This year brought a seismic shift for public media. A rarely used act of Congress resulted in the defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, altering the landscape for those who value and depend on independent journalism. Across the country, public media stations were forced to make painful cuts to staff and programming, as political decisions reverberated through local communities.
For our station, this fall’s fund drive became a defining moment, one that would determine our immediate future. Thanks to extraordinary community support, we met that challenge with resilience and hope.
I was joined by John Daniels, President of the Friends of Siouxland Public Media, to reflect on this pivotal moment, the stakes for public media, and the strength of the community that continues to sustain it.
