Latest news with #PBSKids
Fast Company
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
The ‘Daniel Tiger' effect: How quality kids' TV impacts teen mental health—and why cuts to PBS could be disastrous
Parents used to be freaked out when kids were reading romance novels or Horatio Alger books. It seems quaint now, when so many parents (and teens!) are concerned about the effects of social media and screen time. But it speaks to a universal truth: The stories we learn have the power to shape our lives. Stories are among the oldest forms of teaching. They don't just shape our thinking, they actually affect us at a neural level. This is especially true for kids: The entertainment that children consume during their most formative years plays an important role in shaping who they become and how they relate to the world around them. Now, however, some of the most reliable sources for high-quality children's media are on the chopping block with the administration's threat to cut federal funding of PBS, accounting for 15% of its funding, which will only limit access to valuable programming that can impact future generations. In fact, the U.S. Department of Education recently notified the Corporation for Public Broadcasting about the immediate termination of its Ready to Learn grant, taking away the remaining $23 million of a grant that was set to end on September 30. PBS has received this grant every five years for the past 30 years, and it accounts for one-third of PBS Kids' annual budget. There have been many studies on the immediate effects of media on children, from specific learning goals to impacts on self-esteem. But one thing that hadn't been measured extensively was how much those learnings persist over time. That's why my colleagues and I at the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at the University of California, Los Angeles, studied the long-term impact of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, a modern-day Mister Rogers-inspired program. The show, which we weren't involved with, was developed in close collaboration with child-development experts to purposefully and thoughtfully model social skills and emotional regulation tools for young kids. The final deadline for Fast Company's Brands That Matter Awards is this Friday, May 30, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
ABC News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Daniel Tiger's Neighbourhood: Something New About Trolley
Daniel Tiger's Neighbourhood: Something New About Trolley SPECIAL Animation/Cartoons Movies & Specials Social & Emotional Literacy Watch Duration: 22 minutes 2 seconds 22 m Article share options Share this on Facebook Twitter Send this by Email Copy link WhatsApp Messenger There's something new about Trolley, and Daniel is so excited to find out what it is! As he waits, he learns new things about his friends.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
PBS Faces Crisis After Government Pulls Plug on Kids TV Grant
PBS has furloughed 25% of its PBS Kids staff after the U.S. Department of Education abruptly ended a key grant program that's funded educational children's television for over 30 years. Current reported that the move was announced by PBS President Paula Kerger during her keynote speech at the 2025 PBS Annual Meeting in Atlanta, just days after the Department pulled the plug on the Ready To Learn grant program for 2020–2025. That decision halted federal funding to PBS and 44 local public media stations mid-cycle. 'We've been forced to furlough really talented members of our staff at PBS as we figure out how to continue to advance the PBS Kids service,' Kerger said. 'We are going to keep fighting.' The Ready To Learn initiative has historically supported the creation of educational programming aimed at underserved children and families. Its unexpected termination now threatens the production of beloved PBS Kids shows and the jobs behind them—including freelance writers and producers whose contracts rely on episodic production orders. A PBS spokesperson confirmed the scale of the layoffs, citing the funding loss as a critical blow to the network's ability to deliver high-quality, accessible content. 'This decision removes a critical resource that for over 30 years has enabled us to create high-quality, educational PBS Kids content while opening up worlds of possibilities for millions of children across the country.' The Writers Guild of America East called the cuts 'an attack on children and families' and urged Congress to fully restore federal funding for public children's programming. "Our children deserve no less," the union said in a statement. Other grantees, including Minnesota-based TPT, have also cut staff as a result. TPT had received $4.6 million in Ready To Learn funds for the current grant cycle to support its animated series Skillsville. While PBS Kids remains a staple in homes across America, its future—at least in its current form—now hangs in the balance.
