Values

To realize public media’s potential, we are working to create policies for public media built around the following priorities:

Support: New Public Funding for New Public Media

Surveys show that most Americans consider public broadcasting to be more trustworthy and educational than commercial media. Yet the United States spends just $1.37 per capita (or per person) on public broadcasting — 70 times less than Denmark and 20 times less than Germany. Instead of being free to focus on reporting, producing and community building, public broadcasters are forced to convince Congress every year that they are worthy of the paltry funding they receive. And this funding does not reach many community radio and TV stations or media centers.

Leadership: Accountability and Governance

Public media must be free from undue political and commercial influence. Independence is essential so public media can credibly inform people about the crucial issues affecting their lives without censorship, fear or favor. We must create improved and effective governance and leadership within public media institutions to ensure accountability and foster visionary, capable leadership. We must also better insulate public media from political and commercial pressures.

Technology: Embracing the Era of Digital Opportunity

Public media are on the verge of great change: Advances in digital technology are paving the way for increased interactivity, more affordable production, and opportunities to expand public participation. By creating strong partnerships between broadcasters and the communities they serve, new technologies have the potential to dramatically expand the role that public media play in our daily lives. These new opportunities can foster participation, dialogue and debate, and generate original content from new voices.

Diversity: Public Media for the People

We seek to expand and diversify audiences, content, ownership and platforms for all public media. The quality journalism and educational and cultural programming that public media offer have built loyal audiences but aren’t reaching much of the American public. By expanding content to include more voices and perspectives, public media can improve its news and programming, enrich its content, and greatly expand its audience base. As advances in technology produce new formats, public media must seize these opportunities to make highly interactive, participatory media.

Expansion: Building a Bigger Tent

In local communities where commercial media are failing to provide quality public affairs and cultural programming, independent, noncommercial media are often the only outlets filling the void. They have deep connections to the community, are often volunteer-driven, and produce diverse, original content. As we work toward policy solutions that will strengthen and protect these entities, it is crucial that we also work to expand the definition of public media to include community radio, Low Power FM radio, public access TV, independent print publications, viewer-supported satellite TV and nonprofit Internet-based outlets. Collaboration among all of these outlets is key to public media’s future.