Latest news with #ArizonaPBS
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arizona PBS warns you in an emergency. Now, that safety system is at risk
As Congress considers a measure to rescind all federal funding for public broadcasting, it's vital to understand how destructive that would be for Arizona. Cutting federal funding would leave many Arizonans, especially those in rural areas and tribal lands, without the critical services that Arizona PBS provides. Public television stations provide lifesaving public safety communications and services in partnership with federal, state and local authorities. This includes cutting-edge technologies that help first responders communicate with each other without the need for mobile service or broadband. The PBS WARN system also sends alerts across Arizona with urgent information about flash floods, fires, tornado warnings, missing person alerts, major power outages and law enforcement situations that require neighbors to shelter in place. The system has already sent 116 such alerts across the state for far this year. Arizona PBS is responsible for maintaining the critical broadcast infrastructure to deliver these alerts. A loss of federal funding may require us to reduce the number of broadcast towers we operate around Arizona. That would not only deprive viewers in those areas of programming, but it would also eliminate the ability to distribute alerts to those regions. Cuts to public broadcasting funding would significantly jeopardize public safety across our state. Arizona PBS also has been instrumental in providing educational programming and outreach to children. Long the hallmark of public television, these efforts support families with proven educational tools that have helped parents be their kids' first teachers and have prepared multiple generations to be ready to learn and succeed in life. Through PBS LearningMedia, Arizona PBS provides lesson plans to Arizona teachers and homeschoolers alike, translating our first-rate educational programming into engaging schoolwork made available for free to everyone. This content has been proven to close the achievement gap between children from low-income families and their more affluent peers. Public television also provides critical early childhood education resources for the nearly 80% of children in Arizona who do not have access to organized preschool. These services, plus our unbiased coverage of local news and issues, have led Arizonans and people across the country to trust public television at the highest level. In fact, for the 22nd year in a row, public television was ranked the most trusted U.S. institution, above the courts, Congress and all other media. Moreover, 76% of Americans agree that public television provides an excellent value to communities, according to a YouGov poll conducted earlier this year. Public media has earned the broad support of the American people, across the political spectrum. According to the same YouGov survey, 65% of respondents who voted for President Trump think public television is either adequately funded or underfunded. This bipartisan public support has been consistently reflected in Congress up to and including the last funding authorization passed earlier this year. For about $1.60 per American per year — less than .01% of the federal budget — the investment in public broadcasting allows stations like mine to provide critical services to nearly 80% of the state, including many areas not well served by commercial media. Now, the administration is seeking to take away these vital services and programming. Supporters of public broadcasting need to understand the severe impact this will have on Arizona and press their federal legislators to reject any efforts to rescind funding. Scott Woelfel is general manager of Arizona PBS. Reach him on LinkedIn @scottwoelfel. Like this column? Get more opinions in your email inbox by signing up for our free opinions newsletter, which publishes Monday through Friday. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: PBS funding cut hurts Arizona public safety, education | Opinion
Belfast Telegraph
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
PBS sues Trump administration over defunding
In the claim, PBS relies on similar arguments, saying Mr Trump was overstepping his authority and engaging in 'viewpoint discrimination' because of his claim that PBS' news coverage is biased against conservatives. 'PBS disputes those charged assertions in the strongest possible terms,' lawyer Z W Julius Chen wrote in the case, filed in a US court in Washington. One of the control rooms at the Arizona PBS offices at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in Phoenix (Katie Oyan/AP) 'But regardless of any policy disagreements over the role of public television, our constitution and laws forbid the president from serving as the arbiter of the content of PBS's programming, including by attempting to defund PBS.' It was the latest of many legal actions taken against the administration for its moves, including several by media organisations impacted by Mr Trump's orders. A PBS spokesman said that 'after careful deliberation, PBS reached the conclusion that it was necessary to take legal action to safeguard public television's editorial independence, and to protect the autonomy of PBS member stations'. Mr Trump's order 'would have profound impacts on the ability of PBS and PBS member stations to provide a rich tapestry of programming to all Americans,' Mr Chen wrote. PBS said the US Department of Education has cancelled a 78 million dollar grant to the system for educational programming, used to make children's shows like Sesame Street, Clifford the Big Red Dog and Reading Rainbow. Besides Mr Trump, the claim names other administration officials as defendants, including US education secretary Linda McMahon, treasury secretary Scott Bessent and homeland security secretary Kristi Noem. PBS says its technology is used as a backup for the nationwide wireless emergency alert system. The administration has fought with several media organisations. Government-run news services like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty are also struggling, The Associated Press has battled with the White House over press access and the Federal Communications Commission is investigating television news divisions.
Toronto Sun
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
PBS suing Trump administration over defunding
Published May 30, 2025 • 2 minute read An entrance to the Arizona PBS offices in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in Phoenix is seen Friday, May 2, 2025. Photo by Katie Oyan / AP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. PBS filed suit Friday against President Donald Trump and other administration officials to block his order stripping federal funding from the 330-station public television system, three days after NPR did the same for its radio network. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account In its lawsuit, PBS relies on similar arguments, saying Trump was overstepping his authority and engaging in 'viewpoint discrimination' because of his claim that PBS' news coverage is biased against conservatives. 'PBS disputes those charged assertions in the strongest possible terms,' lawyer Z.W. Julius Chen wrote in the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington. 'But regardless of any policy disagreements over the role of public television, our Constitution and laws forbid the President from serving as the arbiter of the content of PBS's programming, including by attempting to defund PBS.' It was the latest of many legal actions taken against the administration for its moves, including several by media organizations impacted by Trump's orders. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. PBS was joined as a plaintiff by one of its stations, Lakeland PBS, which serves rural areas in northern and central Minnesota. Trump's order is an 'existential threat' to the station, the lawsuit said. A PBS spokesman said that 'after careful deliberation, PBS reached the conclusion that it was necessary to take legal action to safeguard public television's editorial independence, and to protect the autonomy of PBS member stations.' Through an executive order earlier this month, Trump told the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and federal agencies to stop funding the two systems. Through the corporation alone, PBS is receiving $325 million this year, most of which goes directly to individual stations. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. PBS, which makes much of the programming used by the stations, said it gets 22% of its revenue directly from the feds. Sixty-one percent of PBS' budget is funded through individual station dues, and the stations raise the bulk of that money through the government. Interrupting 'a rich tapestry of programming' Trump's order 'would have profound impacts on the ability of PBS and PBS member stations to provide a rich tapestry of programming to all Americans,' Chen wrote. PBS said the U.S. Department of Education has canceled a $78 million grant to the system for educational programming, used to make children's shows like 'Sesame Street,' 'Clifford the Big Red Dog' and 'Reading Rainbow.' For Minnesota residents, the order threatens the 'Lakeland Learns' education program and 'Lakeland News,' described in the lawsuit as the only television program in the region providing local news, weather and sports. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Besides Trump, the lawsuit names other administration officials as defendants, including Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. PBS says its technology is used as a backup for the nationwide wireless emergency alert system. The administration has fought with several media organizations. Government-run news services like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty are struggling for their lives, The Associated Press has battled with the White House over press access and the Federal Communications Commission is investigating television news divisions. Toronto & GTA World Columnists World Crime
