Funding for public media is once again being targeted for elimination as it has been at different times in the past. The just-released White House budget eliminates funding to (among others) the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.We need your help to keep federal funding intact.There is strong bipartisan support for public broadcasting in Congress and among voters in every region of the country, including the 21 counties in New York and Pennsylvania served by WSKG.But, we can't take that support for granted.Without it, WSKG will lose almost 20% of our funding or approximately $1 million dollars. This will have a devastating impact on the programs and services that our viewers and listeners have come to expect.There is no viable substitute for federal funding.
- Public broadcasting is one of America's best investments -- just about $1.35 per citizen each year.
- Public broadcasting is a drop in the bucket of the federal budget, representing just .01% of total spending.
- Public television is rated as an excellent or good taxpayer value by 72% of voters.
- During the course of a year, 82% of all U.S. television households -- and 200 million people -- watch PBS.
- Public television has been rated #1 in public trust among nationally known institutions for 14 consecutive years.
- Public television is America's largest classroom -- 68% of all kids age two to eight watched their local public television station last year.
- Public broadcasting is non-commercial and free to all Americans.
We are trusted, valued and essential.This is just the first step in the budget process and we must continue our work to make the case for public media to Congress. It will take all of us, raising our voices in unison, to ensure that our message is heard and has impact.We continue to work closely with our partners to remind members of Congress about the strong bipartisan support that exists for public media and the numerous ways in which member stations like WSKG serve their constituents.We will work to raise awareness and tell the story of our impact and importance to our communities.I look forward to working with you to ensure that public media receives the critical investments needed to continue to deliver on our important mission.Go to our website, wskg.org and look for the "Protect My Public Media" logo on the home page.If you click on that, you can sign a petition to help save our local stations.Thank you,Greg CatlinPresident & CEOWSKG