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'If I wasn't here, people could die': Trump public media cuts could hit rural America

BBC News's profile
Original Story by BBC News
July 14, 2025
'If I wasn't here, people could die': Trump public media cuts could hit rural America

Context:

Desiree Hagan, a reporter at KOTZ, the only US journalist stationed inside the Arctic Circle, plays a crucial role in providing life-saving information to Kotzebue and its surrounding villages, especially during harsh weather conditions that can be life-threatening. The potential cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's $1.1 billion funding, advocated by President Trump, threaten the existence of public media stations like KOTZ, which rely heavily on federal grants, constituting 41% of its income. This funding cut is part of a broader spending reduction plan that includes rescinding funds from other agencies, and it faces opposition from some Republican senators, particularly those representing rural states where public broadcasting is a vital resource. Critics argue that the cuts could have severe repercussions in rural areas, where local media is already sparse, and many stations might not survive without federal support. Rural broadcasters, like those at Marfa Public Radio, which receives a third of its funding from federal grants, fear that the loss of public media funding will diminish local news coverage, impacting communities that have limited access to alternative news sources.

Dive Deeper:

  • Desiree Hagan, as the only US journalist inside the Arctic Circle, broadcasts vital information during extreme weather events, such as a severe storm in Kotzebue, Alaska, emphasizing the life-and-death stakes of her role in the community.

  • President Trump's proposed funding cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting are part of a broader fiscal strategy aimed at reducing government spending by $8.3 billion, affecting agencies like USAID, with media funding being a contentious issue due to perceived bias.

  • Public media stations, particularly those in rural areas like KOTZ and Marfa Public Radio, rely significantly on federal funding, with up to 41% of their income coming from such sources, raising concerns about their survival if the cuts proceed.

  • The proposed cuts face resistance from some Republican senators who represent rural states, recognizing the essential role public media plays in these areas, providing not just news but also cultural and educational content that is otherwise unavailable.

  • Rural America, which largely supported Trump in the previous election, could be disproportionately affected by these cuts, given the scarcity of alternative local news sources, with many counties having no or only one local news outlet.

  • Critics like Mike Gonzalez argue that public media funding is unnecessary, suggesting that market forces should dictate the availability of local news, while supporters highlight the unique service public media provides in under-served communities.

  • The impending Senate vote is crucial, as the bill's passage would require support from Republican senators, some of whom are hesitant due to the significant impact on their rural constituents, with the potential for long-term consequences on community access to vital information.

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