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What Costs Less Than a Soda But Educates the Nation?
When was the last time you paid $1.40 for something truly valuable? That's exactly what each American contributes annually to support public broadcasting—an amount less than a vending machine soda that sustains one of our nation's most trusted institutions.
The latest federal budget proposal threatens to eliminate all funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, slashing over a billion dollars that keeps local public radio and TV stations operating nationwide. This isn't just an attack on NPR and PBS as national networks—it's a direct threat to independent local stations serving as essential lifelines in communities across America. For rural areas and low-income neighborhoods, these stations often provide the only source of local news, emergency alerts, and educational programming available without subscription fees or internet access.
What makes public broadcasting special is precisely what's at risk: a commitment to inform without manipulation, to educate without chasing ratings, and to include everyone regardless of economic status. PBS reaches 97% of American homes, while NPR serves over 37 million listeners weekly. Research consistently shows that audiences of public media are better informed, more engaged in their communities, and more adept at identifying misinformation than consumers of partisan media. As one expert put it, public media represents "a promise to inform without manipulation, to educate without chasing ratings, and to include everyone, not just those who can afford cable or subscription news."
Before we eliminate this vital public service, we should ask why we're targeting public broadcasting when there are bloated contracts, defense overspending, and billionaire tax loopholes that could be addressed instead. The question isn't whether we can afford $1.40 per person annually—it's whether we can afford to lose the invaluable democratic service public broadcasting provides. Consider supporting your local public station today—you might not notice your contribution is gone, but you'd definitely notice if these essential services disappeared.
Send me a text message!
Support the show
Follow Tyler on Bluesky at @tylerwoodward.com 🦋
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By Tyler WoodwardWhen was the last time you paid $1.40 for something truly valuable? That's exactly what each American contributes annually to support public broadcasting—an amount less than a vending machine soda that sustains one of our nation's most trusted institutions.
The latest federal budget proposal threatens to eliminate all funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, slashing over a billion dollars that keeps local public radio and TV stations operating nationwide. This isn't just an attack on NPR and PBS as national networks—it's a direct threat to independent local stations serving as essential lifelines in communities across America. For rural areas and low-income neighborhoods, these stations often provide the only source of local news, emergency alerts, and educational programming available without subscription fees or internet access.
What makes public broadcasting special is precisely what's at risk: a commitment to inform without manipulation, to educate without chasing ratings, and to include everyone regardless of economic status. PBS reaches 97% of American homes, while NPR serves over 37 million listeners weekly. Research consistently shows that audiences of public media are better informed, more engaged in their communities, and more adept at identifying misinformation than consumers of partisan media. As one expert put it, public media represents "a promise to inform without manipulation, to educate without chasing ratings, and to include everyone, not just those who can afford cable or subscription news."
Before we eliminate this vital public service, we should ask why we're targeting public broadcasting when there are bloated contracts, defense overspending, and billionaire tax loopholes that could be addressed instead. The question isn't whether we can afford $1.40 per person annually—it's whether we can afford to lose the invaluable democratic service public broadcasting provides. Consider supporting your local public station today—you might not notice your contribution is gone, but you'd definitely notice if these essential services disappeared.
Send me a text message!
Support the show
Follow Tyler on Bluesky at @tylerwoodward.com 🦋