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Public radio forced to be silent about prevention? 

It seems impossible, but WDUQ, the flagship NPR affiliate in Pittsburgh, refuses to  air Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania's prevention message. After allowing Planned Parenthood to underwrite news segments for only two days, the public radio station decided they could no longer accept our donation and tell the listening audience about comprehensive sexuality education, cancer screening, or infection screening.

According to Scott Hanley, WDUQ’s station manager, Duquesne University has instructed WDUQ to refuse underwriting from Planned Parenthood. It seems the University is now dictating who can give money to the flagship NPR station, and what they can air. And apparently that means Planned Parenthood's message of prevention can't see the airwaves.  

Planned Parenthood believes in public radio and has long admired WDUQ for its pledge to independence and integrity as a news station. We're also proud of the work we do to ensure strong and healthy families by providing men and women in need with healthcare services and information.

As one Planned Parenthood supporter wrote, "What part of the overall mission of prevention, including abstinence, teen self-esteem, cancer screenings and general health does Duquesne University disagree?"  Is Duquesne University going to screen every donor to make sure they are in compliance with Catholic doctrine?

We hope you'll call and email WDUQ and Duquesne University to tell them to reverse their decision.

You can call WDUQ at 412-396-6030. You can call Duquesne University at 412-396-6000

Letters below will go to Scott Hanley, the station manager, and Dr. Charles Dougherty, the president of Duquesne University, which has purportedly asked the station to remove our underwriting message.