48% of my station's budget comes from federal funding. There are stations more rural than ours who depend on the government even more.
This isn't just a luxury- in some areas, PBS and NPR are among the only broadcast channels that people even get. They're a vital source of news, educational content, and entertainment for rural populations. More importantly, they are essential parts of the Emergency Alert System, which is one of the few ways to warn people about dangerous weather or other local disasters.
They're important in cities, too. PBS KIDS programming has high standards that other networks lack. In fact, the majority of kids shows on our channel nowadays actually have a child psychologist on staff to advise how to handle certain topics. Numerous studies indicate that PBS KIDS programming can significantly improve a child's reading, math, and phonics skills. PBS stations also have considerable public outreach programs (mine gives away free school supplies and free haircuts to as many kids as possible every year, among other free events), and PBS stations are by and large the creators and curators of documentaries and content about local areas whose history might not otherwise be preserved.
Conservatives have had public media in their crosshairs for a long time, and we have all been gearing up for a fight in Congress since the election. They're not only targeting future funding here, but trying to revoke funds that have already been approved.
This executive order certainly isn't legal, but we all know that won't stop him. This will be fought through the courts. In the meantime, please sign the Protect My Public Media petition, call your representatives and urge them to support public broadcasting, and if you can spare the money, consider donating to your local PBS station.
Passport, the PBS streaming service, is only $5 a month (which goes directly towards your local station) and provides you with our entire library of really high quality educational television (that's still entertaining!) AS WELL AS all of our kids programming. That is MUCH cheaper than other streaming services and you know the money is going towards a good cause.
If you live in a big city or a left-leaning area, consider donating to a rural station or somewhere smaller, as they will likely be hit harder by this. But really, any donation to any station is helpful.
Support public media! Don't let the far right silence journalists just because they don't like what we report!
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