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Seth MacFarlane Likes Us, He Really Likes Us!
Now, he's followed that up by making a large donation to NPR and, um, us. And, by us, we mean KPCC as a whole, not just the LAist us. (In case you didn't know/haven't noticed/don't love us, LAist is now part of KPCC!) He's donating $2 million to NPR, and $500,000 to KPCC. The deal came together faster than a cutaway on Family Guy -- MacFarlane reached out to KPCC on Sunday afternoon, and boom, donated.
MacFarlane said he was interested in having his donation support independent, non-profit, non-biased media -- and encouraging more philanthropy from others to support our work. MacFarlane's contribution is set to be used as a challenge grant in our ongoing fundraising campaign, as part of that effort to encourage others to step up for his cause.
"We are deeply moved by Seth's generous contribution to Southern California Public Radio, KPCC and NPR," our president/CEO Bill Davis said in a statement. "It is this local/national partnership that is the heart of our shared public service mission and we are committed to more fully realizing that mission thanks to this gift and his challenge for others to join us."
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NPR also expressed their deep appreciation in a statement, saying that their portion "will go to supporting local news coverage, allowing NPR and Member stations to continue working together to tell the story of the whole country from everywhere in the country."
MacFarlane is one of a number of major Hollywood creatives who have spoken out about Fox News and its coverage. Steve Levitan, co-creator of Modern Family (which airs on ABC but is produced by Fox), retweeted MacFarlane and said he was also ashamed to work for a company that has anything to do with Fox News. Filmmaker Judd Apatow has been one of the most outspoken in recent days, with writer/director Paul Feig joining in retweeting Levitan today.
Looks like we've got a regular media Chicken Fight on our hands. We guess he felt bad about perfectly mocking us:
Thanks for the support, Seth!
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Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
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