Read OPB President and CEO Rachel Smolkin’s Nov. 3 update in our pressroom, or listen to it below.
Thanks to the extraordinary response from our community, we have closed this year’s $5 million budget gap created when Congress eliminated federal funding for public media.
This success is a testament to OPB’s members and Sustaining members who stepped up with a bold declaration of support for the future of free and fair journalism and quality programs for all.
When Congress voted to end federal funding in July, public media faced an unprecedented crisis. But we know that nothing can thwart the resilience of the communities we serve and the members who make OPB’s essential service possible.
Challenging work is ahead of us. But in partnership with our community, we are entering this era with determination and optimism, knowing that our members and Sustaining members are giving us a start on closing the federal funding gap in the years to come.
OPB is moving forward with renewed commitment to serve everyone across Oregon and Southwest Washington: to expand our journalism service, reach audiences wherever they are, and create meaningful in-person connections with one another.
What’s next: Partnerships across public media
We know that success in this new era will require fresh collaboration and innovation. We’re excited about these opportunities to better serve our communities.
OPB is a proud member of the Northwest News Network, a group of public media organizations dedicated to serving communities across the Pacific Northwest. With colleagues such as Jefferson Public Radio in Ashland, KLCC in Eugene, and Northwest Public Broadcasting in eastern Washington, we share reporting with audiences across a huge range of places.
Adia White, our coordinating editor, is based at OPB and works with the participating organizations to strengthen regional reporting at a time when newspapers have suffered severe losses. While our local media ecosystem is fragile, this thriving network is one way we’re making more great reporting available to more people—and not hidden behind a paywall.
We’re also collaborating more closely than ever before with colleagues across public media. In late October, OPB hosted a conference of leaders from the largest PBS stations across the country. It’s inspiring to see all the ideas our colleagues are exploring.
We’re asking big questions: How can we support one another to ensure the long-term success of public media? How can we share services and stories more easily and effectively? And how can we innovate in video streaming to connect new audiences with factual, deeply reported programs?
These are not easy times, but we are building a bright future for independent, community-supported media. Now, more than ever, the future of our service to communities across the Northwest is strong because of the support of our members. Thank you!
Federal funding for public media has been eliminated.
Take action to protect the future of OPB’s essential service to communities across our region. Make your monthly Sustaining contribution now.
What you can do
OPB, our communities, and organizations across the country are standing together to protect public media. Here’s how you can help:
- Join in as a Sustainer to ensure a strong future for OPB’s service to communities across Oregon and the Northwest.
- Tell your family, friends, and neighbors why public media matters
- If you’re a local business, now is the time to align your brand with sponsorship at any level. Learn more here.