Current

Business Profile

Core Value Proposition

Current provides editorially independent, nonprofit news and analysis about the public media ecosystem, delivering timely coverage across programs/content, development, policy, and leadership changes.

Target Customer

Public media professionals, including station executives and managers, program directors, development/fundraising staff, journalists, and policy stakeholders.

Key Differentiator

A nonprofit, editorially independent platform focused specifically on the public media sector, with category-differentiated coverage (Programs/Content, People, Development, System/Policy, Tech, Jobs) and data-driven fundraising insights (CDP Index).

Implementation Timeline

Content is published on an ongoing basis with multiple articles in October 2025 and across recent months; fundraising campaigns and multi-year funding initiatives span months to years (e.g., GBH campaign over three years, CPB funding over five years).

Pain Points

1Funding and policy instability affecting public media (e.g., CPB funding decisions, state funding, and emergency funds).
2Frequent leadership changes and staff moves across public media organizations requiring timely, reliable updates.
3Need for industry-specific analysis, best practices, and measurable fundraising insights to navigate funding shortfalls and audience growth.

Key Features

1News and analysis across category areas (Programs/Content, People, Development, System/Policy, Tech, Jobs, Sponsored Posts, Webinars).
2“People” updates and leadership/staff movement reporting (comings and goings).
3Development-focused content including donor trends and fundraising campaigns (e.g., CDP Index and donor growth reporting).
4Case studies and practical examples of fundraising, programming, and audience growth (industry-specific coverage).
5Archive/category-driven content organization enabling targeted research and monitoring of pubmedia developments.

Target Customer Industries

Decision Makers

1Chair of PBS board of directors
2General Manager (GM) of WXXI Public Radio
3Editor-in-Chief of Chicago Public Media
4COO of Austin PBS
5Arkansas PBS CEO
6Executive Director (PMCC)
7Chief of Staff

Client Results

1CPB granted a nonprofit $57.9 million over five years for public radio distribution.
2GBH launches a $225 million fundraising campaign to be raised over the next three years.
3New Mexico governor approves emergency funds totaling $6 million for public media.
4CDP Index reports show significant donor growth; e.g., 162.6% increase in one index period and donor gains described as ‘jaw-dropping’ in coverage.
5Public media organizations conducted fundraising efforts and partnerships in response to federal funding cuts.

Competitive Advantages

1Editorial independence and nonprofit status ensuring unbiased industry coverage.
2Niche focus on pubmedia with a curated taxonomy (Programs/Content, Development, System/Policy, etc.).
3Data-powered fundraising context via CDP Index, plus real-world case studies and leadership moves.
4Accessible industry intelligence for decision-makers in public media.

Key Benefits

1Stay informed on policy, funding, and leadership developments in public media.

2Access data-driven fundraising insights via the CDP Index.

3Learn from real-world case studies and industry best practices.

4Track leadership moves and staffing trends across pubmedia.

Case Studies & Success Stories

Playbook for growth: Treat radio like a vibrant platform and your audience will flourish

Case #1

KQED Radio’s ratings surge credited to a strategic focus on airtime and audience needs.

GBH launches $225M fundraising campaign in the wake of federal funding cuts

Case #2

GBH aims to raise $225M over three years to address funding gaps.

New nonprofit receives funding for public radio distribution

Case #3

CPB grants the nonprofit $57.9 million over five years to support distribution efforts.

New Mexico governor approves emergency funds for public media

Case #4

State provides $6 million in additional funding to help offset federal funding losses.

Additional Product Information

Product Description

Current is an editorially independent, nonprofit news platform focused on the public media ecosystem, providing coverage of programs/content, development, policy, leadership changes, and industry trends.

Target Market

Public media stations and networks, nonprofit funders, policymakers, and industry professionals seeking pubmedia intelligence and case studies.

Unique Value Proposition

A specialized, nonprofit-backed publication delivering timely pubmedia news, leadership updates, fundraising insights (CDP Index), and practical case studies tailored to the needs of public broadcasters and related organizations.

Technical Requirements

Not specified in content; operates as an online publication accessed via current.org.

Pricing Model

Funded by subscriptions, donations, advertising, and a grant from the Wyncote Foundation.

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