Latest news with #PaulaKerger
Axios
2 days ago
- Business
- Axios
WDET braces for budget hit after public radio cuts
Detroit's public radio station is preparing for a "giant hole" in its budget after Congress voted last week to gut federal funding for public broadcasters across the country. Why it matters: Public radio and TV stations don't just provide news, but also critical information alerts that can mean life or death for local communities. Amber Alerts, Silver Alerts and natural disaster advisories are among the public safety warnings that are broadcast on local stations. State of play: The cuts they're facing were included in a sweeping rescissions package to claw back more than $9 billion in federal spending. The bill cut nearly $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) through 2026 and 2027, marking a devastating blow for PBS and NPR. Yes, but: While the cuts target NPR and PBS, the national organizations won't feel much of the impact. Only around 1% and 15% of NPR's and PBS' national revenue comes through CPB, respectively. The majority of federal funding is allocated to local member stations, which use it for day-to-day operations. What they're saying: WDET (101.9 FM) is asking listeners to donate more in light of the recent cuts. "It is a huge kick in the gut to WDET," general manager Mary Zatina told Fox 2. "It's going to create a giant hole in our budget." Follow the money: WDET was among nearly 20 public TV and radio stations in Michigan that received CPB grants totaling $10 million in 2023, CPB documents show. Detroit Public Television got almost $2.2 million, the highest allocation that year. WDET received $262,191. The average CPB amount received that year among 12 Michigan public radio stations from Ypsilanti to Marquette was $201,598. Zoom out: Once a broadcaster is shuttered, it's unlikely its spectrum license ever returns to a community news station, PBS CEO Paula Kerger explained in a recent interview with the Washington Post. "I can imagine they would be auctioned off for whatever purpose and you won't have a local television station again in a community." Many stations are based in rural communities that are most heavily reliant on federal government funding to survive.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Donald Trump Cut Funding To PBS, And Now This "Arthur" TikTok Is Going Viral For Breaking The Internet's Heart
Everyone's inner child is heartbroken after the Trump administration received approval to reportedly cut all federal funding for public broadcasting, leaving programs like PBS in limbo. PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger said the cuts "go against the will of the American people," in a written statement. "The Senate just approved a rescissions package that goes against the will of the American people, the vast majority of whom trust PBS and believe we provide excellent value to their communities. These cuts will significantly impact all of our stations, but will be especially devastating to smaller stations and those serving large rural areas. Many of our stations, which provide access to free, unique local programming and emergency alerts, will now be forced to make hard decisions in the weeks and months ahead. There is nothing more American than PBS. Despite today's setback, we are determined to keep fighting to preserve the essential services we provide to the American public," Kerger said. Related: The PBS channel has been home to many popular educational children's TV shows, including the Emmy-winning animated series Arthur, a show about an 8-year-old aardvark who explores real-life issues through the lens of a child and promotes healthy problem-solving and social skills for young kids. Well, the official Arthur TikTok page recently posted a video in response to the news of budget cuts, with the caption: "PBS has been defunded. This isn't goodbye yet." In the clip, the character Sue from Arthur is seen writing in her journal. "I never wanna go through another fire. But I also never wanna lose this feeling. That each day is special; that my friends are the best friends in the world; and that if we stick together, we can make it through just about anything." The TikTok has received over 350,000 views in less than 24 hours, and thousands of comments have expressed their heartbreak over Trump's PBS cuts. Related: "You guys raised multiple generations and that won't be forgotten ever," one person wrote. "I can't believe these vile politicians defunded you. Fuck them," another person wrote. "Trump is trying to defund education. They know education means they have less power and voter base. Don't let them win. Continue to educate yourself," another person wrote. Related: Others shared what the show Arthur has meant to their lives. "This channel was my everything. I learned how to speak English watching PBS." "I came to the U.S. when I was 4. I went into school knowing 0 English thanks to PBS kids I learned English by the 3rd grade fluently. I'm now about to be in 12th." "from a foster child that had no structure or love growing up. thank you for helping raise me into who I am." Related: One person even shared that "Arthur's Reading Race" helped them start reading as an autistic kid. And this teacher said that PBS reinforced the "ethics" taught to them at home and helped them as a student. According to @arthursPBS, donating to your local PBS station is one way to help. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below. Also in In the News: Also in In the News: Also in In the News:
Buzz Feed
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
"Arthur" TikTok Goes Viral After Trump's PBS Funding Cuts