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
PBS Kids furloughs 25% of staff after Trump administration cuts grant
PBS Kids furloughs 25% of staff after Trump administration cuts grant A Department of Education spokesperson said the Ready To Learn grant was cut because it was 'not aligned with Administration priorities.' Show Caption Hide Caption President Donald Trump signs order to cut PBS and NPR funding President Donald Trump signed an executive order to stop directly funding PBS and NPR. PBS has furloughed some of its staff weeks after the Trump administration began a push to defund the public broadcaster. A PBS spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY that 25% of PBS Kids employees have been furloughed "because of the decision by the Department of Education to abruptly cancel the Ready To Learn grant." 'This decision removes a critical resource that for over 30 years has enabled us to create high-quality, educational PBS KIDS content while opening up worlds of possibilities for millions of children across the country," the statement said. PBS President Paula Kerger announced the furloughs during address at the PBS Annual Meeting on May 19. 'We've been forced to furlough really talented members of our staff at PBS as we figure out how to continue to advance the PBS Kids service," Kerger said. "We are going to keep fighting.' What is the Ready To Learn grant? On May 2, the Department of Education canceled the Ready To Learn grant, which helped fund educational children's shows, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) said in a May 6 news release. The Ready To Learn grant is a federal grant funded by the Department of Education and Congress that helps develop PBS Kids programming, according to PBS. It has historically helped fund a slew of popular shows, including "Sesame Street," "Clifford the Big Red Dog" and "Reading Rainbow," CPB said. "Its general goal is to promote early learning and school readiness, with a particular interest in reaching low-income children," according to the Education Department's website. Ready To Learn grant Funding for PBS children's shows killed by Trump administration citing 'woke propaganda' The grant is renewed on a five-year basis, and the current cycle − which was approved by the first Trump administration − was set to expire on Sept. 30, according to CPB. The termination of the grant resulted in a loss of $23 million that would have gone to children's games and educational shows, CPB said. Why did the Trump administration cut the Ready To Learn grant? Madi Biedermann, a spokesperson for the Department of Education, said in a previous statement to USA TODAY that the cuts targeted "racial justice educational programming." "This is not aligned with Administration priorities. The Trump Department of Education will prioritize funding that supports meaningful learning and improving student outcomes, not divisive ideologies and woke propaganda," Biedermann said. Sara DeWitt, senior vice president and general manager of PBS Kids, said in a previous statement to USA TODAY that the broadcaster "will continue to fight in order to maintain our essential service." Trump ramps up attempts to defund public media Earlier in May, President Donald Trump also signed an executive order pushing the CPB to cease funding to PBS and NPR. However, the CPB is not a federal agency subject to the president's orders. The corporation provides operational support for public television and radio stations. The CPB received $535 million in federal funding for 2025, according to its budget. Contributing: Fernando Cervantes Jr. and Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAY Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
Asharq Al-Awsat
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
'Sesame Street' Moves in with Netflix, but Will Stay on PBS
Netflix has thrown 'Sesame Street' a safety net with a new streaming deal that offers the popular children's staple a broad reach while keeping it on its long-standing home, PBS, at the same time, the companies announced Monday. Starting later this year, new episodes will run on Netflix, PBS and the PBS Kids app on the same day. No specific premiere date was immediately announced. Select past episodes will be available on Netflix worldwide. The change for the more than 50-year-old show comes after Warner Bros. Discovery — which had aired the show since 2016 — last year decided not to renew its deal for new episodes that air on HBO and Max, though episodes will remain there until 2027. 'This unique public-private partnership will enable us to bring our research-based curriculum to young children around the world with Netflix's global reach, while ensuring children in communities across the US continue to have free access on public television to the 'Sesame Street' they love,' Sesame Workshop said in its press release. Sal Perez, the show's executive producer and a Sesame Workshop vice president, told The Associated Press recently that segments on the new season will be longer and 'really focused on character,' while also focusing on its audience's emotional well-being and development. For Season 56, episodes will revolve around one 11-minute story, the Netflix release said. 'The more kids want to hang out with our characters on 'Sesame Street,' the more they're going to take in those lessons,' said Perez, adding that there would also be updates to the show's look and feel. The new season will also feature more exploration of the 'Sesame Street' neighborhood and a look inside the legendary two-story brownstone at 123 Sesame Street that houses Elmo, Bert and Ernie and more. 'I strongly believe that our educational programming for children is one of the most important aspects of our service to the American people, and 'Sesame Street' has been an integral part of that critical work for more than half a century,' said Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS. 'We're proud to continue our partnership in the pursuit of having a profound impact on the lives of children for years to come.' 'Sesame Street' has been shown in more than 150 countries, amassing more than 200 Emmys in addition to Grammy and Peabody awards and a Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime artistic achievement. Its fan-favorite characters like Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird and the Cookie Monster will now reside along the likes of Ms. Rachel, Blippi and the residents of 'CoComelon Lane.' Netflix says 'Kids and Family' programming makes up 15% of the streamer's total viewing.
