Planet Money explores funding options

Jeff Bercovici of Daily Finance writes Tuesday about how National Public Radio’s “Planet Money” site is exploring whether it can create some revenue.

Bercovici writes, “In other words, everything’s on the table — including the possibility that whatever structure they come up with will involve a for-profit component in addition to the usual NPR combo of corporate underwriting and listener donations.

“‘Like everyone else in the business, we’re trying to figure out if there are other revenue models that might work for us,’ says Davidson. ‘One of many possibilities raised has been the possibility, like many not-for-profits, of having a for-profit fundraising arm.’ But, he adds, ‘I can say with 100-percent assurance that our core goal is to be a not-for-profit, mission-driven company.’

“Another question that needs to be resolved is what, exactly, is the nature of Planet Money’s relationships to NPR and to This American Life, which airs on NPR stations but is produced by Chicago Public Radio. Blumberg has said that he and Davidson have ‘something like ownership’ of the brand, although what that means isn’t quite clear. Part of the purpose of the discussions now underway is to codify that.”

Read more here.