The Growing Strength of Public Media Local Journalism

Written in 2022—before the rescission cuts that led to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s closure—this report makes the case for public media as an untapped resource in the evolution of local journalism. Though federal funding cuts have weakened the system’s structure, operations and local news services at many stations persist, keeping its conclusions relevant.

The report identifies three drivers of public media’s growing influence: financial strength, expanding news capacity, and a dedicated audience. Together, these have positioned the public media system to become a sophisticated, collaborative local news provider—one with an established readership and deep backing from individual supporters.

Still, working within such an established institution comes with constraints: change is slow, and questions around financial viability and community engagement remain. But the foundation is strong, and many of the opportunities within the public media system today are still waiting to be activated.

Use This Guide to:

1. Get a full picture of the public media system’s strong, interconnected web of shared services and content.
2. Learn about growing local news operations in public media stations and what station leaders are learning from community collaborations.
3. Think about what partnerships might exist at the regional and local level for nonprofit news and public media that philanthropic funders could support.

Suggested Content:

1. Four Station Leaders on Supporting Public Media Through Its Most Significant Shift in Decades
2. Public Media Bridge Fund Q&A Session
3. Reimagining Public Media: Strategic Leadership and Innovation in Local News

Featured Members:

• Wyncote Foundation

Source: Wyncote Foundation