Throw a Lifeline

The first two weeks of the second Donald Trump administration have been a fire hose of developments “flooding the zone,” so it’s easy to miss small developments that could have enormous impact in some quarters. One of those is the Federal Communications Commission and its new focus on NPR and PBS. The New York Times reported that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has launched an investigation into “whether the news organizations’ member stations violated government rules by recognizing financial sponsors on the air.” Its conclusions could lead Congress to take away financial support.

NPR and PBS acknowledge corporate sponsors on air, mostly very briefly, but Carr believes they are airing “announcements that cross the line into prohibited commercial advertisements.” He believes federal funding should end as a result.

Both NPR and PBS have a long history of working with the FCC to be sure they’re not crossing any lines, and this pearl-clutching by the new administration is transparently about punishing the networks for their political coverage. It’s an alarming overreach and a signal that, in Washington, D.C., respecting certain boundaries is over.

Federal funding makes up about 15 percent of public television revenue and less than 1 percent of NPR’s annual support — so what’s the big deal? It’s about more than dollars and cents. Both NPR and PBS are, in a time when commercial television and radio have become more partisan, bastions of old-fashioned journalism. Critics will label them liberal, but the truth is that viewers and listeners of all stripes find something worthwhile on public television and radio. They are independent voices at a time when that’s sorely missing in national discourse.

Locally, WLIW in Southampton is a shining example of how public radio can be deeply ingrained in a local community and provides both news and entertainment to a grateful audience. WSHU in Connecticut likewise provides a strong presence regionally, working with Stony Brook University to provide local reporting on Long Island. These are two stations that represent not just the present but the future of journalism and storytelling. They should be supported, not attacked.

Fortunately, NPR and PBS stations are funded mostly by local listeners who appreciate what they have to offer — though far too many people don’t bother contributing, figuring their tax dollars are keeping the stations on the air. (See the figures above.) Having objective, well-reported news and information programs is something of value. These days, it’s not a political statement to support them with donations — it’s becoming more like a lifeline.

If you think PBS and NPR are important, don’t stay silent on these attacks, and start supporting them with more than just words.