Defunded! Elmo, Rural Coverage, Public Media at Risk

Avery Machmarsky

Staff Writer

After successful efforts by Congress to defund public media, national news organizations and agencies are facing unprecedented funding challenges. These challenges threaten access to PBS and NPR, media outlets known and trusted worldwide, and the silencing of news outlets across the nation that have produced local coverage and access to beloved characters for decades. One public media group that is greatly impacted by these funding cuts is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. According to PBS, CBP is planning the end of its operations in response to Congress’ decision and the Senate Appropriations Committee’s cancellation of funding. Although the Corporation for Public Broadcasting does not own or operate public broadcasting stations or programming, the organization funds PBS and NPR and the impactful programming both present to Americans. The Trump Administration’s stance has been that public media is biased, leading to his supporters in Congress cutting funds for what has been considered crucial and beneficial coverage. In making these funding cuts, the Administration is changing the narrative on the nature of public media which has always been considered a balanced source for national and local news reporting. These cuts also defund children’s programming that has been a significant source of education for American children, teaching everything from the ABCs and counting to how to have compassion for others and feeling safe in an ever-changing world. On May 1, Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at denouncing the biased language portrayed by public media and stated that taxpayers would not continue to fund this erroneous coverage, according to the White House. In addition to ending federal funding, the Executive Order also outlined that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting must terminate its funding for PBS and NPR, which were deemed partisan outlets.

With these federal cuts and uncertainties with corporation partnerships, some public media outlets and programming have turned to new deals. The globally known Sesame Street has recently partnered with Netflix to ensure the preservation of its educational programs with continued coverage on PBS and PBS KIDS, per NPR. Given its decades-long global reach, a program like Sesame Street may survive the current funding crisis, whereas local stations that have broadcasted the show face total shutdown. 

With its iconic “From Viewers Like You” slogan, PBS relies not only on federal funding support, but also the contributions of public viewers. Furthermore, local stations connected with PBS, including KSPS in Spokane, Washington, WHQR in Wilmington, North Carolina and Hawaii Public Radio, have turned to public donations to stabilize the lack of federal funding, according to PBS. For KSPS, a large portion of its viewers and donors are based in Canada, contributing to public media access for an entire region. However, with Trump’s comments that Canada should join the United States leaving Canadian viewers disgruntled with current American policies, the possible donations for public media have been significantly reduced. In the case of WHQR and Hawaii Public Radio, many people have donated to the cause, exceeding initial funding losses, revealing the high regard these communities have for public media. Stations in rural and poorer areas, such as in Alaska, are at a disadvantage, and larger public media organizations have called on increased support for these stations, especially from regions able to yield higher donations. As stated by PBS, these smaller stations cover everything from mainstream news to local news stories and community meetings. They help foster communities that are connected and informed.

The conservative response to the defunding of public media is PragerU, a nonprofit program that promotes conservative viewpoints through videos, per Forbes. PragerU has recently been approved to be used as material in public schools in Oklahoma and Florida, making partisan and biased content readily accessible in educational settings. These videos are seen by supporters as “pro-American,” with “accurate” information of events and movements in the nation, including content of George Floyd and “woke” movements. Supporters feel the education system in the nation has turned “left,” according to NPR. The distortion of facts found in PragerU content, however, is highly problematic, and those opposed to divisive and inaccurate information are beginning to push back, with YouTube blocking PragerU content due to its use of hate speech.

To ensure accurate information is produced and shared throughout the United States and around the world, unbiased and accurate public media programs must be supported. These programs must be for all ages and must remain free to access. A connected and informed public builds a strong and safe community locally and reinforces democratic values nationally. At the same time, programs like Sesame Street demonstrate the major impact of public media by fostering shared experiences among adults and children across generations and borders, creating a unique international bond ingrained in education, empathy, and understanding.

Image courtesy of Getty Images.