2025, the Pew Research Center found that Americans are more likely to support than oppose continuing federal funding for NPR and PBS by a factor of almost 2:1.

How losing federal funding would affect Alaskans:
Cutting federal funding would leave many Americans, especially those in rural states like Alaska, without the critical services local public television and radio stations provide from proven education resources, to emergency alerts and warnings, to essential local connections.

Alaska’s rural public media stations serve people living in one of the most remote corners of the United States. Alaska’s stations show the many ways that public radio serves their community by being the only media organizations providing emergency alerts, community events information, news, music, and entertainment programming. Alaska’s public television and radio stations would be unable to provide these services without funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Most rural communities in Alaska can’t count on high-speed internet or cellular technology. For example, Unalaska still relies on terrestrial radio for a wide range of services, especially in an emergency.

Alaska Station Statements:

KYUK – Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta

“In the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, where dozens of unique communities are separated by miles of tundra, they remain connected to each other and the world through public media. KYUK provides connection and security, while celebrating and honoring the region’s people and culture. If Congress decides to defund public media or if these actions dismantle the public media system, KYUK could be forced off-air entirely, leaving our communities without access to free, independent, and reliable information and critical weather, river, and emergency updates. For our station, and for the people of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, this is not just a line item in a budget. It’s our livelihood.”

–  Kristin Hall, Interim General Manager.

Big River Public Broadcasting, KIYU-FM, KKON-FM, ARCS TV Repeater and SES Aerospace Internet Service – Western Alaska

“The defunding of Big River Public Broadcasting and KIYU-FM will mean the loss of the only broadcast facility in ten communities in western Alaska, where in Galena we also house and power our KKON-FM, the ARCS TV repeater and the SES Aerospace internet service for Galena. The Yukon Wireless at https://kiyu.com/yukon-wireless/, broadcasting twice weekdays, is the only public information service for these ten communities and would be lost, along with our annual scholarship and many other public donations and events made possible by our limited-use gaming license revenue.”

–  David Patty, General Manager

KTOO – Juneau

“Losing federal funding, which accounts for over one-third of KTOO’s annual budget, would severely impact our ability to serve the community—significantly reducing independent local journalism, arts and civic engagement, and hindering our capacity to provide vital public safety information and alerts. This rescission package will also have an immediate impact on every Alaskan’s access to their state government by stripping funds needed to produce Gavel Alaska (formerly Gavel to Gavel), a public service of KTOO Public Media. Losing this vital funding would undermine our ability to keep the public informed and engaged, diminish access to state government proceedings, and weaken the trust and transparency vital to our community’s well being.”

–  Justin Shoman, KTOO President and CEO

KHNS – Upper Lynn Canal

“A loss of federal CPB funding, which amounts to nearly 40% of the KHNS budget, would severely impact our mission to broadcast local news, community updates, and emergency and public safety information. Our diverse programming connects listeners across the Upper Lynn Canal to vital information; rescinding funding already approved by Congress would, without a doubt, sever many of those connections.”

–  Kyle Clayton, General Manager

Aleutian Peninsula Broadcasting – Aleutian Islands

“Federal CPB funding accounts for over 70% of Aleutian Peninsula Broadcasting’s revenue. Without it, we would be forced to drastically reduce local news, emergency alerts, and community programming that connect and inform some of the most remote communities in Alaska. In a region where phone and internet services can be unreliable or unavailable, public broadcasting remains one of the most consistent and locally focused sources of information. Losing this funding would put rural voices and vital services at serious risk.”

–  Austin Roof, KSPB General Manager

KDLG – Bristol Bay

“The loss of federal funding to KDLG jeopardizes our ability to fulfill a vital public service mission in Bristol Bay. As the primary source of news, emergency information, and cultural connection for our remote communities, this funding is not just support for a radio station — it’s an investment in civic engagement, public safety, and the democratic process in rural Alaska.”

–  Sam Gardner, KDLG General Manager

KUCB – Unalaska

“KUCB is Unalaska’s local primary alert station. Potential local hazards include tsunamis, volcanoes, and extreme weather. These are very real parts of daily life in Unalaska. As the primary source of emergency alert information in our community, and the only local broadcast services in our remote region, Unalaska cannot afford to lose KUCB. Our annual operating budget is dependent on CPB funding in order to maintain the emergency alert services that we provide.”

–  Lauren Adams, KUCB General Manager

KFSK – Petersburg, Northern Prince of Wales Island

“Over 30% of KFSK’s annual operating budget comes directly from CPB grants. The loss of federal funding would result in job losses and cripple KFSK’s ability to deliver public services to Petersburg and northern Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska. KFSK is the only source of daily local news, providing health, safety, weather and community events information. KFSK is supported by our Local Emergency Planning Committee partners, consisting of members representing the Volunteer Fire Department, Police Department, Search and Rescue, Petersburg Borough, Harbor Department, US Coast Guard, State Troopers, Petersburg Medical Center and Petersburg School District. KFSK provides vital emergency alert notifications, and daily locally produced content.”

