Trump's push against PBS and NPR funding to impact rural areas, station leaders warn

Public television stations are facing uncertain times ahead as the Senate has approved a bill to cancel all federal funding for the network. Once the House passes the bill, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s budget will be zeroed out for the first time since 1967. This decision, long sought by President Trump, is causing concerns for local stations that heavily rely on taxpayer support.

Public media executives anticipate that smaller broadcasters, especially in rural areas, will be most affected by the funding cut. Larger stations in urban markets have diverse funding sources like viewer donations and foundation support to sustain them. PBS CEO Paula Kerger stated that these cuts will have a significant impact on all stations, especially smaller ones serving rural areas that provide unique local programming and emergency alerts.

While some Republican senators appreciated the local programming and emergency alerts provided by public media, others criticized perceived bias in NPR programming and deemed the system outdated in the streaming age. The Media Research Center applauded the funding cut, claiming that PBS and NPR failed to deliver objective journalism.

Public media officials refute claims of bias, emphasizing their commitment to neutral reporting. Despite the funding challenges, stations are exploring new funding models and seeking support from non-federal sources to sustain their services.

According to the source: CNN.