Public broadcasting faces closure after funding eliminated
The Corporation for Constituents Broadcasting CPB will wind down operations starting after Congress eliminated its federal funding ending nearly six decades of patronage for populace media across the United States The decision follows a package to cut billion from the budget signed by former President Donald Trump in July fulfilling a long standing conservative goal to defund masses broadcasting Trump and his allies have accused outlets such as PBS and NPR of liberal bias Community media advocates counter that CPB funding supports nonpartisan journalism children s offerings and emergency broadcasting in communities with limited other reliable news sources Founded in CPB distributes federal dollars to more than inhabitants radio and television stations nationwide For small and rural stations CPB grants can cover as much as of operating costs Without that money multiple outlets may have to cut staff scale back coverage or shut down entirely Larger stations in urban areas often supported by listener donations corporate sponsorships and diversified revenue streams are expected to weather the loss better The funding loss jeopardizes not only trusted news programs such as PBS NewsHour and Morning Edition but also educational and cultural offerings that has defined generations Sesame Street Mister Rogers Neighborhood Ken Burns documentaries and countless local productions It also threatens a crucial safety net role several rural residents rely on populace radio and TV for weather alerts citizens fitness information and balloting coverage In a message CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison called the shutdown a arduous reality despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who spoke out against the cuts Inhabitants media is more than a system it is a lifeline for communities across the nation she disclosed pledging transparency during the transition The majority of CPB s roughly employees will be laid off by the end of September with a small organization remaining until January to close out contracts and legal obligations For a multitude of Americans especially in rural and underserved areas community broadcasting is not just background noise It is the majority consistent and trustworthy source of local and national information Its disappearance could leave vast swaths of the country in a news desert with fewer places to turn for fact checked reporting civic discourse and cultural connection Read more about populace broadcasting PBS challenges executive overreach The MAGA war on PBS was never about money Trump s hand-picked FCC head Carr launches investigations into NPR and PBS The post General broadcasting faces closure after funding eliminated appeared first on Salon com
