On July 18, Congress eliminated federal funding for public media – an unprecedented action against communities that rely on our network of factual journalism and programming, freely available to everyone. President Donald Trump will soon make this defunding final.

In this challenging moment, OPB will not back down.

I arrived here ten months ago committed to expanding our journalism service to people across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. I am even more committed to that mission now.

Many of you have spoken out in the past few weeks to share how vital public media is when local journalism across the country is suffering. People living in rural and remote areas will be especially hard-hit because federal funding helped cover the costs of serving difficult-to-reach places.

You have shared the personal connections you feel with OPB at a time when we are so often disconnected from one another. Some of you have watched and listened to PBS and NPR since you were children and then shared your love of these trusted services with the children in your lives. So have I. Others of you are new to public media, and we are grateful for you all.

The OPB board, staff and I are proud to stand with you and believe this is the moment to be bold. We are expanding our reporting presence across Oregon and southwest Washington, building our digital offerings and hosting more community events to bring us together.

We say that knowing today’s cuts eliminate $5 million in annual funding that we need to replace, about nine percent of our budget. We say that even though today’s action weighs heavily on us and our colleagues throughout the public media system. We say that keenly aware that the road ahead will not be easy.

Here’s how you can join us in the fight to serve our communities:

• Expand your support of OPB.
• Tell your family, friends, and neighbors why public media matters and encourage them to support OPB with you.
• Contact your legislators and let them know that your commitment to public media is unshakable.

In this defining moment, we will step forward with courage and confidence in our mission, values and community. We accept the challenge, and we urge you to join us.

- Rachel Smolkin, President and CEO of Oregon Public Broadcasting

News Source : https://www.opb.org/pressroom/presidents-update-house-passes-unprecedented-public-media-funding-cut-2/