Federal Funding

Protecting Public Media: The Case for Federal Funding

A Critical Investment in Our Democracy and Communities

KQED stands among 1,500 locally focused, independently managed public media stations nationwide that form the backbone of America’s public information ecosystem. While our stations are primarily sustained through community support, the annual federal funding directed through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) provides the essential foundation that enables our entire system to deliver trusted news, educational resources, and emergency information when communities need it most.

Federal funding accounts for just .01% of one percent of the total federal budget. Stations leverage each $1 of federal funding to raise nearly $7 from other sources — a tremendous return on the taxpayer investment. This remarkable return on investment makes public media one of the most effective public-private partnerships in the country, serving critical public needs for nearly sixty years. 

Losing federal funding would impair the system and communities across the country who may have no alternatives for the critical services their local stations provide.

What Your Support Protects

When you advocate for continued federal funding for public media, you’re protecting:

Education for All Ages:

  • Free and accessible educational content that supports our youngest learners across the country, only 46% of which attend formal preschool
  • California standards-aligned media literacy tools KQED delivers to thousands of educators and students, with nearly 7,000 teachers participating in KQED’s media literacy training last year alone

Critical Emergency Services:

  • Public media’s infrastructure, which provides the broadest nationwide communications platform in the country. Its national-local organization allows public media entities to distribute national, state, and regional emergency alerts and provide encrypted, geo-targeted alerts to local communities in times of need
  • The California Newsroom, led by KQED, which serves as the central coordination hub for important statewide information, such as providing life-saving information during wildfires and other natural disasters across California’s NPR member stations

Universal Access to Trusted Journalism and Vital Local Coverage:

  • Local public media newsrooms and personnel that provide information and services responsive to the needs of their local communities in an era when local news is already shrinking
  • Local programming that elevates regional arts, music and culture 
  • The independent, fact-based reporting KQED provides to 2.5 million Bay Area residents each week across multiple platforms—all available for free
  • Comprehensive voter guides, political debates, and community-focused programming like Forum, Bay Curious, The Bay, and Check, Please! that KQED produces

The Threat to Public Media

At KQED, federal support represents approximately 7% of our annual operating budget. While we would work diligently to maintain our current level of service, the entire public media ecosystem would be weakened, leaving communities—particularly those in non-metropolitan areas—increasingly underserved.

If federal funding were eliminated:

  • Some rural and underserved communities would lose their only source of local news and emergency information, accelerating the growth of “news deserts” across America
  • Educational programming that supports the 54% of young learners without access to formal preschool would be impaired
  • Critical public safety communications during disasters in some areas would be compromised
  • Local newsrooms that are already struggling to survive would face further challenges
  • Cultural programming that celebrates regional diversity would diminish in many areas

How You Can Make a Difference

For Concerned Citizens:

  • Visit ProtectMyPublicMedia.org for alerts and resources to contact your legislators
  • Share with friends and family why KQED and public media matter to you and your community
  • Amplify public media success stories on social media

For Current Supporters:

  • Your continued membership is vital—thank you for making our work possible
  • Consider increasing your support during this critical time
  • Become an ambassador by encouraging others to join you in supporting public media

For Philanthropists and Major Donors:

  • Your leadership giving can help bridge potential funding gaps
  • Strategic investments in KQED’s journalism, education initiatives, and emergency information systems create lasting community impact
  • Partner with us to strengthen the infrastructure that keeps our communities informed, engaged, and safe

The Public Media Promise

For 70 years, KQED has earned the Bay Area’s trust by remaining responsive to community needs and providing a vital alternative to commercial media. Federal funding is the seed that helps make our essential services possible—but your support ensures they continue to flourish.

In an age of misinformation and diminishing local coverage, public media remains one of our democracy’s most valuable resources. Together, we can ensure it remains strong for generations to come.