Ping. Ping. Ping. 

Every day the average person must get around twenty notifications or more about government actions, crime, businesses, etc. This overload of information, especially the terrible news, makes it hard to truly grasp the impact of each event happening in the world. These alerts become easy to dismiss, even if they directly affect you. As of right now, all corporations are facing budget cuts, which have the extremely dangerous result of slowly normalizing the general public to these realities. I grappled with this effect as well, until I saw the outburst on social media about the budget cut to the Corporation of Public Broadcasting. 

The Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB) is a private corporation authorized by Congress in the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. They are the largest single source of funding for public radio, television and related online and mobile services. They direct federal money to NPR and PBS stations across the country. For almost 60 years, CPB has fulfilled its mission of creating a space for trusted public media systems that inform and serve communities all across the country. As required by the Public Broadcasting Act, CPB funds the creation of television, radio, and digital content and multiplatform projects (the ability for content to be displayed correctly on multiple platforms or operating systems) that inspire and educate underserved audiences, specifically children and minorities, through stories with different perspectives, genres and styles. Thousands of public media producers and production companies rely on CPB funding. 

Even though “funds appropriated to the CPB amount to less than 0.01 percent of the federal budget, and the average taxpayer only pays $1.60 a year to support public media,” President Trump recently signed a bill that eliminates one-point-one billion dollars in funding over two years. This cut is a part of a nine billion dollar reduction to public media and foreign aid programs. President Trump, along with his congressional allies, argue that public media is unfair to conservatives and a waste of taxpayer money. In nearly sixty years, this is the first time the government has refused to fund CPB. As a result of this rejection CPB has announced the beginning of its slow closing on August 1st, 2025. 

The loss of funds is profound due to the fact that not only does CPB fund both NPR and PBS, but also more than fifteen-hundred local stations across the country. Many stations in rural areas will have no option but to shut down without federal funding. CPB’s money funded programs like “Sesame Street”, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”, “Wild Kratt’s” and “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” and out of this mix of shows, most air new episodes which help create a  foundation of success for children. Most shows will face a reduction in the budget for production distribution through public television. Show quality, reach and ability to air new episodes are at risk. 

The slash of funds poses an imminent danger to rural communities due to the fact that smaller and local stations rely on CPB money. Public media (NPR,PBS, etc.) is a source of high-quality and consistent education for children who are not in school and do not have access to such learning opportunities. For families in states where education is not a prime concern, public media plays a key role in giving children an equal chance to learn key academic, social and emotional skills. In low-income areas, PBS has representatives traveling to areas in need, holding conferences, in-service training, and much more to support those in need. The resources provided by stations have proven to increase early literacy and mathematical skills in addition to interest in STEM programs. These stations are also a source of diverse media representation providing children with the opportunity to see a realistic depiction of their own lives. 

This budget cut is a devastation to children, underserved communities, stations all across the nation, and so many other groups that rely on public media. So, I urge you, go support NPR, PBS or another broadcasting station that you enjoy. Whether it be reading an article or listening to a podcast, show your love and appreciation. We all have the right to  news, educational and cultural programming.