US

Bipartisan support welcomed as the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee endorses more funding for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB).

The additional funding proposals come at a time of significant economic uncertainty for US public media.

From political interference to funding cuts, many independent public media organisations are facing both new and ongoing threats. Here we reflect on some of these challenges, many of which have been amplified by the COVID-19 crisis.

While demonstrations against police violence and racism are sweeping the US, there have been alarming reports of journalists being violently attacked by both police and demonstrators. The ground for these attacks has been laid by frenzied rhetoric, with the media time after time identified as the enemy.

As Black Lives Matter protests spread across the United States, journalists are facing an unprecedented number of threats, physical attacks and even arrests by authorities for doing their jobs. It is essential that journalists are allowed to cover these events unimpeded.

It is essential that citizens have access to accurate, timely and independent news and information during crises and emergencies. Yet despite the current pandemic, journalists and media outlets face mounting threats in fulfilling this critical role.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting will receive $75million as part of an emergency relief package, which was passed by the US Senate on 25 March. This is a welcome package for some local stations but for others, it is still not enough.

For the fourth year in a row President Trump has proposed cutting all federal funding for public service media. What would US citizens lose if public media disappears?

The Public Media Alliance is once again calling on President Donald Trump to drop proposals to slash federal funding for public media.

For half a century, PBS has contributed to and shaped American society, proving that public service broadcasting is not only valuable but central to our lives.