At Home: Do You Support Public Broadcasting?

URGENT NOTE: If you get an email from this address -- jeaniee.wkar.gmail.com -- it is NOT from ME.   And, you might get an email from Familie Barwitski (Viola). After I answered what I thought was Viola's email, another blogger received the same email but from me (with an incorrect address, as above). Just beware. In your email, block and delete it. My apologies. Onward to the post!

I always love it when I'm reading blogs and someone says they have been watching a show on PBS that I have been enjoying too. I even get a kick out of it when someone speaks of something on the network that might not be my favorite but that matters to them. Now is the time you might want to share that same thought with your US Representatives and Senators.

You  may have seen the article in the April 14 New York Times headed "White House Asks Congress to Claw Back Funding from NPR and PBS." Longtime Gypsy readers know that for 32 years I worked for our local public broadcasting stations, first for television only, then also TV and radio. It was truly a privilege to go to work each day for an organization that I was happy to support, whose services I personally used and valued. I am still a PBS/NPR supporter, viewer and listener. 

The early days of my public broadcasting life! Pledge breaks.

And one reason I value public broadcasting so much is that it is available to just about anyone anywhere in the US who has an antenna. 98 percent of the U.S. is within range of a PBS signal. You don't need to stream it. You don't need cable. You don't need to pay. You just need to turn on the TV to your local station. No commercials (apart from corporate messages at the beginning and end of each show -- an unfortunate necessity). No interruptions. Just good programming. Free to all, regardless of income.

At the WKAR transmitter

One of the things I did quite often during my tenure was be in on-air pledge breaks. Yes, I know. Everyone hates them. Just bring on the program, we all say. But they have been essential to public broadcasting from Day One. Public support provides the lion's share of station budgets with the rest coming from a variety of sources -- in our case, the university (others are licensed to city or state governments), program underwriting or corporate support  (they are not ads, though lots of people call them that!), special events, endowments and the federal government.

Pledge -- it's necessary, but the public alone can't provide full financial support for PBS or NPR.

But that federal funding for public radio and TV is essential. The federal funds for both come through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which in turn provides a degree of funding to each PBS and NPR station. The amount that this costs the tax payer comes to about $1.60 a year, with the lion's share of the total funds going to public television (radio is less expensive to produce and broadcast.) That's YOUR local station. And when you are looking at federal budgets exceeding a trillion dollars, it is basically chump change. (Numbers vary, state to state.)

Dollars are forward funded by appropriation to help alleviate PBS being a target of political interest. Trump is requesting even the allocated funds be withdrawn.

Every few years, the appropriation is challenged by the Congress and stations go to bat to remind viewers of the importance of that support and urge them to contact their Congressional representatives to renew the funding (and definitely to not eliminate it). Did you or your children grow up with "Sesame Street" or other terrific educational programs? Are you fascinated by nature documentaries? Have you attended local events to learn more about your stations? It's time for them to hear from you.

Carroll Spinney, aka Oscar and Big Bird, at a WKAR event. The ability to do public events or distribute educational materials to families with young children is in danger.

Usually, things go pretty smoothly because Congressional representatives are people too -- they may have grown up with Mister Rogers or have kids who grew up on public television's other carefully built educational children's programs. They've become engrossed in the science of "Nova," the splendor of "Nature" or the concert hall in their living room with programs like "Great Performances." They have become enthralled with the history of America through the lens of documentarian Ken Burns and his films on the Civil War, Vietnam, World War II, Benjamin Franklin, our national parks, and baseball.

Ken Burns during a visit to WKAR promoting "The National Parks."

But things are different this year. The make-up of the Congress is different. The mood, the energy, the attitudes of our representatives is different. The anger at treasured American institutions, including the courts and the press, is different. Already, a recommendation has been prepared for the Congress from the White House to no longer fund public broadcasting and will be officially delivered on April 28. The withdrawal of support has many supporters.

Public broadcasting -- radio and TV -- has never been in greater jeopardy. The Congress and Donald Trump are coming at PBS and NPR with a big, huge knife. Off with their heads! You can make a difference.

My buddy Mike Lewis did this Julia Child take-off for me. "The French Chef" was an example of a local show that went national. Local production is in jeopardy with a CPB elimination.

For most stations, the greatest impact will be on what public broadcasting provides locally, whether it is local TV production, community events or news. In our case, and that of many other stations, it is the operation of a statewide emergency management system. (With cuts to NOAA, this is even more important.) (There is talk that this emergency management funding might stay in the budget but at reduced levels.) 

Local funds will affect getting  First Reader kits to 15,000 families to help children get on the right path to learning through the nationwide "Ready to Learn" service. LOCAL news coverage of city and regional issues, events and people via news broadcasts and locally produced television and radio programming could well be affected. And, it may well affect programs seen nationally. Remember, programs that are distributed nationally may have originally been created as a local program by another PBS station, one that got traction and a wider audience. A classic example is "The French Chef," which brought Julia Child to prominence on television.

For 21 years, PBS has been voted "Most Trusted" for its unbiased news and broad range of programming for all.

Recent research surveys indicate PBS is one of the most trusted of America's institutions with a majority of people supporting it. It has been voted the most trusted institution in America for 21 consecutive years, according to the 2024 Proof Insights Survey. So, I'm asking those of you in the US who value what public broadcasting provides, whether it is public television or radio, to please voice your support.

Here's how: First, call or email your Congressional Representatives and Senators. Ask them to maintain funding for public broadcasting. Tell your story -- what you love, why it matters. If you are shut in and can't get to concerts but love them, tell them. Did you learn something through public broadcasting that changed your life or that of your family, opened a new door or inspired you? If you value the importance of local and national news that strives to be accurate and unbiased, pass the word.

Second, if your station is in the middle of a fundraising campaign, become a new member or, if it is time to do so, renew your existing gift. And additional gifts are always welcome!

With Fred Rogers, one of my television heroes.

Finally, I'd like to share a video clip from 1969 when one of my public television heroes testified to Congress. Many Americans will remember Fred Rogers, aka "Mister Rogers," whose gentle program nurtured children in life skills like kindness and sharing,  testified on this important issue to Congress. The financial numbers have changed. The message is still the same.

And thanks for reading this one and for your support! 

(Two useful links for more info are this short video and this post from NPR. You can also visit Protect My Public Media or your local public broadcasting stations for additional information.)

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