Radio Public Programs Stations Popular Npr Regular Money

Any radio station that gets most or all of its "funding" (money) from the public is known as "public radio." Public radio funding can come from the government, individual listeners, universities, or private companies. Usually public radio does not have "commercials" (paid advertisements) like private radio stations do. Many Americans "get their news" (listen to the news) from public radio. Two popular public radio stations in the United States are NPR and PRI.

"National Public Radio" (NPR) is a national "network" (group of related organizations) for public radio that has many regular programs that are "broadcast" (shared with the public through radio or TV) by radio stations around the country. Its most popular news programs, Morning Edition and All Things Considered, are among the most popular radio programs in the country. "Public Radio International" (PRI) is another American-based public radio organization that has programs that are similar to those of NPR.

NPR and PRI receive only a small percentage of their funding from the U.S. government, so they have to "raise funds" (ask for money) from their listeners. Many companies choose to make a "donation" (give money to an organization) and, in return, they get to "underwrite" (sponsor) a public radio program, meaning that the company's name is said several times during the program. This is a type of advertising for the company, but it isn't as strong as a regular commercial on non-public radio.

Several times a year, NPR and PRI have "fundraising drives" where they "interrupt" (temporarily stop) their regular radio programs to ask the listeners to make donations to the public radio organization. Many "foundations" (large, rich organizations that give money to other organizations) also give money to public radio.