WHYY Seeks to Preserve a Central Pennsylvania Treasure with the proposed acquisition of WPSU

For more than seven decades, WPSU has been the trusted voice of Central Pennsylvania – bringing stories that inspire, journalism that informs, and programs that educate and connect more than 1.5 million audience members throughout the region.

A Partnership to Protect Public Media

WHYY is stepping forward with a bold and compassionate vision: to acquire WPSU and ensure it continues as the independent, community-driven public media service Central Pennsylvania deserves.

WPSU is owned and operated by Penn State University (PSU). With the impact of federal funding cuts, along with PSU’s need to focus on its core mission of educating students, WPSU faces an important crossroads. The financial challenges that have affected so many institutions have made it impossible for the University to continue supporting the station as it has.

WHYY is working closely with Penn State and the WPSU team to keep local programming, trusted voices, and community connections strong. The goal is simple: to keep WPSU vibrant, local, and on the air. This is not a takeover – it’s a commitment to preservation.

“Through the survival and continued growth of WPSU, we are ensuring that local voices are heard, local stories are told, and that every resident has access to the informative and educational resources that define public media.” – Bill Marrazzo, President & CEO, WHYY

Why This Matters

Without this partnership, WPSU could face closure – a loss that would silence one of the region’s most vital sources of local journalism, educational programming, and cultural storytelling. This flies in the face of both WHYY’s and WPSU’s shared vision that all residents have access to a free non-commercial public media experience.

This proposed acquisition represents hope and continuity – ensuring that:

  • Local news and storytelling remain rooted in Central Pennsylvania.
  • Educational programming continues to serve students, teachers, and lifelong learners.
  • Community voices are amplified through trusted, non-commercial media.
  • WPSU’s identity and independence stay intact, while benefiting from WHYY’s operational support and shared resources.

A Shared Vision for the Future

This partnership is rooted in a shared belief

  • That public media matters,
  • That community voices should endure, and
  • That together, WPSU and WHYY can ensure a bright, independent, and sustainable future for trusted journalism and lifelong learning in Central Pennsylvania.

WHYY’s Commitment to the tri-state area is not changing

WHYY’s investment in WPSU will not come at the expense of its ongoing work or mission serving Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and Southern New Jersey. WHYY remains fully committed to serving the people of our region with the same depth of journalism, education, and community engagement that audiences have come to expect since our founding more than 70 years ago.

Any joint fundraising efforts associated with the proposed acquisition are designed to support WPSU’s sustainability and growth – and represent funds that would not otherwise have been directed to WHYY.

This initiative is additive, not competitive, expanding the reach and resilience of public media without diminishing WHYY’s local focus or impact.