Recent events, their significance
In May of this year, Executive Order 14290 was issued to eliminate direct and indirect funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), trickling down to local news stations such as National Public Radio (NPR) and The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). A few months later, in July, Congress codified this by passing a Rescissions Act that eliminated over $1 billion in federal funding for the CPB in the upcoming fiscal years. The CPB began winding down its operations on Aug. 1, and the majority of staff positions were concluded as of Sept. 30. New federal funds have been unavailable since the beginning of October, and as these enactments are being implemented nationwide, countless American communities are faced with significant threats.
The CPB was founded in November 1967 by the U.S. Congress and, through the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, eventually became the largest source of funding for television, public radio and other related services. WUNC Public Radio — a listener-supported station owned by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — is one such service, funded by the CPB since the 1970s. Its President and General Manager, Paul Hunton, can testify to how the presence of CPB-funded programming is already influencing society at large.
“I think [public broadcasting] is a national treasure,” Hunton said. “Public media, for decades and decades, has offered an alternative to commercial media, which is so dependent on corporate interest and is tailored to the lowest common denominator of American entertainment.”
Impact on various communities
Hunton’s view that public media offers a vital, community-based alternative is echoed by those working directly in the field. Digital Media Manager Dennis Beiting has served at PBS North Carolina for over 25 years, primarily involved in studio production and the handling of programs before they’re aired. He has witnessed firsthand how public media stations like PBS and NPR benefit the public eye and support various communities across the state.
“It’s good to have non-commercial, educational programming available for the community,” Beiting said. “As an employee [at PBS], I’m very proud to be doing this kind of work. I think we serve the people of North Carolina very well.”
This service-oriented objective aligns with the historical mission of the press to close information gaps. The CPB operates under a large umbrella, sustaining local public media stations as well as those found in smaller, rural areas. Thus, the implications of its defunding are serious for individuals and families across all regions of the United States.
“[Public broadcasting has] always been about trying to provide free information and educational content for everybody, but in particular to serve demographics, people and places that generally don’t have access to high-quality news,” Hunton said. “My worry is that some of the stations that serve very small or rural communities [and] rely more heavily on the federal funding, could potentially go off the air. Which would mean less news and information for very small communities across the country.”
Hunton isn’t the only one who thinks so. Eric Beeman — an individual with experience in writing and producing for Hollywood Studios, now the Broadcasting teacher at Wakefield — can speak on how public media has fundamentally shaped his own life, as well as American society, through its creation of educational content.
“There are some great things that can come from PBS,” Beeman said. “I learned how to read by watching Sesame Street. It’s helped out so many, especially from impoverished neighborhoods, so [the government is] really kind of shooting [themselves] in the foot in limiting the amount of education.”
Integrity of journalism
Similarly, defunding public broadcasting influences America’s political system, primarily by shifting power dynamics — governing what kind of information is made available and how it can be distributed. Maddie Policastro, former Youth Reporting Intern for WUNC, currently writes for The Daily Tar Heel, UNC Chapel Hill’s newspaper, and holds a staff position at Carolina Connection. Having much experience in the media industry, and planning to obtain a degree in journalism and political science, they deeply understand the importance of the public domain.
“I believe that transparency in politics and government, as somebody who studies political science, is vital,” Policastro said. “We need people to know who they’re voting for at the local levels and the issues that are impacting their communities.”
Worse yet, defunding such a large broadcasting institution sends a discouraging message to aspiring journalists about job stability and societal value. Fewer and fewer students are pursuing journalism or public broadcasting as their professional career, leading to decreased diversity and representation in media as a whole.
“I know people who switch majors because they’re just worried right now,” Policastro said. “They switched ideas, trying to look for different internships. Instead of going into journalism, they’re going into other [careers], so we’re losing all those people who really had a passion for [non-partisan information].”
Yet, these anxieties felt by students and communities are only one symptom of a much larger problem. The proposal to defund the CPB was not just a budget decision; it was an action reflecting tension over media influence and government criticism. As seen by other recent events — the temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel, censorship of Black History and the restrictions placed on Pentagon reporters — it’s possible that some of the rights Americans have been guaranteed for centuries could be subject to reinterpretation, or eventually, erasure.
“I think this is just setting a precedent that we can slowly start to chip away at some of those First Amendment protections, and it’s really concerning,” Policastro said.
How institutions are responding
Fortunately, broadcasting stations have not been left stagnant, despite the dilemmas the journalism industry is currently facing. David Crabtree, former news anchor for WRAL and current CEO for PBS North Carolina, elaborates on the steps PBS specifically will be taking to combat defunding and ensure longevity of their operations — steps that are likely to be adopted by other local news stations.
“We have already begun…a five-year plan to become self-sufficient at the end of [the next two fiscal years],” Crabtree said. “If we can become self-sufficient in raising enough funds on our own [to where] we don’t need government support, then we’ll return to the original mission as it was drawn 71 years ago, when this television station was created, and it relieves us of the potential [for] any influence the government might try to exert over us because they’re giving us money. It’s going to be a long five-year uphill battle, but I think it’s worth the fight.”
While future budget cuts and funding debates are expected to elicit change for media organizations, the current crisis can be reframed, not as a defeat, but as a temporary hurdle within a profession that remains fundamentally vital and rewarding. This industry’s ability to connect with the world will live on, continuing to offer a source of inspiration and purpose.
“I’ve been actively involved in journalism and broadcast journalism for almost 45 years,” Crabtree said. “Even with all of its problems [and] limitations that people pick up on, I still believe that it is the best profession in the world. Even when it’s hard, having a reporter’s notebook, microphone or camera with you opens doors and allows you to ask questions with people you never would’ve had before without those tools. It gives you an insight into the world of opportunity.”
In such an unpredictable political climate, access to reliable non-commercial information is crucial for formulating one’s worldview and making thoughtful decisions. However uncertain these next few years will be for journalists and public broadcasters alike, their missions live on, promising to continue cultivating a society that is both informed and engaged.
“What [the federal government] will find is that we will continue to do journalism in the way that we’ve always done journalism, which is unbiased, objective and without favor,” Hunton said. “We’ll continue to push on, regardless of where this ends. At the end of the day, they will not silence our voices.”
