The Importance of Investing in Public Media
It is clear that the media landscape is changing. Trust in traditional media sources is declining, and many critics have attacked public media in particular. However, public media is a strong asset with much to offer for those with PR budgets. It is a crucial component of the free press we so value, and it is mutually beneficial to protect its work. Your decision to reach out and invest in public media could make a real impact.
Attacks on Public Media
The current administration has expressed interest in eliminating federal funding for public media. Some political figures have publicly called for the government to defund NPR, and many have criticized its outlets.
Brendan Carr, Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, has since announced an investigation into NPR and PBS programming that would reassess public funding. This could impact all outlets funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the parent of NPR and PBS which services nearly 99% of the U.S. population.
Benefits of Public Media
Because public media receives government funding, it is a target for political attacks. However, it has an important role to play in the media landscape. In many rural locations and indigenous communities, PBS and NPR stations are the only local news sources available. Almost the entire U.S. population receives content from public media, and taking it away would have devastating effects. Protecting public media is essential for freedom of the press as well as accessible information.
The purpose of public media is to ensure that everyone has access to reliable news and trusted information, regardless of their identity or economic status. With many private media outlets behind a paywall or only accessible with Wi-Fi or technology, public media fills this vital gap.
Without public media, people who live in more rural areas or are impacted by poverty might not have the same access to the news that informs voters and keeps everyone aware of what’s going on in the world. Because public media serves this role in providing the free press and trusted information for the entire population, its existence is an important quality for healthy democracies.
Why Invest in Public Media?
Public media has the ability to reach a wider audience than private outlets. It has no paywall, so people of every economic status can hear your message. Local stations are available for almost every community across the U.S., so you don’t have to limit your audience by geography, population density, or income. There are national and local stations so you can target the reach of your story. Your message could reach anyone and everyone.
Outlets under the Corporation of Public Broadcasting are also independently owned and operated–independent from the government as well as private equity firms. Although platforms such as PBS and NPR receive federal funding, they are not government institutions. This means they can report news independently without association with official government stances.
This means that public media is also independent from private equity firms and any financial conflicts that come with it. You can trust that public media outlets will share your message without being influenced by funding or turning a profit. Their coverage of your story will be independent and earnest.
A Win for Everyone
Supporting public media creates a win-win situation. You will reach a broad audience with trustworthy reporting. Your audience will be able to hear what you have to say regardless of who they are. The free press that we value so much will grow stronger and continue asking the important questions in order to support the entire U.S. population.
Everyone benefits from a free press, and you can too. Investing in public media will help grow a healthy democracy–and your platform.
Sophia Shannon is a media relations associate for Spotlight PR LLC. Be sure to check out our other blogs and subscribe for regular communications updates.