It’s time to take a stand for this trusted public service you rely on.
As threats to funding for public media have been in the news, many members and listeners of American Public Media programs have asked how to best support public media. In addition to member support, APM receives important federal funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a nonprofit organization that helps fund and support public radio and television stations.
What you need to know now:
Federal funding for government programs, including support for public media, is currently authorized under a Continuing Resolution. Both the U.S. House and Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) to extend FY2024 federal funding levels through the rest of FY2025, with a few alterations and adjustments. It includes level funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (the two-year advance to FY 2027), as well as Interconnection and the Next Generation Warning System. This is great news for public media and the CPB!
Several bills have been introduced to freeze or eliminate federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which help support 1,300 local stations like us across the country as well as NPR and PBS.
APM received 6% last year of its budget from the CPB. The impact of the elimination of CPB funding could extend beyond the direct grant to APM by reducing the capacity of smaller stations to acquire content produced or distributed by American Public Media.
The FCC launched an investigation into the underwriting practices of NPR and PBS, and their member stations. In announcing the investigation, the FCC chairman expressly indicated his opinion that NPR and PBS should no longer receive taxpayer dollars.
The Presidents and CEOs of NPR and PBS, Katherine Maher and Paula Kerger, have been called to testify at a Congressional Oversight DOGE subcommittee (Marjorie Taylor Greene R-GA, Chair) hearing on federal funding of public media and bias in content, tentatively scheduled for March 26.
How to Help
There are many ways to show your support for APM.
1. Get Updates from APM
Sign up for updates about public media funding and stay informed on ways you can help.
2. Take Action with Protect My Public Media
Take the Protect My Public Media pledge and contact your legislators.
3. Tune in, log on and engage with your favorite APM content
Show your support for public media by tuning in to Marketplace, The Splendid Table, Brains On! and other APM shows on the radio, podcast, web, apps, and social media.
4. Make a Donation
Donations to APM support trusted journalism, music discovery, and community conversation for all – no matter where you live or how you listen. From the broadcast to the podcast, on-air and online, gifts from individuals power everything you find at APM. Make a donation today.
Why is American Public Media and the public media ecosystem important?
As the second largest public media content distributor in the nation, APM delivers programming and services of unparalleled value across the country.
Public media is the country’s only no-cost, commercial-free, nonprofit news and information service, resulting from a highly efficient public-private partnership.
Public media strengthens our society by delivering balanced, fact-based insights and diverse perspectives that foster meaningful dialogue and build community connections while serving as the backbone of emergency alert systems that keep Americans informed and safe during emergencies.
Contact Us
Inquiries for American Public Media should be directed to our Member & Audience Services department by using our our contact form or by phone at 651-290-1212 | 1-800-228-7123. (Phones open 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. CT Monday through Thursday, open 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. CT Fridays).