Everyone's inner child is heartbroken after the Trump administration received approval to reportedly cut all federal funding for public broadcasting, leaving programs like PBS in limbo. PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger said the cuts "go against the will of the American people," in a written statement. "The Senate just approved a rescissions package that goes against the will of the American people, the vast majority of whom trust PBS and believe we provide excellent value to their communities. These cuts will significantly impact all of our stations, but will be especially devastating to smaller stations and those serving large rural areas. Many of our stations, which provide access to free, unique local programming and emergency alerts, will now be forced to make hard decisions in the weeks and months ahead. There is nothing more American than PBS. Despite today's setback, we are determined to keep fighting to preserve the essential services we provide to the American public," Kerger said. The PBS channel has been home to many popular educational children's TV shows, including the Emmy-winning animated series Arthur, a show about an 8-year-old aardvark who explores real-life issues through the lens of a child and promotes healthy problem-solving and social skills for young kids. Well, the official Arthur TikTok page recently posted a video in response to the news of budget cuts, with the caption: "PBS has been defunded. This isn't goodbye yet." In the clip, the character Sue from Arthur is seen writing in her journal. "I never wanna go through another fire. But I also never wanna lose this feeling. That each day is special; that my friends are the best friends in the world; and that if we stick together, we can make it through just about anything." The TikTok has received over 350,000 views in less than 24 hours, and thousands of comments have expressed their heartbreak over Trump's PBS cuts. "You guys raised multiple generations and that won't be forgotten ever," one person wrote. "I can't believe these vile politicians defunded you. Fuck them," another person wrote. "Trump is trying to defund education. They know education means they have less power and voter base. Don't let them win. Continue to educate yourself," another person wrote. Others shared what the show Arthur has meant to their lives. "This channel was my everything. I learned how to speak English watching PBS." "I came to the U.S. when I was 4. I went into school knowing 0 English thanks to PBS kids I learned English by the 3rd grade fluently. I'm now about to be in 12th." "from a foster child that had no structure or love growing up. thank you for helping raise me into who I am." One person even shared that "Arthur's Reading Race" helped them start reading as an autistic kid. And this teacher said that PBS reinforced the "ethics" taught to them at home and helped them as a student. According to @arthursPBS, donating to your local PBS station is one way to help. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
Time Magazine
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time Magazine
U.S. Rolls Back $9 Billion for Foreign Aid, Broadcasters
PBS and NPR executives have criticized a bill the Republican-controlled House passed 216-213 early Friday that cancels federal funding for the public broadcasters. 'These cuts will significantly impact all of our stations, but will be especially devastating to smaller stations and those serving large rural areas,' PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger said in a statement following a Senate vote on Thursday that progressed the bill. PBS says it gets 15% of its funding from the federal government, and some 70% of total government spending on public broadcasting goes to over 1,500 local television and radio stations. NPR is also expected to feel the impact of cuts. While the broadcaster receives roughly 1% of its funding from the government, 36% of its funding comes from member stations, which are partly government funded themselves. 'Nearly 3-in-4 Americans say they rely on their public radio stations for alerts and news for their public safety,' CEO Katherine Maher said in a statement. The bill cuts $1.1 billion in spending for public media and $7.9 billion in foreign aid that had already been approved. The Senate approved the bill a day earlier in a 51-48 vote after removing cuts for the PEPFAR HIV/AIDS prevention program. PEPFAR, launched by George W. Bush in 2003, is credited with saving over 25 million lives. Two Republican Senators, Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), joined Democrats in voting against the bill, as did House Republicans Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) and Mike Turner (Ohio). President Donald Trump wrote 'This is big!' on Truth Social following the House vote. He is expected to sign the bill into law around 2:30 p.m. local time. The Lancet medical journal published a report in June that said ongoing cuts to foreign aid 'could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, including 4.5 million deaths among children younger than 5 years.' The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) officially closed earlier this month, after more than 80% of its programs were cut.
The Standard
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Standard
Trump's budget hacksaw leaves public broadcasting on precipice
(FILES) (L-R) President/CEO of National Public Radio (NPR) Katherine Maher and President/CEO of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Paula Kerger testify during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on March 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Drew ANGERER / AFP)
