California needs to protect public broadcasting

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OPINION—In July of last year, Congress and the President decimated all funding for public media in our nation, pulling the financial rug out from under hundreds of public radio and television stations.

Lost among all the rhetoric at the time about the pros and cons of federal funding for public media was the very immediate and practical impact on their capacity to continue the vital and unique services that the public has relied on for decades.

For California, one of only 18 states that does not provide state funding for public media, the immediate loss was $30 million per year to 33 stations, putting many in crisis.  Budgets have been cut and many staff have been laid off as a result. The impact has spared no station, from Eureka to Fresno to San Diego.

California’s nonprofit public media organizations cover 90% of the state, serving diverse communities in the largest metropolitan areas and almost every rural community with TV, radio and digital services.

Nearly 12 million people, 30% of our population, regularly tune in to public broadcasting.  Nearly 4 million Californians, young and old, watch PBS weekly, including commercial-free PBS Kids, which is often the only source of English language learning a child may have prior to entering public school.

Public media ensures that everyone has access to essential community information including emergency information, educational workshops and cultural events, regardless of geography or economic status.

In terms of life and safety for millions of Californians, public broadcasting is frequently the only source of immediate and ongoing emergency broadcasting in the face of severe weather, earthquake, fire and other crisis situations.

Wildfires, earthquakes and storms can knock out power and cell towers, but broadcast towers stay standing, making them essential to public safety.

Public media plays a vital role in strengthening democracy and communities in California with its distinct mission and public-service structure. Millions of Californians turn to public media as the one source they trust amidst record levels of misinformation.

Polls consistently show PBS to be the single most trusted brand in all media. Residents recognize that public media is dedicated to education, civic engagement, and public understanding, equipping Californians with reliable information to navigate complex issues and make informed choices.

Investing in public broadcasting safeguards media diversity and upholds the principle of equal protection.

Public media has been called the most successful public-private partnership in U.S. history, with between $6 and $& in local support raised for every $1 of federal funds. Over a million California residents make a small donation to our locally owned and operated public media stations.  In the immediate aftermath of the federal cuts, public radio and television donors (“members like you”) stepped up to begin to close the gap; without them, the harm would have been much greater.

However, the gap in funding is greater than local donors can fill by themselves, especially in economically challenged areas.

The governor and the Legislature are considering a budget proposal that would help fill that gap in the near term and provide additional stability as public media begins to grapple with this new reality.

Our proposal would invest $60 million over two years to give stations an immediate firmer financial footing and $10 million in funding to help restore critical infrastructure plans (like upgraded emergency alerts) that had to be abandoned when federal funding was withdrawn, as well as new infrastructure for more digital services.

With federal cuts, growing threats to the First Amendment and increasing attacks on immigrant and diverse communities, this is a critical moment to invest in the future of public media.

These funds will ensure that our local communities remain informed, safe and connected and Californians can be active participants in the civic and cultural vitality of our state.

Chris Ward represents District 78 in the California State Assembly.