To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes Paula Kerger: PBS is Not Going Anywhere
Sep 7, 2025
Paula Kerger, the longest-serving President and CEO of PBS, dives into the critical challenges of public broadcasting as federal funding faces historic cuts. She highlights the impact of these defunding efforts on local stations, especially in rural areas, and emphasizes the importance of community support. The conversation touches on the future of educational content, including an anticipated Ken Burns series, and the vital role PBS plays in fostering informed public debate amidst today's polarized media landscape.
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Sudden Defunding Created A Short Runway
- The July defunding removed about $550 million a year that stations expected in October.
- That loss gave stations only three months to close a major funding gap and plan survival steps.
Federal Share Masks Local Vulnerability
- Impact varies: federal dollars are ~15% systemwide but can be over half for some stations.
- Rural and remote stations (e.g., Alaska) face outsized risk, including losing emergency-alert redundancy.
Alaska Emergency Alerts Depend On Public Stations
- Senator Mikowski received tsunami alerts from a radio station in Alaska that is the only local station there.
- The public station provided critical emergency alerts that would be lost if that local service disappeared.