Since Donald Trump gutted funding for public media, nearly 600 public media employees have been laid off, including experienced and respected journalists at NPR. PBS eliminated 15 percent of its workforce. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting shut down entirely.

Having frequently appeared on public media, I always found the conversations to be thoughtful, challenging, and grounded in facts rather than outrage. Losing voices like these is a loss for every community that depends on trusted local journalism.

But the fight isn’t over yet. Congress is considering legislation that would restore funding and provide struggling stations with a critical lifeline. Every station that survives today is one that can help lead to a stronger public media system tomorrow.

The past year has been devastating. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting — once the cornerstone of public media — has disbanded. Over 550 jobs have disappeared from local stations, with rural and Tribal communities suffering the deepest losses. More than 115 additional stations are now at risk of closing if federal support is not restored.

Public media has recovered from political attacks before because people recognized that an informed democracy is worth defending.

Click ‘START WRITING’ to send a message demanding your members of Congress support legislation restoring funding for public media now >>