National Press Club: Public Media Cuts Undermine Access to Trusted News in Underserved Communities

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- National Press Club President Mike Balsamo issued the following statement today after the House of Representatives voted to eliminate federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting:

"Congress just voted to silence trusted journalism in communities that need it most.

Today's decision to eliminate federal funding for public media is more than a budget cut. It is a direct attack on local journalism, and it will hit the most vulnerable communities the hardest.

Local public radio and television stations are lifelines for millions of Americans, especially in rural areas where no other newsroom exists. These stations provide critical public safety alerts, fact-based coverage of local government, health information, and election reporting. In many places, they are the last trusted source of news.

Millions of Americans rely on public media as their only connection to local journalism. When funding disappears, so does that access. News deserts will deepen. Communities will be left in the dark. And the foundational principle that every American deserves to be informed, regardless of where they live or what they earn, will erode.

This decision does not just undermine journalism. It undermines public safety, civic participation, and the ability of everyday people to hold power to account.

Journalism is not a luxury. It is a public good and a pillar of democracy. Without it, truth becomes harder to find and power goes unchecked.

The National Press Club urges lawmakers to reverse this course before more communities go dark and before we lose the journalism that keeps our democracy alive."

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. With 2,500 members to Club, through its Press Freedom Center, is a powerful voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.

Contact: Bill McCarren 202-662-7534 or [email protected] for the Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club

SOURCE National Press Club