The Journal. NPR’s CEO on the Fight Over Public Media
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May 29, 2025 
In this discussion, Joe Flint, a media and entertainment reporter from WSJ, teams up with Katherine Maher, the President and CEO of NPR. They dive into the turbulent battle for funding faced by public broadcasters following federal cutbacks. The conversation highlights the long-standing conflicts between media independence and political pressures. Flint and Maher reveal the potential fallout from losing federal support and the implications for journalism in underserved communities. They also address the ongoing challenges of maintaining unbiased reporting in today's polarized environment.
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Longstanding Criticism of Public Media
- Criticism of public media funding began shortly after its establishment in the 1960s.
- Republican politicians have often pushed to cut funding, alleging bias and fiscal waste.
Critical Role of Federal Funding
- Federal funding supports about 70% of public broadcasting's $535 million budget for local stations.
- Loss of this funding would especially harm smaller, rural stations producing local content.
Recurring Political Attacks on Public Media
- Biannual congressional hearings target public media over alleged political bias and children's programming.
- Despite repeated attacks, funding cuts struggle due to local reliance and political complexity.