Why public TV & radio must respond to $1 billion in federal budget cuts
Curious George, The Cat in the Hat, Wild Kratts, and Sesame Street are a few of the shows Minnehaha students and teens nationwide have grown up with. Many kids eagerly await the Sunday morning television binge, waking up extra early to catch a favorite show.
Sophomore Amelia Steffen and her 12-year-old brother, Teddy, are just a sliver of youth who were raised with this tradition.
“My brother uses Dinosaur Train to regulate himself when he’s stressed,” she said. “It’s his comfort show, and he always looks forward to watching it.”
Future generations won’t be able to experience this same nostalgia due to the current administration’s new policy. The government wants to reduce $1.1 billion of federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which oversees public television and public radio stations (PBS and NPR). a policy that would waive access to many Americans’ trusted news sources alongside these sentimental kids shows.
On May 1, the White House stated on the official page titled “ending taxpayer subsidization of biased media.” President Trump argued that the government funding for news media was “outdated and unnecessary,” claiming it was “corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.”
This statement was just the beginning of a long rally to defund and close resources to vital companies, such as PBS, NPR, and countless non-profit organizations.
The majority of Americans were forced to transition to large and privately funded news companies instead of their local channels. Corporations such as FOX News or ABC have grown tremendously in revenue and views, with FOX becoming the leading source of news over the last six months.
This newly imposed plan is unpopular among many journalists, lawmakers, and prominent media figures. The proposal, which primarily affects low-income and rural areas, quickly drew the eyes of many Americans, especially those in positions of power.
“PBS provides local member stations with high-quality, educational content,” said PBS president Paula Kerger.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt countered the statement by claiming it is “politically biased.” The Republican Party and PBS are still in an ongoing dispute, working to regain funding.
Many of Minnesota’s local journalists and government officials feel strongly about educating the public on the truth of the defunding plan. Minnesota Rep. Samakab Hussein (DFL, St. Paul and Ramsey County) believes it’s appropriate to tax public media.
“Public media is a public service,” Hussein said. “It keeps communities informed.”
Regarding allegations of bias in news coverage, Hussein urged people to “look at the full picture – public media follows strict editorial standards and accountability practices.”
The fight to save funding is still prevalent today, with local news publications like the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger being affected.
“No one can be completely unbiased,” said Messenger president and editor Tesha Christensen. “However, we can make sure that we are giving the facts.”
If given reliable, relevant facts, Minnesotans can do their own research on both sides and help to prevent the dangers of misinformation.