Corporation for Public Broadcasting
New Report Highlights Impact of State Budget Cuts on Public Media
We have a new report that describes half a decade of budget battles at the state level that have eroded funding for public broadcasters around the country. In the last year, governors and state legislatures have dramatically reduced public media budgets and even zeroed out all state funding for local stations.
According to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, more than 95 percent of public TV stations and 77 percent of public radio stations receive some kind of support directly from a state government or indirectly from a state-funded college or university.
Public Media on the Chopping Block -- Or Not
The federal appropriations for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting are determined two years in advance to help insulate the CPB from congressional budget bickering. But now we are confronted with the odd paradox that one part of Congress — the Super Committee that grew out of the debt-ceiling debate — is likely debating cuts to public broadcasting even as a Senate subcommittee this week approved an increased budget for 2014.
Current.org reported this week that “If CPB survives 'til [2014], it would receive $445 million, the same as appropriated for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 but $6 million below President Obama's request.”
PBS Cameraman: Leave Our Funding Intact
As we all know, we’re facing difficult decisions in how to deal with our nation’s federal deficit. We’re also in the midst of a journalism crisis.
Some lawmakers have suggested that now is the opportune time to cut federal funding for public broadcasting, and tomorrow, many may vote to do so. My experience interacting with the public every day suggests this would be a grave mistake.
I have been working for the past six years as a videographer producing content for UNC-TV, North Carolina's state-wide PBS network. The communities we serve depend on us to provide truth in journalism, life changing educational content and crucial information every day.
CPB's New Initiative: Local Journalism Centers
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has a pretty simple proposal for how to counter the decline in local journalism that has hit communities across the country: invest in local reporting.
Last Thursday, the CPB announced that it’s investing $10.5 million to create seven “Local Journalism Centers” across the country – multimedia hubs that will cover local issues.
End the Big Broadcast Swindle
The FCC is reviewing its media ownership rules and needs to hear from you. Tell the FCC we need rules that serve the public, not big broadcasters.
Change the Channels
Check out the interactive map to see consolidating newsrooms near you.
