This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Allison Perlman is an Associate Professor of Film & Media Studies at the University of California, Irvine. Josh Shepperd and an Associate Professor of Media Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder
What will happen to NPR, PBS and local stations?
NPR and PBS provide programming to local public television and radio stations across the country. The impact on them will be direct and indirect.
Both NPR and PBS receive money from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, an independent nonprofit corporation Congress created in 1967 to receive and distribute federal money to public broadcasters. flows directly to local stations. get up to half of their budgets from the CPB.
But NPR and PBS get much of their funding from foundation grants, viewers鈥� and listeners鈥� donations, and corporate underwriting. And local public radio and TV stations also get support from an array of sources besides CPB.
Only about 1% of NPR funding, and 15% of PBS funding, via the CPB. However, once , they鈥檒l be less able to pay NPR and PBS .
The nearly 1,500 public media stations in the U.S. rely on a mix of NPR, PBS and third-party producer programming, such as and , for the programs they offer. Local stations also produce and air regional news and provide emergency broadcasts for the government.
In rural areas with few broadcast stations and spotty cellphone coverage, public broadcast stations are vital sources of information about important community news and . Federal support is essential for the programming and day-to-day operations of many local stations and allows for the maintenance of equipment and personnel to operate these vital community resources.
We believe that stations in communities that , especially in , would be hit especially hard because they rely heavily on CPB funding.
Why are Republicans taking this step?
Public broadcasting has long been a target of conservative Republicans. They say that with a highly diversified media landscape, the public by federal dollars. They also and taxpayers should not be required to fund media that slants to the left politically.
Why is public media necessary when there鈥檚 news on the internet?
As has plummeted, public broadcasting has remained a vital source for news in communities across the nation. This is especially true in , where economic and political pressures have threatened the survival of local journalism.
In addition, with much , public radio and television plays an important role in making quality journalism available to the American public.
Why did Congress approve these funds 2 years ahead?
Public broadcasting has gotten roughly in recent years. The CPB has always approved and designated , due to a provision in the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, after Congress has voted to provide that money. The CPB then has to PBS and NPR affiliate stations to support their technical infrastructure, program development and audience research.
What are the consequences for Native communities?
Dozens of of closing once the CPB is defunded. , a network of 57 radio stations and four TV stations, is a key source of news and information for tribal communities across the nation and relies on CPB support.
U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican, publicly with the White House to move $9.4 million in Interior Department funding to two dozen Native American stations. But there is no provision related to this promise within the legislation.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the .