–  Tom Abbott, KFSK General Manager

KBBI – Seward and the Kenai Peninsula

“Federal funding makes up 40% of KBBI’s budget. A loss of that funding will result in a severe reduction in staffing and services the station offers our community. We would be looking at fewer attended hours of broadcasting, making us less responsive to alerting listeners about emergency situations, and fewer opportunities to broadcast current weather and community information. We would be less able to fulfil portions of our mission, such as providing educational opportunities to students and interns, and providing a platform for local public affairs programming. Additionally, a loss of programming from national sources may seriously impact our listener base, and our ability to locally fundraise, resulting in a further loss of revenue.

Finally, the federal funding provides security in our finances, ensuring us the base costs of keeping the facilities operating, and a cushion to help cover unanticipated failures of broadcast equipment. If KBBI were to close on account of the loss of federal funds, there will be large portions of the southern Kenai Peninsula and Cook Inlet that will have no broadcast coverage at all, along with no coverage for the Emergency Alert System.”

–  Josh Krohn, KBBI General Manager

KNBA – Anchorage

“KNBA 90.3, could lose nearly 25% of its annual revenue, leading to cuts in service including local Alaska Native news and emergency alerts. Our award-winning national Native programs, Native America Calling and National Native News, part of daily schedules on stations across Alaska, would experience an even greater loss–one from which they might not be able to recover. More than 60 tribal stations we serve would be disproportionately impacted where they offer efficient emergency alerts and vital community connections. Because CPB grants represent a sizeable portion of their budgets, these stations are at risk for a decline or loss of service.”

–  Jaclyn Sallee, KNBA President and CEO

KUAC – Fairbanks

KUAC listeners shared the following thoughts:

“I so appreciate how KUAC keeps our community informed and connected locally, to the state, the nation, and the world. KUAC is definitely a treasure.”

“There is no place else in the country that I would hear about all of the news from across the bush.”

“I can’t imagine the United States without a free press or free speech. Alaska depends on this information to connect us to the Lower 48, throughout the state and in our own communities.”

“Public radio was my only connection to great art music living in rural Delta Junction- you were a lifeline for me! Thank you for the lives that you change and inspire!”

“I can’t afford a lot, but I can afford a small amount that will hopefully help KUAC continue to stay on the air, helping all Alaskans to stay informed.”

“Investing in KUAC is an investment in, and enrichment of, our community! Solid balanced reporting, science and technology, and arts, music, and culture – what’s not to love!”

“I support public radio because it doesn’t scream, slip in fear-based product pitches, or treat me like a target demographic. It just tells the truth, calmly — and that’s rare.”

“What a thrilling and emotional radio night! I had just finished listening to Fiona Ritchie’s farewell Thistle and Shamrock programming. Then Ira Glass, who I am honored to have met, comes on in his trademark style, talking frankly with his coworker, who, after 35 years of hearing and helping Ira pitch, donated for the first time. He said he experienced the sense of belonging, being part of the public radio community, that I always feel in supporting KUAC and public broadcasting. So, this became the perfect time to make my gift, as I have done every fall (and spring) for over 45 years. KUAC radio is my constant companion for honest and rigorous news reporting, analysis and commentary. My life is enriched by Terry Gross, Shankar Vidantem, Ira Glass, Kai Ryssdahl, Manoush Zomorodi, Ira Flatow, Bud Johnson, Peter Sagal, Fred Child and so many more.”

“Thanks for your years of service. Whenever I am away from Alaska, I often stream KUAC, just to stay current on the local news.”

“I’ve been listening to public radio my whole life and I believe in KUAC’s mission to educate every generation!”

###

Station Contacts:
David Patty KIYU
Toll Free: 800-478-5498
Phone: 907-656-1488 desk. 907-574-0783 cell. Email: office@kiyu.com

Austin Roof
830 AM KSDP/Aleutian Peninsula Broadcasting, Inc.
General Manager (907)383-5737

Gretchen Gordon, CFRE KUAC
General Manager 907-474-1891 (desk)
907-347-4668 (cell)

Josh Krohn KBBI AM 890
General Manager 3913 Kachemak Way
Homer, AK 99603 https://www.kbbi.org 907-235-7721
907-299-2553 (cell)

Kristin Hall (she/her) KYUK
Interim General Manager kristin@kyuk.org 907.545.4208
www.kyuk.org

Mollie Kabler CoastAlaska Inc.
Executive Director 907 215 3600 x 701
mollie@coastalaska.org

Tom Abbott
KFSK Community Radio General Manager Petersburg, Alaska www.kfsk.org
907-772-3808

Lauren Adams
KIAL Unalaska General Manager
lauren@kucb.org

Jaclyn Sallee
President and CEO – Koahnic Broadcast Corporation KNBA
JSallee@knba.org
3600 San Jeronimo Drive, Suite 480,
Anchorage, AK 99508 Office:(907)793-3500

Justin Shoman
KTOO President & GM
360 Egan Dr | Juneau, AK 99801
e: justin.shoman@ktoo.org | p: + 907 463 6405