Pam Johnston, president and CEO of Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio, issued the following statement in response to the Congressional vote to eliminate federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and its member stations nationwide:
“This is a pivotal moment for democracy and public media.
“Public media is not a luxury – it provides trusted journalism, life-saving emergency information, and free, high-quality educational programming for every family, no matter their zip code or income.
“With today’s vote, Rhode Island will lose nearly $1.1 million in federal support starting this fall – funding that directly fuels our local journalism, arts & culture coverage, and the educational programming our community values and depends on. To be clear, this is a direct attack on local content and storytelling at a time that Rhode Islanders need it most.
“I am grateful to our local Congressional delegation for their unwavering support of public media and voting against this measure. I join my colleagues across the country in denouncing this decision.
“Despite this vote, our commitment to our audience and our community does not waver. We will keep listening, reporting, educating, and serving. If you believe in the power of local journalism and the importance of free access to trusted, local information, please support us. We need you now more than ever. Become a member, make a donation, watch and listen to our programs, and support our work so that, together, we can navigate this challenging chapter and continue telling the local stories that matter most here at home.”
Learn more about public media in Rhode Island and how you can support us.
