A Critical Moment for Public Media
Last week, Congress passed H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, which cuts $1.1 billion from public media funding, delivering a devastating blow to the institutions that millions of Americans depend on for trusted information, education, and connection.
This decision is unthinkable—and unacceptable.
Public media has long served as a critical thread in the fabric of our democracy—fostering civic participation, providing educational resources for children, delivering emergency information, and telling the stories of our diverse communities.
These cuts threaten the ability of public media to fulfill its mission, but they also underscore the urgency of supporting its evolution. In order to be solutions-focused and forward-thinking, we should look at this as a chance to reimagine public media’s role as a trusted backbone of civic life.
As public media is being reshaped, here are some questions for funders to consider as we envision its future together:
? How can philanthropy support public media’s transformation from a traditional broadcaster into a platform for local information and community storytelling?
? What investments in technology, partnerships, and infrastructure will help public media better serve communities at the neighborhood and regional level?
? How can funders help public media deepen trust and engagement with audiences who have historically been underserved or overlooked?
? What role can philanthropy play in ensuring public media remains a space for inclusion, evidence, and civic connection—even amid shrinking public support?
In this moment of crisis and transformation, MIF continues to convene funders to explore these and other questions—building space for collaboration, strategy and collective action. Funders are encouraged to join us from 2-3 p.m. ET on Aug. 18 to meet Abby Rapoport, MIF’s new executive director, and to hear more about the future of the organization.
