When perusing National Public Radio’s (NPR) programs page yesterday a pop-up ad appeared: “Public media is under threat,” then it points to Pres. Donald Trump’s May 1 Executive Order titled Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media which cuts off funding for public broadcasting. The ad then asks “Can we count on you to be here for us?” and to consider a donation.
Pres. Trump’s order says that if public dollars “fund public broadcasting at all, they fund only fair, accurate, unbiased, and nonpartisan news coverage.” For years, conservatives have argued that political coverage has favored Democrats and hurt Republicans. The order has thrown public programming into an existential crisis, which may bring glee to some conservatives (24% approve funding cuts according to a Pew survey). But it’s a rude awakening to public news media executives at NPR and PBS. The Pew survey, taken March 10-16, found that 44% of Americans support public news media funding and 33% have no opinion.
Kentucky’s First District Congressman, James Comer told the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on March 26 where NPR CEO Katherine Maher was present: “people who listen to NPR are totally misinformed. I have a problem with that, because you get federal funds.” Comer argued that with new digital technology he doesn’t “think there’s a role for public radio anymore.” Trump’s EO said the same thing “Today the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options. Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.” Maher admitted regret by the NPR editorial board for failing to cover important political stories like Hunter Biden and his infamous laptop.
In a remarkable turnaround, Maher posted an NPR Extra memo on May 13 saying “there are Americans who feel as though their perspectives are not well reflected. As public media, we have a mission and mandate to serve the entire nation. We can only achieve this when we are successful reflecting the political, economic, and social differences reflected in today’s American experience.” Maher seems serious about making major changes as they face funding cuts. She’s caught between Trump’s EO and a scathing essay last year by NPR Senior Business Editor Uri Berliner who said that NPR increasingly provides its audience with “the distilled worldview of a very small segment of the U.S. population” has an “absence of viewpoint diversity” and an “open-minded spirit no longer exists within NPR.”
When political bias – real or perceived – creeps into government funded media, irrespective of large swaths of Americans, who identify different politically, religiously, or socioeconomically from NPR executives and reporters, it should be no surprise that cuts will be pushed. As it is, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)—the national umbrella organization that funds NPR and PBS, received $535 million from the federal government last year. [A total of 46% of NPR’s funding is from corporate sponsorships (20%), individual contributions (17%) and foundation grants (9%)]. Less than one percent of their funding comes directly from CPB. However, 31% of NPR’s funding comes from member station fees, which is a round about way of receiving federal funding.
In an age of annual trillion dollar federal deficits and $36 trillion in national debt, conservatives argue that federal cuts need to be made across the board. If PBS and NPR expect to receive public funding, several questions must be answered.
Is funding by the federal government necessary? As it is, nearly half of NPR funding is from corporate sponsorships, individual contributions, and foundation grants. Each of these categories could be increased to make up the difference in the loss of federal funding. Those who see the value in NPR and PBS will step up and contribute.
Is the leadership team reflective of political and religious diversity? According to Berliner there’s not a single Republican in an editorial position at NPR. This is clearly reflected in their choice of news topics, programming, and in political coverage.
Are programs reflective of the public and serving them well? Some public programming has been blatantly offensive to many Americans. In 2021, New York public station WNET in New York aired a drag queen called Lil Miss Hot Mess on “Let’s Learn,” a program for 3-8 year olds. Most will agree that it’s never appropriate for drag queens to dance and sing about various body parts on children’s programs. On today’s NPR homepage the Life Kit 30 minute topic is: New to your queerness? Here’s how to find a supportive community in your area. When was the last time NPR had a conservative program on human sexuality, featuring serious thinkers like Carl Trueman or Denny Burk?
Is public funding for one news outlet fair to other news media platforms? Hundreds of news media platforms that represent the entire political spectrum have burst on the scene since the rise of the internet and smart phone. When the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was first established in 1967 there was no internet, podcasts, or online news sites. Only three national news outlets existed. Nonprofit online news outlets like the left-leaning Kentucky Lantern launched in the commonwealth in 2022. Religious online newspapers like Kentucky Today serve conservative-leaning Kentuckians. Neither news outlet gets federal funding.
Is public radio and television worthy of diverse public listenership? Station managers should ask if their reporting is reflective of the political and religious landscape in their community. Do interviews in political and religious stories feature as many conservative groups, institutions, and ideas on par with their liberal counterparts?
In an age of tightening budgets, public broadcasting must find new sources of support. If it wants to grow, it must also broaden its listening base. In order to do that it must welcome conservative perspectives, including the 65% of Kentucky voters who voted for Donald Trump in 2024. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is at a crossroads. If it welcomes conservatives, and brings balance it has an opportunity to grow and more importantly put the “public” back in public radio.