Shoresides
A local solutions journalism podcast by and for BIPOC communities in coastal North Carolina. Through news stories, interviews, updates, and special programs we keep you engaged with local news from across the region.
Shoresides News is a nonprofit newsroom covering the stories that matter most to coastal North Carolina. Got a question or a tip? Reach out to our team at info@shoresides.org. Shoresides News is made possible through community support. To help sustain this vital local reporting, visit https://givebutter.com/shoresides
Shoresides
The Cost of Making Waves — What Federal Cuts Mean for North Carolina’s Public and Community Radio
Public radio stations across North Carolina — especially in rural and coastal communities — are facing devastating funding cuts following the passage of the Rescissions Act of 2025. That includes WRVS in Elizabeth City, which could lose up to 70% of its funding. What does that mean for you and your neighbors? No local tornado warnings. No emergency alerts. No hometown voices spinning music, sharing stories, and delivering news from around the corner.
In this episode of Shoreside, host Nicholas Merino speaks with A. Rima Dael, CEO of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, about why these cuts could dismantle essential public safety infrastructure and silence vital community voices. Dael, a veteran of NPR and local radio, explains how local media is more than entertainment — it’s culture, it’s connection, and in some cases, it’s life-saving.
Hear why radio still matters — especially in North Carolina — and what you can do to support your public media in their work making waves.
